Vancouver Fringe

Great event of short theatre for 11 days in early September

Volunteer Coordinators unsigned me from my shifts I waited weeks for to do a specific role. To say "We want you to sign up for stuff we need as an opportunity to use your skills, not what you want to do" (Out of the blue and didn't tell me in advance). I didn't volunteer this year because of that, at this point why do the sign ups if you're going to force people to do shifts you want them to do.

My favorite vancouver festival to go to, lots variety and lots local talents, always brings me surprises; and they did a great job for safety protocols during Covid-19

We just happened to be in Vancouver whilst the Vancouver Fringe was on. We've been to the Edinburgh fringe many times and thought we'd give this a go. It takes place on Granville Island. It had a very different vibe to Edinburgh. You also have to pay for a 'membership' before you can buy tickets for any shows. The volunteers seemed to be trying their best, but the technology for booking/ buying tickets seemed awkward. Also, make sure you get to shows at least 10 minutes before as we arrived to the first one 5 minutes before and were rushed in saying that we we were late and to sit down quickly! Overall, the 4 comedy shows we went to were quite good.

Love the Fringe Festival. We anchored in False Creek & took the tender (the dinghy) to Granville Island & tied up at the public dock. We were really close to the box office & managed to walk from one show to another. I could not have had a better time.

Granville Island is a great location for a festival, such a great vibe, so many restaurants. The island was packed with theatre goers. Saw several productions, deep dives and terrific comedy.

I attended a number of shows this year which were generally excellent, but my experience today was such a nasty shock, and so disappointing. Beware-when the front of the house decides it's time to close the doors- that's it. So if you think you are on time because your cell clock says so- and you know your cell is accurate as is used by you as a time device- it,may be a minute or two slower than theirs. Best to assume they will close the doors 5 minutes early. As I was 1 minute past the posted time-which they know is not an exaggeration- I was shut out.Where do you draw the line? Allow extra minutes (2-3) for time inconsistencies.

Great art performances. Always with it to go and see as many as you can. Highly recommend the preview show where they do 40 shows, 3mins a piece, so you can get a taste of what to expect or decide to go to see fully.

Do NOT do business with this group! My husband and I attempted to purchase a multi-show pack of tickets. The Fringe Festival's software malfunctioned, which they admitted in an email, and we were charged without my husband getting his tickets. Then they refused to refund our money. Definitely a shady outfit.

This festival of absurd and wonderful theatre is so much fun - even if you end up at a sucky show or two. But when you find a great one - trust me, lines from it can stay with you for years. One show I saw eight years ago (8!) called "Labrador" still sticks with me. The performer, TJ Dawe, is still performing, directing, and writing new shows at the Fringe, and he's a pretty reliable Fringe pick (go see Totem Figures, playing at Havana Restaurant.) Otherwise, it's fun just to go down to Granville Island during the Fringe with no particular ideas, and just see whatever is playing or whatever looks good. If you make a night of it, you can probably cram in about three shows, two with a dinner/drinks break. Shorter shows are about 20-30 minutes, longer shows run up to an hour or an hour and 15 minutes. If you really, really want to see something, advance tickets are a good idea, but every venue holds back some tickets at the venue, and the box office for each show open 50 minutes before the performance. I made the mistake of waiting til after dinner to purchase tickets for one show, and by the time I got there, they were sold out. Who knew a play about socks in the dryer (yes, socks) would be so popular? PS Experimental theatre may not be suitable for kids. It can be raw stuff. But you'll probably laugh, perhaps even if it's not a comedy...

Fun festival full of charm and wonderfully talented people! The atmosphere is energizing and festive. Everyone's mood seems to be lifted, wandering around Granville Island, the hub of the Festival. Buskers and musicians performing out front to the main Fringe office entertain hundreds of tourists and locals attending the festival. We caught the production "Wanderlust" which was appropriate for us ;-) Martin Dockery, (of Brooklyn N.Y.) tells the story of his travels in North Africa and describes his dismal home life as the reason for his decision to travel "to an exotic place". He so well describes each scene that you forget the stark stage furnished with only one chair and a water bottle. You are totally drawn in to his hilarious story that in your mind you can actually see the characters and scenes happening before you. This is really what theater is all about!

I was lucky enough to get tickets for the opening night of God Machine at the Cultch on Friday. Loved it. A thought provoking show punctuated with some laugh out loud moments. The well written script is brought to life (and death) by two stage actors and the disembodied voice of the God Machine Itself. Two friends awake post car crash with nothing but questions. Lucky for them God Machine is there to answer them. The two friends rapidly ask the big questions of life and the small questions in life. From the meaning of life to where a prized baseball card was lost. How does God Machine have the answers? Well that is answered too. Two days after the show and I am still wrestling with 'What question would I ask the God Machine' - and whether I would even want the answer. What question would you ask God Machine? I cannot recommend this show enough. Tyler Bielman has put together a funny, emotional and thoughtful 45 minute piece of entertainment - the fast moving dialogue delivered by three great performances Simon

Just saw the show habitats at the Cultch. Self-indulgent twaddle. If you like to watch two weirdly dressed women making weird noises in the dark, this show is for you. Billed as all ages or kid-friendly or similar, unless kids have changed a whole lot in recent years I don't see them being amused by this. Not a word spoken, it's very dark, no set, one woman on stilts (points to her for her agility), the other woman runs around, pours imaginary tea, does a bit of a shadow thing with a flashlight... billed as a comedy but barely a titter from the audience heard throughout. this kind of thing might entertain a few bored friends at a party, but it's damn nervy of them to call it a show and charge money for it.

On a whim, I decided to watch Dirk Darrow, and it was really a great show. Some tips. The fringe magazine is way better than the website. It is organized in a way where it is easier to see when the shows are You can watch multiple shows in a day as some shows are half an hour and some shows are longer You need a $5 fringe membership to watch shows. The membership is good until next year. All the shows are in the area of Granville Island.

Unlike Cameron M, I am NOT a huge theatre nerd. BUT... I really like this festival. I have been to a few performances over the past three years, and have 100% enjoyed them all. I must be honest though, as I have never actually picked a show myself. I guess my friends have good taste, or at least good luck in picking the best? I saw "The Accident" this year. A one man show that had me laughing for most of the hour and ten minutes. As a non theatre nerd, I am always impressed with the performers ability to entertain. Not for the glory or fame either. Just because they love doing it. Support your local Artists. IT IS IMPORTANT!

We went to the Fringe this past weekend and managed to see six shows. Two in particular stood out and are worth checking out if you are able to this week. Bella Culpa - "A Little Bit Off" is an engaging acrobatic clown duo from Portland who have created a lively, inventive show around a bumbling butler and maid attempting to clean house before the arrival of guests. Fun for the whole family. (Warning for introverts: some audience participation). The Old Woman - Wow. Sometimes you have one of those experiences which reaffirms what live theatre is able to do that few other art forms can do and that is create an immediate emotional connection there in the room. John Grady tells the story of his aging mother's mental and physical decline through words and dance. At times funny, at times terribly sad but always incredibly human and humane.

This is the first time I've been to the Fringe in Vancouver but I used to like it when I lived elsewhere... saw "A Man, A Magic, A Music" this year and it was awesome! Very professional, funny and a great review of black music in America with a lot of classic faves like Ray Charles, MJ, Chubby Checker... it's a fun show that will definitely put you in a good mood! It's gotten more expensive that what I remembered from a few years ago - it's an extra $2 for advance tickets, and any show is also $2 more if its on the weekend. (Ticket range from $10-$14 a person). Then there's the $5 fringe fee per person! Thre's the usual pain of dealing with the weekend Granville Island traffic, but overall I liked the show and the selection this year. Might try to see the Pick of the Fringe once this is over!

I beat the weekend crowds last night at the opening of the Fringe Fest to check out a few productions I can truly recommend already. There was a great energy outside the Waterfront Theatre as people lined up for tickets and performers from other productions worked the crowd with funny banter, pamphlets and even some magic tricks. The first production I can recommend is called "52 Pickup" which is the story of a couple mapped out over 52 scenes, each scene corresponding to a playing card. At the beginning they throw the deck into the air and pick them up one by one, playing out each scene so each performance is different. The actors were able to move quickly and seamlessly between scenes with an intensity that had us laughing, cringing or even feeling a little sad before moving on. My second recommendation is a quickie, micro-theatre experience - only 15 min, playing every half hour at the Boca Del Lupo Studio - called 'Capsule'. It's an absurd tragicomedy about an astronaut who has lost his way (in a cardboard, duct tape and scientific calculator space ship) and needs a friend. For 5 bucks and a short time investment, it was totally worth it! I'll definitely be heading back for more as the festival continues :)

My second year taking in what the Fringe Festival has to offer. I love it! More than just going to see a play, the atmosphere on Granville Island is fun, energetic and infectious. I went a few times and saw several shows on each visit - I recommend doing the same. Stroll around the island, get a drink or listen to some live music at the Fringe Bar (at Agro Cafe), ask strangers or performers what show you should see next! It's also really affordable for live theatre, only $10 for a weekday show or $12 on the weekend (and the weekday shows don't sell out as fast). I'll be putting it on my calendar for next September.

Having lived in Edinburgh - home to the largest theatre festival in the world - Vancouver's Fringe Fest seems small and disorganized. However, it is young, and it is gaining popularity despite funding cutbacks. I attended the Fringe for the first time last year and really enjoyed myself. Granville Island is transformed into an artsy, loud, fun bazaar of tourists, locals, self-proclaimed theatre nerds, actors, and late-night cafes. The reality is that you will see some amateurish doozies, but hidden amongst those amateurish doozies will be a few golden nuggets. At about $10 a pop, you can see four or five plays for the price of one play produced by our established Arts Club Theatre or Playhouse Theatre Company. If low-budget, unpredictable, raucous theatre isn't really your "thang", just wait until the Pick of the Fringe later in September. This consists of the most popular plays being reprised for limited-time viewing...and most of them are very good. The only drawback to attending the Pick of the Fringe is that it lacks the atmosphere of the real Fringe, in all of its inconsistent, flamboyant glory.

The Vancouver Fringe Festival 2019 is taking place around Vancouver. The Cultch is hosting a multitude of great shows at this year's Fringe Festival. Among these is "God Machine" by local writer and game designer Tyler Bielman (Magic the Gathering, Oshi, Gears of War). This play is funny, sometimes ribald but ultimately very moving. The actors have a great rapport and their authentic portrayal of friendship, highs and low blows, draws you in quickly. You want to stay with them as they search for the answer to what comes next

It's cheap and affordable and The shows are less time than a Broadway show. If you want suggestions of what to see, go ask a volunteer. Some of the shows can be hit or the rare miss. The festival is really friend and a good cheap party atmosphere at the bar with stuff like free Kareoke.

I recently went to see Misadventures of a Massage Therapist and was looking forward to a comedic evening full of crazy stories about massaging people. I really wanted to like it, but unfortunately the presentor just didn't hit the mark. During the hour long show, there was actually only one or two stories that involved massage therapy. The rest of the stories revolved around awkward do-it-yourself nipple piercings, bears and pepsi, ugly housing arrangements, a stolen traveling water bottle, and an umlimited supply of bathroom and fart jokes. Under normal circumstances, this odd assortment of random happenings could probably be very funny, but this time, it just wasn't. There was no timing and zero transition from one story to the next. I'm aware that most of the shows are a hit or miss, which the majority being a hit. This show however, was a miss.

Been volunteering and attending the Fringe for 2 years! It never disappoints to make me laugh with all of the great variety shows! 100% worth it! And come check out the bar!

Bastard Daughter Englebert Humperdinck. Saw it tonight. Highly recommend it! Kathryn Kirkpatrick is brilliant as she surfs through the characters of her mother's Englebert Humperdinck fan . One woman show written by Kathryn Kirkpatrick and Michelle Deines.