Play the Fool is celebrating 10 YEARS at The Backstage Theatre, September 25-27!
Join us for the beautiful chaos as Canadian clowns take to the stage for a weekend of laughs!
Watch the FREE online panel discussion!
Check out this year’s Festival Program!
Design by Jaimie Lievers
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
FESTIVAL SHOWS
PtF x MUNT: A Cabaret of Chaos
90 mins + intermission | Ages 18A
Friday, Sept 25th @ 9pm
Come see our best bits & greatest hits!
When MUNT meets Play the Fool, anything can happen! Laugh yourself silly when our favourite fools take the stage to entertain and amaze. Supported by our friends at MUNT performance.
Curated by Jake Tkaczyk
Q2Q: Clown Shorts
60 mins | Ages 18A
Saturday, Sept 26th @ 7pm
A collection of clown delights by queer artists and creators. Supported by our wonderful friends at Fringe Theatre Adventures.
Curated by Rainier Pearl-Styles
The Rookie Cabaret
60 mins | Ages 18A
Saturday Sept 26th @ 9pm
Your wild & unexpected Saturday Night.
This festival favourite is back! Featuring emerging clown and physical theatre artists that work with Rookie Program Director Christine Lesiak to take their idea from concept to stage.
Support the Rookie Cabaret and ADOPT-A-ROOKIE today!
The Rookie Cabaret supports emerging physical comedy artists in the creation of an original piece for the festival.
A $100 “Adopt-a-Rookie” sponsorship gets you two free tickets to the Rookie Cabaret and our thanks for supporting the program.
Interested? Go to our support page to sponsor a Rookie and add the “Adopt-a-Rookie” into the message section.
ONLINE PANEL DISCUSSION
Building the Bit: Creating Cohesive Worlds in Clown & Physical Theatre
A world only works if the audience can find their way into it. This online panel digs into how clown and physical theatre artists build complete, specific worlds, through design, dramaturgy, character, rhythm, and the relationship between performer and audience, so that even the strangest or most absurd logic still feels legible. What are the rules of the world we’re building, how do we let an audience play within them, and how do we signal when we’re breaking them? Join Christine Lesiak, Sophie May Healey, and Kate Braidwood and Andrew Phoenix of the Wonderheads for a conversation on the craft behind cohesive worldbuilding. Moderated by Jake Tkaczyk
90 mins
Sunday Sept 27th @ 4:30pm | Join us free ONLINE at playthefool.ca
Kick off the festival on the Play the Fool Patio for FREE live entertainment by Jay Flair and Aytahn Ross!
Friday Sept 25th @ 8pm
Questions about the Rookie Cabaret? Email: christine.lesiak@gmail.com
General questions? Contact: producer@playthefool.ca
Thank you to Play the Fool Festival Partner Fringe Theatre Adventures
Thank you to Festival partner Grindstone Theatre School
Thank you to Play the Fool Festival Partner MUNT