Fringe dance, comedy and drama hit Victoria, B.C.

The Victoria Fringe Theater Festival celebrates its 25th year this month. The Fringe, Vancouver Island's biggest theater festival, kicked off Thursday after two days of lead-up to the event, including a Flash Mob on Tuesday and a Fringe Eve Preview on Wednesday. 

The Fringe's 72 performing companies, each performing six shows per day, will perform for ten days and nights, featuring comedy, drama, dance and spoken word productions. According to the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF), four criteria characterizes the festival and its performances as fringe:

• low ticket prices
• first-come first-serve basis for booking at the festival
• no censorship
• performers receiving all proceeds from the show

Audience members are required to buy a button for the festival and each show requires a separate ticket purchase.  The Visa Button, two for five dollars, is the source of income for the festival as 100 percent of the box office revenue goes to the performers. 

The festival lasts from August 25 to September 4, throughout the day and at various locations around Centennial Square.  Ticket prices range from $9 to $11 for adults, though some events are free.