Outlandishly funny psychological gymnastics from the distinguished minds of the CANADIAN COMEDY AWARD, 3-Time London IMPRESARIO AWARD, and 24-time BEST-of-FEST winners. James & Jamesy focus their compassionate comedic brilliance on the echo systems of memory as they teeter on the threshold between resistance and revelation. Past reviews… 5 STARS, “Maestros at making theatre magic.” (CBC) 5 STARS, “Full-out belly laughs all the way through.” (WFP) J&J’s O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy at CENTENNIAL CONCERT HALL, Dec 30. 20%-off code: FRINGE
Individually wrapped candies, board game chatter, crossing things off a list: no joy is too meagre, no minutiae too minute. We invite you to indulge yourself in the comedic exploration of the small contentment that life offers. Enjoy 45 individual minutes, one after the other, consecutively, filled with sketches, jokes, whimsy and delight. Come, sit in a luxurious bar, located beneath another bar. Enjoy a beverage if that's your pleasure. Splurge on a resplendent napkin - they are free. Partake in the Meagre Joys.
Is it possible to tell the story of human existence in one hour? Find out as George takes you on a wild 50,000-year ride in a performance that amuses and entertains as it asks the big questions about what we’ve done and why it matters. Discover why Ghengis Khan was the original gangster, a giraffe is the ultimate status symbol, and Marie Antoinette’s court was basically the lunchroom from Mean Girls. From the creator of I Lost on Jeopardy: 5 STARS “one-man master class in punchy, engaging storytelling” – Winnipeg Free Press
Chris Gibbs (Gibberish, The Power of Ignorance, Not Quite Sherlock, Like Father, Like Son? Sorry.) has been performing comedy since the late 1900s. This year, he will return to his favourite place to perform some of his favourite stories and jokes; the best bits from three decades, but now with more maturity and wisdom. Some things people have said… "One of the funniest guys around.” - National Post 5 STARS "In a word, hilarious." - CBC 5 STARS "Hilarious." - Winnipeg Free Press
“GENIUS of physical comedy” - Entertainment World On TV, Ingrid puppeteers for the Jim Henson Company and Sesame. On stage, she creates puppet characters with nothing but her hands, found objects, mirrors and illusion. Epidermis Circus is a bawdy puppetry cabaret, where the guests are different parts of the human body, like eager host Florence McFingernails and standup comedian Lenny the Boob. “HILARIOUS. Absurd and profoundly human.” - StarPhoenix Co-creator of Merkin Sisters 5 STARS, Interstellar Elder 5 STARS, Snack Music 5 STARS - CBC.
Guided by the drunken muse of poet Charles Bukowski, Bremner celebrates inebriation, revelry and community. With songs from Tom Waits, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Sinatra and maybe even Rihanna, this cabaret concert honours the fun, heartbreak and magic of a night out at the bar. Bremner is thrilled to be back at the Winnipeg Fringe! "He will have you close to tears one moment and laughing the next - an absolute joy to watch.” - New Orleans Defender Magazine “Sleazy. Stirring. Utterly memorable.” - The Sunday Times, UK
Billed as “the best storyteller in the US” (Orlando Sentinel), Dockery’s comedic, ridiculous and deeply personal story dives headlong into the mysterious connection between love and death. Funny, true and heartbreaking - sometimes all at once. Not to be missed! 5 STARS "A verbal magician” - NOW Magazine, Toronto “Intimate and hilarious” - Georgia Straight, Vancouver “Deliriously entertaining” - Orlando Weekly “Hilarious, life-affirming, poignant and ridiculous" - Charleston City Paper “Storytelling at its finest.” - City Paper, Rochester
Una’s been called a “TOUR DE FORCE” - The Montreal Gazette. Winner: BEST OF FEST for Recess, Winnipeg Fringe Vulvas, penises and pandemics! Ask Me Anything is a hilarious show about the ups and downs of a Sex Ed teacher who doesn’t have any of the answers. The newest work from award-winning performer/playwright Una Aya Osato, based on their own life in all the above. A tell-all adventure into the pleasure and pain of promising more than you can offer.
When Les buys an iconic fedora worn by famed 1940s movie detective Dana Andrews, the lines between reality and film noir blur as he investigates a series of suspicious pet deaths. Two actors and 13 crazy characters take you through a stylistic fantasy with bust-a-kneecap laughs. 4 1/2 STARS “...a slapstick homage to film noir that was unequivocally the funniest piece of theatre I have seen all year… this is a quirky, genuinely fun show that should not be missed!” - Canada Fringe Review
Each show, we celebrate a different occasion missed during the pandemic. A turducken of improv! The Rascals have been entertaining audiences with their clean improv comedy since 2001. Every show is different, based on audience suggestions. A list of each show’s theme can be found on our website. The Rascals keep it clean, except during their late-night Dark Rascal Hours, which are uncensored shows featuring guest improvisers. No telling what can happen during Dark Rascals shows.
THE HIT SHOW IS BACK! Half a million kids on five continents loved African Folktales. Talking giraffes, zany zebras, galumphing elephants and much more magic. African Folktales come to vibrant life through storytelling, puppetry, physical comedy and lots of laughs. 5 STARS “It’s superb. Don’t miss it.” - CBC Manitoba 5 STARS “The man just knows how to tell a story.” - Winnipeg Free Press 5 STARS “de Waal's physical comedy is impeccable... It's great, as is this whole performance.” - StarPhoenix
BACK FROM THE DEAD, 2010’s chillarious five-star monster smash was to be resurrected for its 10th terrifying anniversary, but if any remount was gonna be cursed by a two-year plague… Like Frankenstein’s monster, this revolting remount, stitched together from the original 2010 show and two shriekquels, pays terrifying tribute to EC Comics, shlocky gimmick-filled horror movies and live spook shows of old! WARNING: the scares get up ghost and personal; even in the audience, you’re not safe… 5 STARS “So funny, it’s scary" – Winnipeg Free Press
The Sidetrack Bandits are back with a sketch comedy show you know they’ve been slaving over for the past three years (pressure much?) Consisting of three couples, the Sidetrack Bandits love writing comedy that’s physical, character-driven and playfully absurd. Try to imagine their excitement in welcoming you to their fourth consecutive (can they still call it that?) Fringe show! Who doesn’t need 45 minutes of solid laughs with a random group of strangers? You in?
A group of professional comedians attempt to invent a hilarious improvised play while at the mercy of a mischievous director who breaks all the rules. Every night, a different actor transforms into a power-hungry head honcho with the ability to throw outrageous obstacles at their fellow performers. With the aid of live musical accompaniment, the members of Club Soda Improv try to tell a coherent story as they juggle bizarre challenges, mood swings and dramatic plot twists. When everything goes wrong, you’re in for an unforgettable time.
An original musical satire of Broadway's "most loved" feline musical, with less plot, tighter leotards and one throbbing mystical sword! ThunderCATS HO! "I blacked out from laughter. 6 sticks out of 6!" - High Praise Fringe Reviews 5 STARS "A brilliantly bonkers musical spectCATular that will have you howling with laughter until your face and sides cramp." - Alberta Theatre Guide 5 STARS "The show is hysterical and a laugh-out-loud experience from the moment the cast first appears on stage in body paint and leotards." - Daze Magazine
When a surprise visitor appears at Scud the Vampire’s door, Scud is launched on a madcap journey into the depths of his home, his mind, and beyond. Part Dracula, part Mr. Bean, part Journey to the Center of the Earth. From Just for Laugh’s Comedy Award Winner and creator of Fool Muun Komming! (Artists' Pick - Edmonton Fringe) Sam Kruger comes a darkly funny and oddly poetic play that "captures everything that Fringe should be about" (Capital Critics' Circle). "Sam Kruger is a special and weird, Fringe jewel" - CBC
HUNKS (5 STARS) returns to the Winnipeg Fringe with another brand-new sketch comedy show. "This comedy is as slick as it gets." - Randall King, Winnipeg Free Press "Funnier than most good episodes of Saturday Night Live." - Jen Zoratti, Winnipeg Free Press "Expertly crafted humour that doesn't give the audience a chance to catch a breath." - Jake Pesaruk, VUE Weekly (Edmonton)
Orphia Flange, SPACE RANGER, is wandering the galaxy. She mourns the loss of her beloved partner who died under suspicious circumstances. Meanwhile, the Galactic Council seems to be surrendering its authority to their overseer, the evil Vizier, who is seeking immortality. Orphia must find answers: who is responsible for the death of her beloved? Can her AI-driven spaceship with a pert personality help her survive? Where can she get the most hallucinogenic coffee in the galaxy? The Paladin - a rollicking space/cowgirl adventure!
Adam Bailey has toured the Fringe telling stories where the Truth is stranger than fiction: Franz Ferdinand Must Die (4 STARS - CBC, Winnipeg Free Press), The Life Henri (5 STARS - VUE Weekly, Edmonton). But what does it mean to tell the Truth in an era when everyone has their own facts? Adam examines this question with heartfelt humour and self-deprecation. A follow-up to the work he did in their coming out bioplay, Adam Bailey is on Fire (4 1/2 STARS - Edmonton Sun) and the seminal text Plato's Republic (4 STARS - Goodreads).
5 STARS "HILARIOUS, EMPOWERING & EXTREMELY VULNERABLE." – CBC Multi-award-winning Standup Comedian and Storyslam Champion, Stéphanie Morin-Robert (Winnipeg Comedy Fest, The Moth, JFL), recounts her rocky childhood, high-risk pregnancy, and epic 56-hour labour as she mines laughs from her most embarrassing sex story yet. "OUTRAGEOUSLY HILARIOUS!" - Montreal Gazette BLACK EYE is a boundary punching live comedy album recording from the creator of sellout shows BLINDSIDE and THE MERKIN SISTERS.
Sensible Chuckle Theatre (A Most Daring Murder Mystery [Tom Did It]; Living with a Magician) is back with the life-changing show of the millennium. Well-known motivational speaker enthusiasts Alex and Tim Coates use their trademark-pending energy and style to provide a wealth of verified-ish knowledge on important topics like business, meditation, disarming nuclear bombs, and more! Critics are raving, calling the show “unprecedented” and “wait, what?” Come learn to live your life the right way with A BROTHERS GUIDE.
Everything's actually okay... right? At least it sort of was in 2020 when we started writing this show. As it turns out, everything's still actually okay... right? Come and see - through the lens of longtime performers and friends, Laura and Erin, an honest and heartfelt variety show about how everything's really actually okay... right?
Winnipeg Fringe welcomes Magic & Mystery with Ken Sky, internationally renowned magician. Three-time Magician of the Year, Ken has performed in Mexico, Paraguay, Germany, Costa Rica, Las Vegas and Canada. INCREDIBLE right from the start with a surprising moment. Laugh-out-loud interactive magic and mysteries.
You’ve heard the jokes about bedwetters, but have you listened to the stories? Tamlynn Bryson recounts her sometimes heartbreaking, often hilarious, and completely true story of becoming a woman while still feeling like a child. 5 STARS "Wonderfully crafted, funny, and touching” - Theatre in London “Very inspiring” - Steel City Girl Reviews “Bryson’s delivery is unfailingly excellent” - ColinThomas.ca “Please go see Bedwetter; you’ll be so glad you did" - View Magazine
From 17-time Fringe Fest award winner Tim Motley PATRONS' PICK - Winnipeg Fringe 4 1/2 STARS “Amazing” - Winnipeg Free Press 5 STARS “Incredible” - Edmonton Journal Gritty 1930s film-noir retro collides with futuristic sci-fi in this hilarious time-travelling stage magic spectacle! Charge your flux capacitors and sharpen your Blade Runners! COMEDY Award - Perth Fringe Fest 2022 4 STARS “Magic of Future Past has us all laughing out loud, completely mesmerised” - Fourth Wall Media
“Just what we need, another show about men.” – Raves No One Explosive, athletic, visceral physical theatre ruined by a tragic lack of understanding. Award-winning PUSH Physical Theatre, called “a perfect metaphor-in-motion” by CITY Newspaper and “a rare treat” by NY Theatre Guide, creates a masculinity satire by two well-meaning fools - arguing, dancing, desperately clinging to the status quo. Are we just watching a couple of petty idiots or is this the most insightful piece of theatre of the 21st century? … No.
Watch Canada vs. USA in the 2022 Olympic gold medal hockey game (this time with NHL stars) at the fictional Puck & Pickle Pub! FRINGE LEGENDS Jon Paterson and Ryan Gladstone play themselves, the commentators and every single one of the patrons in this "wildly funny and wonderfully crafted" show (5 STARS, CBC)! The play is a hilarious race to the final buzzer. 5 STARS "Plenty of laughs in this fast-paced comedy" - Edmonton Sun 5 STARS "Fringe legends" - Globe and Mail 5 STARS "Comic gold mine" - Vancouver Province
Canadian Premiere! Susan Jeremy ( P.S. 69, Teacher in the House) accidentally became a teacher after years of stand-up and being fired from almost every survival job. She was scarred for life when let go from Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips. But, she persevered, only to be fired as a clown, an usher and a roller-skating cigarette girl. Critics have said about her previous work: "Larger than life and twice as funny" - Globe and Mail "Jeremy is an excellent storyteller" - Calgary Herald "A comic powerhouse" - Winnipeg Sun
The Harry S. Rintoul Award winner for Best New Manitoba Play is back! The Cause is a farce that follows five agents working for a rebellious organization plotting the assassination of a major political figure. Although each agent brings a unique set of skills to “The Cause,” they all share one important secret: each one is deep undercover, working for a different foreign interest to dismantle “The Cause” from within. As the mission draws nearer, the agents attempt to execute their plan without revealing their true intentions to one another.
Award-winning comedian Leif Oleson-Cormack pushes confessional comedy to its limits in this show about a methodically moronic plan to double-down on unrequited love through a disastrous trip to Disneyland. Featuring criminal acts, surgically-altered sugar daddies, Sinatra impersonators and a cynically-charged "coming out", this (unfortunately) true story is not to be missed. "His rawness and willingness to reveal things very few people would ever admit out loud...makes this the best thing I’ve seen so far at the Fringe." - Edmonton Journal
Bossy Flyer's 2019 sell-out hit is back! Inspired by Sartre's masterpiece No Exit, THREE is a wordless acrobatic thriller packed with adrenaline and a pulsating soundtrack. Stuck together awaiting eternal damnation, three condemned souls discover that hell is... other people. 5 STARS "A gripping story told through dazzling acrobatic feats" - CBC 5 STARS "A stunning show... [THREE] is pretty close to heaven." - Winnipeg Free Press 5 STARS "Gravity-defying... A complete triumph." - Edmonton Journal
Portland comedy duo returns with a new show about two ruffians faking hauntings to make a buck. A spooky-funny physical theatre show that lets YOU decide the characters’ next moves. Botched seances, bungled grave-robbing and a ghostly curse plague these two inept swindlers. Will they get out alive or will they make A GRAVE MISTAKE?! From the 20+ award-winning creators of Beau & Aero, Bella Culpa & Bad Habits Two-time Edmonton Best of Fest Winners “Physical comedy at its best” – London Free Press 4 1/2 STARS - Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Fringe legend TJ Dawe (Tired Cliches, A Canadian Bartender at Butlin’s, Medicine, The Slipknot, Operatic Panic Attack) riffs on food, the English language and the human body. “This guy’s headed for the stand-up hall of fame” - Georgia Straight “Dawe can actually make you hurt with laughter” - Montreal Gazette “A flawless performer” - Charleston City Paper “Come and see what a real virtuoso can do” - Edmonton Journal TJ’s been doing the Winnipeg Fringe since before people had e-mail addresses.
Family Dinner is back in action with another brand-new sketch show. Using their character-based sketches, Family Dinner creates a charming whack-o-sphere that has Kevin McDonald saying, "Honestly, it was funnier than I thought it would be." Will Family Dinner make it to regionals? Will they ever find love? Find out who will win in the ultimate battle between funny and just plain weird. 4 STARS - CBC 4 STARS - Winnipeg Free Press "The new cast of Glee looks terrible" - Toronto Sketchfest
The award-winning improvised musical comedy is back for its 10th Canadian Fringe Festival! Based on suggestions from the audience, the cast creates a brand-new musical comedy on the spot, complete with twisting plots and show-stopping numbers - laughs are guaranteed. 4 1/2 STARS "Hilarious! The show left me laughing uncontrollably." - Edmonton Journal 4 STARS "Fabulous foolishness in five part harmony" - CBC Manitoba 4 STARS "What they do seems virtually impossible" - Breakfast Television
Based on actual reports, writings and speeches, Metis actor John D. Huston (SHYLOCK, Underneath the Lintel, two Sherlock Holmes adventures, A Christmas Carol) and writer Keir Cutler (Teaching Shakespeare) resurrect a government bureaucrat who attempts to justify the unjustifiable: Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s vision for Canada’s Natives and the ongoing repercussions. A compelling look at what is “civilized”. Directed by Paul Hopkins (A.D. Shakespeare in the Park, Montreal; Actor: Stratford Festival, More Tales of the City).
Following the year that provided her first sexual encounter and the recognition that she wasn’t just attracted to men, Lea searched for answers online but came up empty-handed. Instead, she turned to a vlog camera to provide her thoughts and experiences, along with some unsolicited advice. Returning (hopefully) revamped and (definitely) unhinged from the 2019 Winnipeg Fringe (4 STARS - Winnipeg Free Press), Marie Kozyra continues to offer vulnerability and laughter as she explores queer identity, dating mishaps and awkward physical intimacy.
Oh boy! We've got some things to talk about! Join bilingual comedian Barney Morin for a fun evening of very serious jokes. He's taking jokes very seriously and so should you! 4 STARS "Fun, energetic and informative" - CJOB 4 1/2 STARS - 2019 Fringe audience review
18-time Best of Fest winners and international Fringe favourites return! Flight of the Concords meets Pee-Wee’s Playhouse in this HILARIOUS, SONG-FILLED VARIETY SHOW FOR ADULTS guaranteed to be the Greatest Theatrical Performance of a Travel Guide to a Place You Can’t Go! Sidesplitting surrealist stories! Silly songs! Spuppets! S! "These two are comedic geniuses" - Pittsburgh Stage | Best Variety Show - Orlando Fringe From the creators of: Ain't True & Uncle False and Tales Too Tall for Trailers 5 STARS - Winnipeg Free Press
Come join the fun as a rotating line-up of neurodiverse comics share their thoughts, stories and lives. The show is always fun and always new. Featuring comics at all levels, from seasoned veterans and Fringe favorites to brand-new comics.
Fringe veteran Chase Padgett (6 Guitars, Nashville Hurricane) brings a brand-new show about being a live-in caretaker for his mother and then becoming a semi-finalist on Fox’s newest unscripted singing show, Alter Ego. His trademark humour, storytelling and songcraft is on full display as he reveals what it's REALLY like to be on a big budget network talent show. 5 STARS “Padgett is a virtuoso guitar player and deft actor.” - CBC
Some of Winnipeg’s finest queer performance-creators come together in this hilarious and heartfelt dance-adjacent piece, FERN. What’s a dance-adjacent piece, you may ask? Well, you’ll have to come find out! In this snappy 45 minutes of highly entertaining and hilarious physical theatre, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll remember to take better care of that houseplant you bought when you first moved into that new apartment and have since neglected. Things get sweaty and sexy as this company performs all in the same space at the same time.
A follow-up to the award-winning hit comedy Field Zoology 101! Armed with a collection of stories almost as unbelievable as his credentials, infamous Field Zoologist Brad Gooseberry returns from a court-ordered sabbatical to bring you up to date on the newest and most exciting developments in the animal sciences. 4 STARS “Brilliant” - Edmonton Journal 4 STARS “A first-rate comedic talent” - Winnipeg Free Press “Never stops surprising” - Georgia Straight “Shawn O’Hara is my new Fringe hero.” - Colin Thomas, Fresh Sheet
Gabe Mollica started comedy the day after he got cheated on. In the process, he learned a lot about friendship. This is that show.
5 STARS “Standup comedy with soul” - Winnipeg Free Press 5 STARS “Comedy everyone can relate to” - CBC Manitoba God Is A Scottish Drag Queen celebrates 10 years on the Fringe! God, dressed in a floral powersuit, returns to set the record straight on everything from Adam and Eve to menopause in a hilarious and unforgettable “Best Of” performance combining the favourite jokes and stories from all eight productions. Come and see why God has become the most popular show on the Fringe!
After successful shows in California and Winnipeg, Greg Evans brings his one-man play, Scattered Seeds, to the Fringe. Scattered Seeds is a tale of perseverance as Greg chronicles his experiences growing up amidst the chaos of mental health and illness that led to his own issues with substance abuse. Achingly honest, at times hilarious, this solo musical storytelling takes the audience on a journey from helplessness to redemption. ASL Interepretation offered on July 13th and July 15th.
CABARET SIDE SHOW is a musical revue set in the 1930s. The performers are rehearsing for their big opening night at the Cabaret and everyone is welcome. An evening of sultry passion, music and dance.
A musical comedy show done by comedians who are great at comedy and kinda okay at music! Featuring some of Winnipeg’s favourite comedians, these songs are so funny you might forget that the people singing are not musicians. If you’re a fan of Radiohead, Dolly Parton, Len or Lou Bega, and also a fan of parody songs, this show might be for you.
Waking up in a crop circle of your own making. You are in the middle of it and there are no footprints. It’s all normal until it’s not. Profanity in prayer. From the collaborators of III, Writing on the Stall, Purge, Jellyfish are Immortal, Angels & Aliens, Village Ax and Bizarro Obscure.
Prince Charming loves Princess Rose. Princess Rose loves Prince Charming. But... Rose is not a typical princess. Raised by wolves and her acerbic fairy godmother, Rose struggles with human customs. Then, there's the test. From the company that brought you: Motherhood Out Loud (" punctuated with moments that are touching, painful and frustrating") - Winnipeg Free Press 2019 Not Medea 5 STARS ("a complex, intelligent and multilayered piece of theatre") - Winnipeg Free Press 2018
5 STARS - CBC & Winnipeg Free Press The critical hit show is back for its 13th non-consecutive year! A fully improvised Dungeons & Dragons adventure, each show picks up where the last one left off! Heroes and villains to fall in love with, giant 20-sided dice to be rolled, epic battles and so much more! Bet you can't see just one!
SOLD OUT 2019 WINNIPEG FRINGE. 5 STARS - WINNIPEG FREE PRESS. One of 18 worldwide 'Best of' shows selected to participate in the Fringe Encore series, Off-Broadway at the historic SoHo Playhouse in New York City in 2019. Sell-out run. Finalist for the Offies OnComm award, Edinburgh 2022. An inspirational true story about overcoming obstacles, pursuing passions and the healing power of music. A heartfelt passion project that began as an idea after a devastating life event caused Keith Alessi to think differently about his future.