Summerworks 2012

Your chance to see new and cutting-edge Canadian plays at a great price is here once again. The Summerworks Performance Festival is on now and will run until August 19. This year, there are over 40 theatre productions to choose from, all pre-selected by jury to ensure you're going to see something great. You can buy advance tickets online through Ticketwise and guarantee yourself a seat for just an extra dollar plus tax. Otherwise, tickets can be bought starting 1 hour before the show for only $15 (half the house is always reserved for at-the-door sales).The best deal is to buy a multi-play pass, although there are some limitations. A 3 show pass is $40, 7 show is $85 and a 10 show pass is $120, a savings of $30 over single ticket prices. Passes can only be used for at-the-door tickets, 1 per show and are non-transferable, so you can't share a pass with a friend or use it for multiple tickets per show.

There's a lot more to Summerworks than theatre however, and this is reflected in their new name: Summerworks Performance Festival. There are live art installations, a music series and the Performance Bar, which I'm really looking forward to checking out. The Performance Bar hosts 16 eclectic acts over 6 nights, featuring music, comedy, live art and more. Each night is hosted by Captain Ron's Ship of Friendship, which was created by Atomic Vaudeville and stars Ron Pederson. All nights are pay-what-you-can and take place at the Lower Ossington Theatre's Cabaret Space. Should be a blast!

If you've got some time, check out the schedule and try something new. Just be aware of a few basics: the box offices accept cash only, and there are absolutely no latecomers. When you do see something, leave a comment below and tell us what you thought!