Lindy Mullen (she/her) is the Client Relations Coordinator here at Fringe Theatre. In addition to her role at Fringe, she’s a stage manager and arts administrator. She has a particular love for festivals and has worked at The Works, K-Days, StageLab, Kaleido Family Arts Festival, NextFest, Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Fête, Shambhala Music Festival, Flying Canoë Volant, Chinook Series, Play the Fool and volunteered for many more. She has “worked and connected with so many interesting and talented volunteers, artists, and staff that I’m SO grateful for the festival experiences I’ve had so far. If I was to play favourites – of course, it is the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival!!”

How would you describe your job at Fringe?  

As the Client Relations Coordinator, I get to welcome so many different artists and organizations into the building. It all starts with meeting potential rental clients and discussing their wants, needs, and dreams. I help clients find a good fit for their event in terms of services and space. As you might know, Fringe Theatre is home to many spaces for creating, performing, and gathering. We also offer a wide range of services: ticketing, online event hosting, livestreaming, video and audio recording, equipment rentals, catering, bar, and so much more! 

What are you most excited about in your role with Fringe?   

I love my role because no booking is the same, and I get to meet artists and organizations in Edmonton and beyond! Also, hosting events is a TEAM EFFORT and I get to collaborate with my really really reallyyy talented colleagues to help create some pretty awesome experiences. We’re all about Radical Hospitality. 

What is your Fringe story?

My first Fringe Festival was when I was just 3 months old and I got front row seating at the circle shows! My parents (Conal & Louisa Mullen), are both street performers and had won the outdoor performer lottery for a circle show spot the year I was born. So, they brought me along! My heart was so full this past 2021 festival, where full circle, I got to invite my parents to the Fringe Festival as a member of the staff. 

What is something you are learning right now? 

This might sound really boring but I’m learning about the building’s event equipment inventory. Now that live performances and gatherings are starting to pick up, I want to be prepared with knowledge of all the wonderful support Fringe Theatre has to offer events. Did you know the building currently is home to 577 fluorescent light bulbs, 38 stanchions, 120 Gobos & 4 disco balls? Neither did I till recently – shoutout to the Production team for always teaching me new things!

What is an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of? 

I had the pleasure of stage-managing Lakes & Streams at Fringe Theatre. Being able to work with an incredible team that celebrated the process and explored creating theatre on film has been a career highlight. The showcase of our work in December at the Westbury Theatre was a great success. We were able to offer a live innovative in-person and online audience experience through two different performances. Through creative collaboration and integration of a film crew, we told the story of Jaquelyn and Hunter Cardinals’ award-winning play, Lake of the Strangers, and a musical journey with the Jay Gilday Band concert. I’m so proud of what was discovered and accomplished as a team.

What are you passionate about outside of work? 

I love papermaking! I think it was a Tik Tok DIY video that really inspired me at the beginning of the pandemic. I’m really into using recycled scripts to make my paper pulp and experimenting with natural dyes and embellishments.  

If joy became a national currency, what kind of work would make you wealthy?  

Any kind of work that supports accessible art. What brings me the most joy working in the arts is being able to witness people from all walks of life experience and interact with art. I think shared experiences like watching a play or listening to a concert reminds people that they’re not alone and helps build stronger empathy for their fellow earth dwellers!