A Nerd’s Guide to the 2023 Vancouver Fringe Festival

Anyone living in the Pacific Northwest region has a double dose of Fringe should they choose to follow those travelling acts! The Vancouver Fringe Festival has a lot more to offer, and as for what I like to see, perhaps a weekend trip is in order. I’m always tempted to, but alas the budget sets me back. To alleviate this problem, there’s a few online shows being offered!

And what I’ll do is select new shows to check out rather than to repeat what I’ve seen from the Victoria Fringe Festival. Presented in no particular order are:

Warhol: Bullet Karma

Garry Roost
(Available to view online)

A darkly witty take on American pop art godfather Andy Warhol, with guest appearances from iconic figures such as Lou Reed, Capote, Edie Sedgwick and a visiting Francis Bacon. See what they all have to say about him and what HE says about them!

The Music of Tracy Chapman and Others

HUG
Revue Stage

HUG is a Canadian Indie Femme Artiste of Afrocentric descent who lends her powerful voice and unquestionable bass-playing talent to the songs and sounds of Tracy Chapman and other blues greats.

A Magic Show

Jordan Rooks
Revue Stage

Rooks has worked with some of the greatest entertainers of our time, both in Las Vegas and beyond. Now he has created a show about his life and the magical stories he has encountered along the way. A family-friendly magic show for all ages.

How To Be Japanese: Your Normal Is Not My Normal

Miyo the Storyteller
Carousel Theatre

Born in Japan and now living in L.A., Miyo Yamauchi weaves her signature wry humour with unique cultural perspectives in this witty world-premiere challenging stereotypical perceptions of ‘normal’.

The Disney Delusion

Leif Oleson-Cormack
The NEST

This cynically-charged confessional comedy tells the true tale of a scheme to double-down on unrequited love through a trip to Disneyland.

Grease, Too!

Nutmeg Creations
Studio 16

Ever wondered what Grease or Grease 2 would sound like when smooshed into a musical love letter to joy, groove, and meaning?

MONSTER

Direct Theatre Collective
Revue Stage

Multi-award winning Direct Theatre Collective return with a brand new musical. Unfolding the
effigy of the snake-headed, man-killing beast, to reveal a very human (often hidden) story of a most infamous monster, Medusa.

Magic Dropout

Rob Teszka
Carousel Theatre

Combining storytelling with magic, including a science award, invisible drinks, and an improvised academic lecture, Rob Teszka presents an irreverent magic show about everything from Mai Tais to academic burnout.

Shawshank: The Musical

District 13 Presents
Performance Works

Hope is a musical thing. From the makers of ‘Hunger Games: The Musical’ and ‘Die Hard: The Musical-ish’, comes an all new musical parody based on the classic prison drama, ‘The Shawshank Redemption’.

ParaNorma PI

BadPuss Productions
Leap Creative Studios

“We go to Hell and back to solve your case…literally.”

ParaNorma, the peculiar PI with supernatural abilities, channels eccentric otherworld witnesses when her inner-demon decides to take control.