With over 160 shows in 27 venues at the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose what to see. Fortunately, we were on the grounds all weekend binge-watching shows! Whether you feel like laughing at a comedy, learning from a drama, or just witnessing amazing talents, you’ll find a show to fit your interest in our alphabetical recommendations below.
Absolute Magic
(genre: Magic)
Venue: Big Rock Backstage Theatre
Voted Toronto’s Best Magician, Keith Brown has been performing magic tricks for over 20 years. This is no surprise—spend a couple minutes in the audience of Absolute Magic and it’s clear that Brown is a seasoned professional. Opening with some jokes, some storytelling, and a whole lot of heart, Brown’s show is sure to stun audiences no matter their age, interests, or background. Magic is for everyone, especially in the hands of Keith Brown.
Charade
(genre: Comedy/Drama)
Venue: Backstage Theatre
Edmonton has its very own Audrey Hepburn?? Based on the 1963 film starring the famous actress, Charade is a romantic-comedy mystery, with a local Fringe cast stepping into multiple roles rather seamlessly—and quite humorously. When Regina Lampert’s husband dies suddenly, she’s pursued by several men itching to find a missing fortune, with local performer Sarah Dowling stepping up as the new doe-eyed Hepburn. No one here may be trustworthy, except for us telling you to see the show.
Conjoined: A New Musical
(genre: Musical Theatre/Dark Comedy)
Venue: La Cité Francophone
Family can be annoying enough without being literally attached since birth, which unfortunately is the case for brothers Pat (Josh Travnic) and Braxton (Seth Gilfillan). Accompanied by a live three-piece band, Pat and Braxton share their inner thoughts and turmoils with the audience, ranging from mother issues to privacy issues to mental illness, though always with stabs of humour. The clever attentions-to-detail continue even after the show ends and music plays the audience out.
Epidermis Circus
(genre: Puppetry/Comedy)
Venue: The Luther Centre
A boob doing stand-up comedy, a rap about pimples, and a tragic love affair between a fuzzy sock and a pair of panties: this is only scratching the surface of Ingrid Hansen’s Epidermis Circus. Although Hansen usually puppeteers for Sesame and Henson, she forgoes puppets for her Fringe performance. Relying on props, cameras, and her own body, Hansen creates a unique puppet cabaret that will undoubtedly leave audiences talking.
Fags in Space
(genre: Comedy/Drama)
Venue: Walterdale Theatre
“In a galaxy far, far away…two gays said: heyy~” Join Todd and Luca as they share the story of how they met. With a narrative that spans from Grindr to grad school to grief, the electric lead couple has audience members laughing and exclaiming for the entirety of this show. Hilarious, honest, and heartwarming, Fags in Space is essential viewing at this year’s festival.
Fake n’ Bake
(genre: Comedy/Drama)
Venue: Roxy Theatre
A bit of singing and humour softens the true story about one woman’s struggle with her identity, an eating disorder, and various addictions, but it doesn’t weaken the messaging. Ellie Heath’s experience is relatable and shared genuinely, even when accompanied by the dramatized demons in her head and a round of audience singalong.
Josephine, in concert
(genre: Music/Musical Theatre)
Venue: Garneau Theatre
This 18+ show has nudity, sexual content, and a TON of talent. Accompanied by a live jazz band, Tymisha Harris performs a combination cabaret/theatre/dance to share the story of the legendary Josephine Baker, the first African-American international superstar. Find out her ties to France, the Second World War, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, and America’s Civil Rights Movement. There’s only one show left on Saturday, August 20, and you shouldn’t miss it!
JULIET: A Revenge Comedy
(genre: Comedy/Drama)
Venue: Westbury Theatre, ATB Financial Arts Barn
“I met him just two days!” Juliet finally realizes what audiences have been saying for years: why are you killing yourself at 13 years old just because a fickle older boy named Romeo is dead? This clever show about one of the Bard’s most famous characters has Juliet (played by Pippa Mackie) fighting to save other Shakespeare heroines (somehow kept distinct on stage while all being played by Carly Pokoradi, sometimes at the same time) from their fates. If you know your Shakespeare, you’ll be delighted to meet these characters this way; if you don’t, the cast might be the better version of them anyways, so just go forth with that!
LARRY
(genre: Comedy)
Venue: La Cité Auditorium
The premise of Larry is simple. Enter a small-town dude, upset that a girl won’t date him because he isn’t ‘woke’. So, he tries to get ‘woke’: he journals, talks about supporting women, even tries meditation. Sounds straight-forward, right? Wrong. Larry isn’t anything you are expecting it to be. Candice Roberts deftly creates a raucous hour of comedy that takes an unexpected turn in its final moments. The result? A Fringe show that should not be missed.
Musical for the Endtimes
(genre: Music/Musical Theatre)
Venue: ATB Financial Westbury Theatre
Experience the end of the world in Edmonton with this delightfully fun new musical. Musical for the Endtimes follows Will, a heartbroken playwright, who has been captured by an oil tycoon whose characterization might remind you of a different Albertan figure. With a charismatic cast of characters featuring a man named Billiam, 3 henchmen dressed in sex costumes, and William Shakespeare, it’s no wonder audiences are piling into the Westbury to see this show.
Re:Construct
(genre: Comedy/Drama)
Venue: Chianti Yardbird Suite
If you see one Fringe show this season, it should be this one. Delightfully odd and arrestingly tender, Re:Construct is a dialogue between a trans man and his idealized cis self that deals with self-image, masculinity, and gender identity in the most unexpected ways. Walk into this show knowing nothing—you won’t regret it.
Rocko & Nakota: Tales From the Land
(genre: Storytelling)
Venue: Campus Saint-Jean, Sue Paterson Theatre
Nakota is a young boy sick in the hospital when his grandfather Rocko pays him a visit. While Nakota is obsessed with superhero stories, he’s reluctant to listen to the land-based tales his grandfather tries to share. As stories inside a story inside a story, this one-man production presents healing as a journey and weaves modern pop-culture references with traditional tales. Indigenous artist Josh Languedoc is also involved with the Fringe’s new pêhonân series showcasing various local Indigenous creators.
Spooky & Gay Cabaret
(genre: Comedy/Drama)
Venue: Campus Saint-Jean Auditorium
“You are the Fringe that taught me to be brave,” shared artist Bruce Ryan Costella after one of his performances. A touching moment about the theatre life, but also relevant considering this queer storytelling cabaret is a little bit trick, a little bit treat, but definitely all Halloween—and mostly in the dark. Come for scary-ish stories, songs accompanied by a fickle ukelele, and comedic observations about the gayness rankings of Halloween songs.
St Kilda
(genre: Comedy/Drama)
Venue: Nordic Studio Theatre
Armed with two microphones, a loop pedal, and an eclectic collection of props, Jody Christopherson creates a Fringe show unlike anything you’ve seen before. Taking place in near darkness, St Kilda is a haunting tale that tackles grief, femininity, and Scottish lore. Christopherson’s skill is on full display as she seamlessly creates a layered soundscape which acts as the backtrack for her narrative. Impactful, thrilling, and filled with poignant moments of laughter, St Kilda is the perfect show for Fringers who are looking to be spooked.
TEN: The Show
(genre: Circus)
Venue: ATB Financial Westbury Theatre
Created during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to reflect on the surrounding emotions and challenges, TEN showcases multiple facets of the human condition through contemporary circus. Even if the emotional part doesn’t grab you, the athletic talents should. There’s aerial silks, aerial hoop, a giant ground hoop (that a person rides in? How?), juggling, gymnastics—it’s an impressive day at the circus!
The Margin of the Sky
(genre: Comedy)
Venue: Varscona Theatre
After 40 years, Edmonton’s own Teatro La Quindicina marks their final Fringe festival with Stewart Lemoine’s The Margin of the Sky. In future years the company plans to forego the Fringe in favour of more spread out, year-round programing. Commemorate the end of an era by grabbing tickets to this unique and thought-provoking show which follows Leo, a Canadian writer working illegally in Los Angeles, as he attempts to write a screenplay for his brother-in-law. What is ‘the margin of the sky’? Head down to the Varscona Theatre to find out.
The YEG Youth Poetry Jam
(genre: Performance Poetry/Spoken Word)
Venue: Nordic Studio Theatre
Collecting poets under 25-years-old from across Edmonton, this one-hour show features a new line-up of artists each evening. This event is presented by iHuman Studios, which is a crucial Edmonton arts organization that has been supporting the artistic practice of young people since 1997. Perfect for both poetry-lovers and those who are new to the world of spoken word, experience the future of Edmonton’s literary landscape with this exciting new show.
We will add to this list as we see more shows! To further enhance your festival experience, make sure to check out our 7 Tips on How to Fringe.
