Victoria Fringe Spotlight Shorts

Applications open: January 20th 2026
Application deadline: March 3rd 2025, 5pm PST
Application fee: None
Lottery draw: March 6th 2025

Victoria Fringe Spotlight Shorts, as a part of the Victoria Fringe Festival, showcases original new work to support local playwrights and creators from the Victoria (CRD) area in the form of short readings or work in development showings in a combined one-hour showcase. We recognize that equity-seeking artists face systemic barriers, and that not all voices are heard in our Fringe and theatre community. We would like to better understand which underrepresented communities we are reaching and not reaching, and how we can support artists and keep learning ourselves. There are will be 3 spots that will be selected by lottery in 2026, and each artist will get up to 15 minutes to read or perform a work-in-progress in a showcase. The showcase will run twice during the festival.

The series is for:

• Readings, staged readings or devised work-in-progress showings up to 15 minutes mins in length (no fully staged productions, this is for in development or in progress works)
• Equity seeking playwrights, creators or artists who reside in the CRD region. This includes artists who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, person of colour, queer, trans, non-binary, Two Spirit, living with a disability, D/deaf or H/hard of hearing, blind or low vision, cultural or religious minority. 

The Fringe provides:

• x1 15 minute performance slot in a combined showcase, with two performance dates in a small scale venue (~50 seats) during Fringe 2026
• Rehearsal space, not in performance venue (10 hours)
• 1 hour technical rehearsal on show day (with professional technician)
• Program Mentorship 
• 100% of the box office (tickets by donation)
• Box office and audience service, including ticketing and Front of House Manager
• Blanket promotion as part of the Fringe Spotlight Shorts and a listing in the Fringe Guide

The Artist provides:

• A 15 minute work-in-progress. You/your company is responsible for all aspects – casting, rehearsals, direction, promotion, budgeting. 
• All fees and expenses related to production of your production, including but not limited to cast, crew, production, rehearsal, liability, licenses, permits, all applicable taxes and fees.