Island Fringe Festival

The Island Fringe Festival is back with a twist: instead of summer sun, the 2025 festival will light up Charlottetown this fall. From October 8–12, audiences can expect a jam-packed week of boundary-pushing theatre, dance, comedy, and performance art at various locations across the city.

“The move to fall gives us a whole new energy,” says Grace Kimpinski, executive director of the Island Fringe Festival. “The cooler evenings, the cozy venues, and the buzz of downtown Charlottetown in autumn—it feels like the perfect atmosphere to gather together, share stories, and experience the magic of live performance.”

This year’s lineup features eight shows: four homegrown productions from PEI, three from across Canada, and one making its way to the Island from New York City. Each production captures the spirit of Fringe—raw, daring, and unafraid to push boundaries.

PEI productions
Island artists continue to shine with works that span comedy, dance, and gripping drama.

She, is ME.
A vibrant mix of drama, dance, and comedy exploring the realities women face in the dance industry. Through movement, song, and spoken word, the performers share their stories of resilience and triumph. 

Where It’s Too Deep to See
A psychological realism drama inspired by true events. Set against the high-stakes world of lobster fishing, it drags the audience beneath the waves into a story of violence, corruption, and buried secrets.

Bless You!
A philosophical dark comedy about religion, grief, and identity. Family conflict and existential musings collide as a father faces his final days.

Afterbirth
A poignant drama about aging, reflection, and resilience, following Theodora Finch as she navigates her new life in a rundown seniors’ residence while reckoning with her unconventional past.

From across Canada
Fringe is about exchange, and this year’s lineup brings some of Canada’s most exciting performers to Charlottetown.

The Heterosexuals (Toronto, ON)
A laugh-out-loud solo comedy that dives deep into the bizarre world of straight people, with storytelling, satire, and plenty of bite.

Drag Me to the Opera (Calgary, AB)
Part musical, part memoir, Aida Cupcake takes audiences on a soaring journey through operatic highlights and heartfelt storytelling in a show about chasing dreams and discovering one’s true voice.

The Forest Ends With You (Toronto, ON)
A Y2K-inspired multimedia performance blending comedy and magical realism. Teenage fears, friendship, and the eerie overlap of video games and reality collide in a suburban basement after a classmate’s death.

From New York City

A Guide to Collecting Antique Maps
This witty comedy follows John and Jill, a couple living a quiet life in rural Oregon—until Jill’s trip to a commune throws everything off course. A sharp and funny exploration of love, boundaries, and the maps we use to navigate our lives.

Since its founding, the Island Fringe Festival has celebrated theatre in unconventional spaces, bringing artists and audiences together in intimate, surprising ways. From historic churches to community halls, no two venues—or performances—are ever the same. This year’s shows will be staged at The Guild, Beaconsfield Carriage House, the Black Cultural Society’s Theatre, and The Kirk (St. James Presbyterian).

As always, the festival doesn’t end when the curtain falls. Each night from 10 pm to midnight, The Guild transforms into the playground for After Dark events—free-spirited, unpredictable, and always a blast. This year’s lineup includes: Trivia with Katie Perry, Lip Sync Roulette with Didi e’Dada, and A Good Ol’ Variety Show where anything goes—music, comedy, burlesque, and surprise acts all rolled into one late-night spectacular.

The celebrations begin October 8 with the Opening Sneak Peek, where artists take the stage to perform five-minute snippets of their shows, mixed with hilarious games and plenty of audience interaction. On October 12, the Closing Awards Night shines a spotlight on the hard work of the artists and volunteers who make the Fringe possible—then rolls straight into a party that only ends when the crowd runs out of steam.

All-Access Passes (entry to all performances) and individual tickets are available. All proceeds go directly to the artists.

Full details at islandfringe.com.