Episode 77: Rachel Kennedy & Laura Paduch & Everything You Need To Know About Toronto Fringe 2025

In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel Kennedy and Laura Paddock, the powerhouse duo behind Toronto Fringe! We chat about their journeys to leadership, what’s new for this year’s festival, and why audience engagement and open-mindedness matter more than ever.

They break down what makes Fringe such a special space for bold, diverse voices, the importance of community involvement, and why volunteers are truly the heart of the festival.

We also dive into how ticket sales directly support artists, how the festival stays accessible for everyone, and what makes their uncensored programming so important. Plus they clear up a few common misconceptions and share a new ticketing model designed to make it easier for folks to experience more shows.

Be sure to go to fringetoronto.com for tickets, schedules, shows and all the information you'll need to get the most out of Fringe this year.

Let me know in the comments which shows you're excited to see this year!!!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Toronto Fringe and Its Leaders
03:07 Journey to Co-Leadership: Rachel and Laura's Stories
06:01 The Exciting Changes for Fringe 2025
08:52 Audience Engagement: What Makes a Good Audience Member?
11:59 The Importance of Open-Mindedness in Fringe Experiences
14:58 Navigating the Fringe: Tips for Artists and Audiences
18:09 Creating Space for Diverse Voices in Theatre
21:07 Volunteering and Community Involvement at Fringe
27:15 The Value of Time and Volunteerism
29:07 Ticket Sales and Artist Support
31:28 Fringe Festival Principles and Community
32:28 Censorship and Content Accessibility
34:00 Accessibility Measures in Performances
39:05 Essential Items for Fringe Attendees
44:18 Common Misconceptions about Fringe Festivals
52:44 Innovative Ticketing Models and Audience Engagement

Episode shot by  @ChantaleVShots ​