Top 10 Exciting Shows to see at the Vancouver Fringe Festival

Vancouver Fringe Festival Generic

Runs September 5th to 15th, 2024

The Vancouver Fringe Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and this event promises to be big. Just where one can find the cake will depend on what they announce for parties. And for those at Terminal City from September 5th to 15th, Granville Island will be abuzz with lots of fun events for all to enjoy!

Where possible, we have included a review or two as these shows also played at the Victoria Fringe Theatre show too!

B The Wiz Presents
A Storytelling Hip-Hop Experience

B The Wiz Presents A Storytelling Hip-Hop ExperienceHip-Hop artist B The Wiz uses his storytelling ability to create music with a positive message. The Thunder Bay MC has been working organizing hip-hop shows since 2015. When checking out a B The Wiz performance, you can expect to see smiles, laughter and appreciation from the artist. Conversing with the crowd and feeling the energy in the room, B The Wiz will perform songs that can carry messages and teachings that he has learnt throughout his life.

Beginning his journey with street art before creating music, B The Wiz believes it’s important to hold reverence for the elements of Hip-Hop.

False Tour of False Creek

False Tour of False CreekThe False Creek Ferries Players are proud to present their False Tour of False Creek. Get misinformed by a Completely Believable and Not-At-All-Full-Of-Baloney skipper as you set sail around the harbour on a comfortable, silent, electric boat. Sights include Science World, the world’s largest Tesla Coil, the False Creek Ray Gun, and a skyline of non-Euclidean madness.

A maximum of twelve seats are available for each trip. Reality itself is liable to warp as facts are bent, twisted, and finally made to walk the plank. We solemnly guarantee that this tour will be untrue, phoney, and entirely made-up.

When Fern Flowers Bloom

When Fern Flowers Bloom(for a review, please visit our sister site’s post here)

When Fern Flowers Bloom is a tale of love, loss, and transitions told through traditional Latvian folklore, poetry, and symbolism. Nāve, the Goddess of Death, has just received word that Fall is coming but struggles to follow through with her responsibility when she discovers that the time has also come for her lover Jāņis, the incarnation of Summer and its Solstice celebration. Over the course of one last intimate date night, we see how each character processes and finally accepts their fate by either holding on to their traditions or creating new ones.

The Law of Gravity

The Law of Gravity

Dom has had a rough go of things so far. At fourteen, he has the hardened look of someone who’s had to fight for everything. Fred has just moved to Not-The-City, a new place to try to disappear. But he didn’t expect to actually make friends. He just hopes he’s accepted for how he looks. When Dom and Fred meet on a hill overlooking a bridge that connects Not-The-City to The City, a place where anyone can be anything they want, the two find a refuge in one another and make a pact: they’ll cross the bridge at the end of the school year. They’ll be free. What could happen by then? Who will they be? And will the bridge even let them cross?

Hot Dog!

Devon More Music Hot Dog!Devon More Music presents an outdoor art-rock show… for the dogs! Canines and their human companions can enjoy Devon’s infectious originals alongside curious cover songs in the open air – under the cover of Granville Island’s Picnic Pavilion. This show aims to turn the old adage “never work with children or animals” on its head, and prove that anything is paw-sible! All well-socialized dogs and humans, big or small, young or old are welcome to join in the pet-a-palooza. Parade your pet and earn tasty treats for tremendous tricks (provided by the Granville Island Pet Treatery). Have a ball with Devon’s Doggy Dance Party. Regardless of how ruff your day is going, this is sure to be a chance to unleash yourself and raise the woof!

Jon Bennett: AMERICAN’T

Jon Bennett- AMERICAN’TAfter nomadically touring the world for the last 10 years, Renowned Australian comedic storyteller, Jon Bennett (Fire in the Meth Lab) finally has a home: The US of A. Or does he? COVID forced him back to his childhood home in the outback of Australia with his conservative, religious family for the next year and a half. After jumping through every hoop imaginable, Jon was finally able to leave Australia and come to the USA. Only to be arrested at the airport upon landing. This is THAT story.

seaMAN

2 Sleepy RatGuys SeaMAN Promotional CardYARGH! Join the saltiest sea captain ever on a “30min scenic boat tour” This queer nautical comedy is like the deranged love child of Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse and Gilligan’s Island. This show is a whirlwind of revenge-fueled sea-venture combining outrageous physical comedy with a few dark twists and turns. Alternately played by two actors, it’s a one-man-show by two featuring the saltiest sailor to ever set sail on the several seas. Prepare yourself for a hilarious on-stage scenic boat tour that promises fishing, the ocean breeze … and SO much more.

Full Metal Comedy

Full Metal Comedy Full Metal ComedyFull Metal Comedy is a stand up comedy show based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was started by Shawn Cuthand and Danny Knight as a way to get stage time in Saskatchewan. In the prairies you can literally see that there is no stage time for miles and days! The show works like an open mic to encourage new comedians to give it a try, but for the Vancouver Fringe, we’re bringing our best! Shawn Cuthand is a writer/comedian and producer based in Treaty 6 Territory from Little Pine First Nation.

He is a part of The Feather News on APTN Lumi and has been doing stand up for 6 years. Danny Knight is an actor/writer/comedian and director from Muskoday First Nation and is the host of The Feather News on APTN Lumi. Ryan Moccasin is a writer/comedian and producer from Saskatoon, SK and is the CEO of The Feather News. he is also a novelist with the book “Suicide Empire” in his credits. Cheyenna Sapp will be at the first half of the shows as well. Cheyenna is a stand up comedian/actress/writer from Little Pine First Nation. She plays “Rose” on CTV’s Acting Good and performs all over Canada making communities laugh. Local comedian Sasha Mark will also be helping curate from the local talent pool to provide guest spots and hosting opportunities for the festival.

Camp Goneaway

Ragamuffin Productions Camp Goneaway Promotional CardWhat’s lurking in the lake? Margot and Evie are best friends. When they hear a legendary sea monster is hiding in the depths of their camp waters, they are determined to uncover its secrets. For fans of Gravity Falls and The Babysitters Club Mysteries, this heartfelt campfire jamboree explores the relationship between girlhood and eco-anxiety. This is a new work from award winning company Ragamuffin Productions: June Bug, FRANK.

Proximity: The Space Between Us

Theatre Terrific Proximity- The Space Between UsAmidst the improbability of connections forming around us, “Proximity: The Space Between Us” , co-created by an all-abilities cast, delves into the delicate balance of distance and connection. Through a series of interconnected narratives that open into a realm of infinite possibility, this physical theatre piece embraces the emotional and physical complexities that define our shared humanity, inviting audiences to reflect on the threads that unite and separate us.

How to Do the Victoria Fringe Festival In-Person & Online 2021 Edition

Purple peacock with a watercolour design on a yellow background, with Victoria Fringe logo.Victoria Fringe Festival
Runs August 13 to Sept 24

The Victoria Fringe Festival is changing things up in its return late Summer. It’s hard to say if this pandemic will ever go away, but everyone wants to stay safe, and the organizers are changing up their event so that is can also operate with online and in-person events. The fun starts August 6th and runs more than a month-long! Their schedule is live and online to view.

Topping the list of what can be viewed from home is MIMI The Gourmet Cat, by the Mochinosha Puppet Company, which will be part of the Fringe KIDS livestream. More details about this particular show be found online on the show website.

The following are my quick picks in what to check out. The links go to further information, including in-person shows, and how to buy tickets.

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[Victoria, BC] It’s Tough to Contain Starry Starry Skies Musical, Little Bird

Musical Theatre lovers in Victoria, BC and beyond can check out this local show that’s gone online! You can buy your virtual tickets on Starry Starry Skies website for multiple viewings in the three day window offered.

Ed Sum's avatarOtaku no Culture

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Available for screening online on Starry Starry Skies’ website

When Starry Starry SkiesLittle Bird leaves the nest, just what can our intrepid Robin Foster (Abby Corpus) do? She had an idyllic life in the farm state of Iowa, but she yearns for more. Her parents have her life fairly well charted, in hopes she’ll follow in their footsteps, but her life is defined by the music she loves. This country girl has a lot of rock-and-roll in her blood, and she decides to run away.

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Stay Awhile… Stay for The Red Death & Other Stories From Edgar Allen Poe

22218503_1729800080394782_765507268006924604_oTickets available via www.thecastle.ca
or call 250-592-5323 to book

Show times:
October 17, 18, 19, 24,
25, 26, 30, 31 at 8:00pm
October 20, 21, 27, 28
at 7:00pm and 9:00pm

With Performances by:
David Radford, Christina Patterson, Jared Gowen, Trevor Hinton, Diana Nielsen

When mid-October arrives, the Halloween season is in full swing and the terror can arrive in many a form. This week has Red Death & Other Stories From Edgar Allen Poe (Launch Pad Theatreand Rocky Horror Show (Atomic Vaudeville) opening for residents of Victoria, BC to enjoy. Those unable to get a ticket for the former (it’s nearly sold out) can wait for next year. The latter will always be around because it’s become a staple ever since it debuted on stage with thanks to Kaleidoscope Theatre.

Pardoning the cliché, to experience Poe’s works performed on a dark and stormy night at Craigdarroch Castle is a must. I’ve been a fan of interactive theater for a long time, and to choose between which show to go to get my pre-Halloween funk on was tough. Audiences either get to be part of the show or they are watching it with a slight wall between realities. With this season, the veil is best broken at the edifice upon a hill.

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From Psyops to Cabaret at VCM’s Wood Hall Victoria Fringe Festival

I spent Friday night at the Conservatory of Music‘s Wood Hall for the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival‘s kickoff into the long weekend. This time will be the busiest for the show, as it is the final weekend. The weather forecast predicts temperatures on the high side and it will be bright; please be sure to put on sun protection. If I can survive the Summer’s last hurrah, then there’s a few more shows I’m interested in seeing. The buzz from the street is to not miss Interstellar Elder, and fortunately that’s taking place at night, when it’s cooler.

To get back into downtown Victoria, however, that’s if I …

AWAKEN (Actually, the show’s name is AWOKEN)

AWOKEN

Remaining Dates:
Sep 2 – 4:30pm

Proper grammar usage aside, if there’s any way to interpret what Ottawa based actor Nick Amottt’s work AWOKEN is about, I’m sure Hideaki Anno, director of the Japanese Animation Neon Genesis Evangelion can make better sense out of it. The characters Amott play are projections from different parts of Todd Silvano’s psyche. Each of them seem to have some kind of complex just like the anime. This nerdy recluse suffers from a condition known as ‘fatal familial insomnia.’ There is no known cure for this brain disease. It eventually leads to hallucinations, delirium and eventually death.

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Having Literary Fun on Day Five of the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival

A break will soon be coming as I have done two shows a day since the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival has started. Even fans of experimental theatre needs to rest before embarking on another round and I’m really looking forward to seeing Wes Borg‘s Get Me The F*CK out of Edmonton and St Michael’s University School’s Musical Theatre show Drowsy Chaperone at the end of the week.

Though for Monday night, I had to satisfy the literary nerd in me. FUNNER from Sunday night was just too unusual, and I needed a proper Shakespeare Fix, to which yesterday’s two shows fully succeeded in entertaining. The day also made me feel like I visited the worlds of several master storytellers than one:

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