Accessibility at the Fringe
Welcome to the Fringe! The Victoria Fringe is committed to creating an inclusive environment and creative home for patrons, artists, staff, and volunteers. We are continually working to identify and break down barriers so that the Fringe can be enjoyed by all. On this page, you’ll find information about our free accessible tickets program, visual venue guides and stories for each Fringe venue and select shows, ASL Interpreted performances, and shows with relaxed elements from the 2022 Fringe.
Full transcript of the vlog available here.
Find the info you are looking for below on this page, or download the full Accessibility Guide or at-a-glance Show Guide.
Download the full Accessibility Guide
Download the at-a-glance Show Guide
The at-a-glance show guide is a breakdown of in-person shows with key information such as dates, genre, suitability, content and trigger warnings, audio and visual elements, and accommodations provided.
Free Accessible Tickets Program
Free tickets are available to all shows in this year’s festival for anyone who self-identifies as part of the d/Deaf or d/Disability community and their support workers, as an effort to reduce barriers. All tickets must be booked in advance, by 3pm on the day before the performance you want to attend.
We recognize that theatre has been and is often inaccessible to those communities; tickets are available for any performance, as an effort to reduce barriers.
To book free tickets, please share your name email below and we will respond with the booking code.
Go to https://tickets.intrepidtheatre.com/, choose your tickets, and type the code in the promo box at checkout.
There will be an additional space to share any accessibility needs or questions you may have, including front of house support, mobility devices or wheelchairs, priority seating for ASL performances, or info about relaxed show elements.
This info will help us support you to access and enjoy the show.
You can also come in person to Fringe Headquarters or call 250-383-2663 to book, if you require further support.
Venue and Box Office Accessibility
Fringe Headquarters Box Office
The in-person box office is located at Fringe Headquarters (Intrepid Theatre), at 2 -1609 Blanshard Street (at Fisgard). The box office area is wheelchair accessible. There is no public washroom at the box office.
Hours: 12:30-8pm daily from August 22 through September 4.
Booking wheelchair accessible seating: Please indicate that you need wheelchair accessible seating in the provided accessibility needs box when you book your tickets online, or let our box office coordinator know if you book tickets in person.
When you book tickets, there is a field that asks if you have any accessibility needs. Please let us know of any needs or requests there, and we will make sure to accommodate them when we assign your seats.
Seating: If you require priority seating, please arrive 25 minutes in advance and the Front of House team can assist you.
If you have booked an accessible ticket, it will be accompanied by a free Fringe Button which you can pick up at the door or box office.
All shows start on time. Depending on the show, latecomers may not be seated.
There are 6 venues for the Fringe this year.
Venue 1: The Metro Theatre
The Metro Theatre is wheelchair accessible.
There is one wheelchair accessible washroom on the main level, through the door that also leads to backstage. Please let a Front-of-house manager or volunteer know if you need to use the accessible washroom (they will be wearing Fringe lanyards and nametags), and they will be happy to show you through. The main patron washrooms are up a set of stairs and are not wheelchair accessible.
Venue 2: VCM Wood Hall
VCM Wood Hall is wheelchair accessible and has accessible washrooms in the lobby area before the theatre entrance.
Venue 3: The Roxy
The Roxy is wheelchair accessible. It has one washroom that is accessible.
Venue 4: Baumann Hall
Baumann Hall is wheelchair accessible, however some doors are not automatic and heavy and a Fringe volunteer will be on site to support.
Venue 5: SKAM Satellite Studio
SKAM is wheelchair accessible.
Venue 6: Congregation Emanu-El
Congregation Emanu-El is wheelchair accessible. There are 2 wheelchair accessible washrooms on the second level from the lobby, accessible by ramp. Each has a grab rail and will be gender-neutral for the Festival.
Venue Guides
A venue guide, or visual story, is available for every venue. These guides have full information on venue location, arriving at the venue, and what to expect when you’re there.
View or download the Metro Visual Venue Guide
View or download the VCM Wood Hall Visual Venue Guide
View or download the Baumann Hall Visual Venue Guide
View or download the Roxy Visual Venue Guide
View or download the SKAM Satellite Studio Visual Venue Guide
View or download Congregation Emanu-El Visual Venue Guide
Visual stories and guides were created with folks on the autism spectrum in mind, but may be useful for everyone. The visual guide gives written information and pictures about what to expect at the venue when you come to see a show, including transit & parking, arriving at the venue, bar/concessions, what to expect during a show, and Covid safety information.
Each guide is a screen-reader accessible PDF. Please contact access@intrepidtheatre.com if you need it in a different format.
Visual Stories
Some shows also offer a show-specific visual story with a scene-by-scene overview, including major events, characters, and design changes. It lists items such as when to expect loud noises or major visual changes. Visual stories are typically created for people on the autism spectrum, and can also be useful for those who want to know what to expect before coming to a show.
Expand the button below to see which shows have resources available, and to view and download them.
These resources are all provided in PDF format. If you require a different format, please contact Katrina at access@intrepidtheatre.com or 250-383-2663.
Visual Stories
The following shows have a visual story (click to view or download):
ASL Interpretation & Access for Deaf Audiences
Full transcript of the vlog available here.
ASL interpreted performances
Select in-person performances have ASL interpretation. Most have one interpreter with their own spotlight on one side of the stage. View Connor’s vlog above to learn more about each show!
Free tickets are available to Deaf and Hard of Hearing audience members and other members of the disability community. Please click “Book Free Accessible Tickets for ASL Performances” and share your name and email.
You will receive an email from access@intrepidtheatre.com with the Accessible booking code.
Go to https://tickets.intrepidtheatre.com/, choose your tickets, and type the code in the promo box at checkout. There is a space on the form for you to share any accessibility needs or questions you may have, such as ASL priority seating.
Book Free Accessible Tickets for ASL Performances
ASL at FringeKids
Select FringeKids performances have ASL Interpretation
Select FringeKids performances have ASL Interpretation:
Drag Story Time: Interactive drag storytelling with Judith and Persi Flage from Staches & Lashes Drag Collective
Story Dice: Welcome to the world of Story Dice where the beginnings start and the possibilities are endless! Story dice can be part of your storytelling practice, a tool for learning and processing or just a fun game to play solo, for a party or classroom or the whole family. Join Amira and explore some of the fun story dice has to offer and leave with your very own set of story dice!
The following performances have ASL interpretation. Most have one interpreter with their own spotlight on one side of the stage.
Domesticated Disputes: Tuesday, August 30 7:30pm
Ouroboros: Friday, September 2 7:30pm
Tree: Saturday, September 3 8pm
We are grateful to have been working with Deaf artist, consultant, and advocate Connor Yuzwenko-Martin since January 2021 to assess, expand, and improve our ASL programming and inclusion of Deaf communities.
Theatre Buddies
The theatre buddies program pairs a volunteer with patrons who would like assistance during a show. The theatre buddy volunteer meets the patron(s) at the venue or at another requested location, accompanies them into the theatre and sits with them during the show, and can provide information such as giving a description of the set and stage to a patron who is Blind or has low vision. Please email access@intrepidtheatre.com or call 250 383 2663 to request a theatre buddy. Requests need to be made in advance.
Shows with Relaxed Elements
Shows with Relaxed Elements
Please note they are no dedicated relaxed performances at the 2022 Fringe, rather there are shows with relaxed elements such as reduced lighting and sound cues, house lights kept on or low, and the option for audiences to come and go as they are comfortable. Intrepid Theatre is committed to continuing to learn more about relaxed performance practices and offering these elements in our festivals.
The following shows have relaxed elements:
Unmatched: 1 show Tuesday, August 30 8pm
Lesbihonest: 1 show Tuesday, August 30 6:45pm
Domesticated Disputes: 1 show Wednesday, August 31 6pm
Script Library
Select shows have provided a script for audience members who wish to read in advance of attending the show.
The script library is password-protected. Password: readfringe22
Some shows have provided scripts, in case it is useful for audience members to read in advance of attending the show. While building the script library, we have in mind people whose first language isn’t English, people who process information better textually, d/Deaf and h/Hard of hearing people, people who would like to review the script for content that may be sensitive or triggering, and anyone who would like to know more about a show’s content in advance.
The following shows have a script in the script library:
Scripts are all provided in PDF format. If you require a different format, please contact Katrina at access@intrepidtheatre.com or 250-383-2663.
Visit the Script Library here. The password is readfringe22
Show Introductions for Blind and low vision audience members
A show introduction outlines visual elements that are essential to understanding a show, often a show that has minimal visual elements, in an effort to make the show accessible to Blind and low vision patrons without audio description.
The following show has an introduction guide for Blind and Low Vision audiences (click to listen or download):
Eleanor’s Story:
Audio intro
Low vision intro- Eleanor’s Story_ An American Girl In Hitler’s Germany
If there’s information that’s missing, or you have any questions, please contact Fringe associate producer Katrina Darychuk at (email) access@intrepidtheatre.com, (voice/VRS) 250-383-2663, or in person at Fringe Headquarters, 2-1609 Blanshard Street (at Fisgard).
If you would like to share specific feedback about a visual story or venue guide, please fill out our brief feedback form.
