The term “Fringe Festival” started in Edinburgh in 1948, and since then, Fringe Theatre Festivals have popped up all over North America and the rest of the world. Fringe Festivals are an excellent way to get your start in the world of professional theatre, whether you’re an actor, writer, director, or budding producer.
But how do you go about choosing which script to produce at the Fringe? Not every show will work well in a festival atmosphere. What follows is a look at the main factors to consider when you are producing a play at the Fringe.
Consider Your Budget
Oftentimes, Fringe plays are produced on a small to nonexistent budget, funded by the cast and/or crew rather than by a company. As a result, you will want to keep your costs as low as you possibly can in order to increase your chances of making a profit.
Two of the biggest factors to consider when it comes to budgeting are the size of your cast and the size of your set. The larger and more elaborate your set is, the more money you will likely have to spend on it. (Large sets are often inconvenient due to the size of venues at Fringe Festivals as well – more on that below.)
Typically, independent theatre companies producing Fringe shows split their profit evenly amongst themselves. Because you’ll be splitting your profits, it’s not a bad idea to stick with a script with fewer actors in it. Think of it this way: if you have a two-person show, a director, and a stage manager and you make $2000 of profit, you will each receive a paycheque of $500. But if you have a cast of six, you will each only receive $250.
While participating in the Fringe is certainly not about making the big bucks, you’re more likely to feel encouraged and continue to produce future Fringe shows if you break even with your budget.
Consider Your Venue
Another factor that will significantly affect your Fringe show is the type of venue in which you are producing it. While some producers will have the luck of being placed in genuine theatre settings, many will be producing shows in alternative and makeshift venues.
Consider the size of your venue when selecting your script – will your desired set design fit on the stage? Will everyone in the audience be able to see well when your actors are sitting or lying on the floor? Also keep in mind that certain venues will have a specific vibe. You may not, for example, want to produce a youth-oriented show in a bar setting.
Many Fringe producers will not be made aware of their venues until well after they have selected their script and started rehearsing it. Because of this, it’s a good idea to keep it simple when you’re starting out, and find creative ways to make your shows bigger as you learn more about the Fringe.
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