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 visual venue guides and stories for each Fringe venue and select shows, accessible tickets program, ASL Interpreted performances, and more from the 2024 Fringe.
Find the info you are looking for below on this page, or download the full 2024 Accessibility Guide or at-a-glance Show Guide.
Download the full Accessibility Guide (Coming soon!)
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, and accommodations provided.
Fringe ‘On the House’ Program
We are offering a new ‘Fringe on the House’ program* this year. If for any reason the cost of a ticket is beyond your means, we have a select number of tickets per show available for free, no questions asked. Just call our box office at 250-383-2663 or e-mail tickets@intrepidtheatre.com to book.
*Fringe on the House tickets are limited to one ticket per person, per show, up to
a maximum of 5 shows.
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.
2024 Hours:
August 1 – 18, 12 – 5:30pm Monday to Friday
August 19 – September 1st, 12 – 5pm daily
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 5 venues for the 2023 Fringe this year, and 4 site-specific show venues
Venue 1: The Metro Studio 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: Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM) Wood Hall
The VCM Wood Hall is wheelchair accessible and has accessible washrooms in the lobby area before the theatre entrance.
Venue 3: The Baumann Centre
The Baumann Centre is wheelchair accessible, however some doors are not automatic and heavy and a Fringe volunteer will be on site to support.
Venue 4: The SKAM Satellite Studio
The SKAM Satellite Studio is wheelchair accessible.
Venue 5: Intrepid Studio Theatre
The Intrepid Studio theatre is fully wheelchair accessible.
Unconventional Venues:
Site A: Habit Coffee (552 Pandora Ave)
Habit Coffee is wheelchair accessible.
Site B: Kirk Hall Dock (680 Courtney St)
Kirk Hall Dock is wheelchair accessible.
Site C: Redfern Party House (1616 Redfern Ave)
Redfern Party House is wheelchair accessible.
Site D: Cecilia Cove Park (335 Waterfront Cres)
Cecilia Cove Park is wheelchair accessible.
2024 Venue Guides
A venue guide is available for every venue. These guides were created with folks on the autism spectrum in mind, but can 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 pa@intrepidtheatre.com if you need it in a different format.
View or download all Venue Guides (Coming soon!)
2024 Visual Stories & Sensory Guides
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 Kaylee at pa@intrepidtheatre.com or 250-383-2663.
Visual Stories & Sensory Guides
The following shows have a visual story/Sensory Guide (click to view or download):
- Stories and guides will be uploaded here as they are created!
2024 ASL Interpreted Shows
FREE KITTENS, Thursday August 22nd at the SKAM Satellite studio (Venue 4), 9:00pm – 10pm
When Fern Flowers Bloom, Friday August 23rd at the SKAM Satellite studio (Venue 4), 6:00pm – 7:00pm
2024 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: readfringe23
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 2024 shows have a script in the script library:
Scripts are all provided in PDF format. If you require a different format, please contact Kaylee at pa@intrepidtheatre.com or 250-383-2663.
Visit the Script Library here. The password is readfringe23
If there’s information that’s missing, or you have any questions, please contact us at pa@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.
