One of the best things about Fringe, is the ability to see a lot of shows, and to take risks on shows, without breaking the bank. The cost of a Fringe ticket has always been significantly lower than the cost of a theatre ticket to other theatre experiences outside of festival season. And that’s great. The ability to discover a show is an amazing experience, and one I have enjoyed greatly over my years of Fringing.
This year, I noticed that the price of a Toronto Fringe ticket has significantly increased. The cost of a ticket is $18 this year. Last year, the ticket price was $13 + $2 service charge, which came to $15. This year, the $18 fee is actually a $15 ticket price with a $3 service fee, which doesn’t sound like that much, right? Except that, when I am thinking of spending money, $18 sounds a lot closer to $20. The Edmonton Fringe, the biggest Fringe Festival in Canada, has a surcharge of $5 on top of its $15 ticket price, bringing the cost of a singe Fringe ticket to right to $20. The Montreal Fringe ticket prices is $15 with a $4 surcharge. Hamilton Fringe, likewise has a ticket price of $14 with a surcharge of $2.50.
I’m listing these other fringe festivals, because I want to point out that this is not just a Toronto thing. The cost of a Fringe ticket is ballooning.
I recall a little while ago, there was a push from a lot of touring Fringe artists to get some festivals to raise the amount that the artists receive. But this was very much aimed at the few festivals that had their ticket prices set lower than the norm, making it unlikely that a Fringe artist could break even. These prices, it seems to be are unrelated to that push.
These higher prices are bad for Fringe. They are bad for audiences. And they are bad for Fringe artists. The whole point of Fringe is to be able to see things that you might not normally see. The price is usually lower than purchasing a ticket during the regular theatre season, which promotes experimentation, taking changes on a show, and seeing as many shows as possible.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Fringe. I’ve considered it “theatre Christmas” for many years. I have loved seeing shows, taking a chance on a show I’ve never heard of, seeing as many shows in a day as I can.
But at these price points I won’t be able to do that. I’m unlikely to take a risk on a show, because I can’t see as many shows as I might want to. The prices has gone up, but my available income hasn’t. So I have to be more selective of the shows I go to see. And this is just bad. It means that we are less likely to find that hidden gem of a show, because we aren’t going to see things that we aren’t certain about.
I know that the Fringe festivals are struggling. I know that they are trying to come back from the covid years. And I know that the artists need to be able to make money. But there needs to be a balance. And to me, these prices don’t feel like the right way forward. And I fear for the future of the fringe festival in Canada. Its supposed to a festival for everyone. A way for many people to see as many shows as possible. But these prices don’t really allow that.
I know its too late for this year, but I hope that these festivals reconsider these higher prices in the years ahead.