The Edmonton International Fringe Festival
August 13-23, 2026
Fringe is our favourite time of year! The theatre is bursting with energy and excitement as 8 incredible producers present 64 performances in just 10 days. From burlesque to improv, comedy to drag, there’s a show for everyone. Tickets go on sale August 5. Our shows sell fast—don’t miss out!
GORDON’S BIG BALD HEAD
THE FRUIT OF OUR PURLOINS
Improv comedy titans Jacob Banigan, Mark Meer, and Ron Pederson reunite from across the globe for the Edmonton Fringe Festival to pull off their annual feat of theatrical grand larceny... Watch in awe as they improvise their own version of ANY OTHER SHOW AT THE FESTIVAL!
Playwright: Gordon
Director: The Hand of Fate
Cast: Jacob Banigan, Mark Meer, Ron Pederson
BETWEEN THE COVERS
House of Hush Burlesque — Edmonton Fringe favourites — are BACK! See what the critics are raving about as we slip between the pages and into a world of passion, parody, and page-turning seduction in this romance-novel-inspired burlesque extravaganza. From windswept bodice rippers and dangerous fantasy lovers to forbidden desire, scandalous heroines, and happily-ever-afters with a wicked twist, this dazzling production brings your favourite romance tropes to life with glittering tease, laugh-out-loud comedy, and irresistible heat.
Playwright: Belinda Cornish
Director: Violette Coquette and Delia Barnett
Cast: Belinda Cornish, Violete Coquette, LeTabby Lexington, Jezebel Sinclair, Sharpay Diem, Fanny LuPhone, Vivian Vanguard
Designers: Elise Troung of Sweet Carousel and Ensemble, Puppet by Kiki Quinn.
Stage Manager: Vivian Vanguard
ROBOCOP! THE MUSICAL
The most ambitious show ever written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, the geniuses behind such classic musicals as "Oklahoma!" and "The Sound of Music", has never been produced for the stage- until now. Cousins in Law Productions is proud to present Rodgers and Hammerstein's ROBOCOP: The Musical. Part Man. Part Machine. All Musical
Playwright: Andrew Boyd, Lauren Boyd
Directors: Lauren Boyd, Aly Horne
Cast: Sable Boltz, Andrew Boyd, Andrew Domanski, Rhiannon Eldridge, Jason Hardwick, Jesse Harlton, Sarah Kyle, Lucas Paterson, Alex Sahli, David Widder-Varhegyi, Ben Healey
Designers: Karlie Christie
Stage Manager: Quinn Woodruff
Go West, Young Man
First there was BitchSlap! Then came Typhoon Judy. Get ready for the newest chapter in Darrin Hagen’s Hollywood Drag Icon series.
Hollywood, 1963. An Ontario teenager arrives at the penthouse of aging diva Mae West to deliver a suitcase full of fan letters to her. Impressed by his youthful gumption, she hires him as her personal secretary. What the star doesn’t realize is that the young man is studying her every move.
The true story of Canadian Drag Legend Craig Russell’s summer of destiny.
From the award-winning company Guys In Disguise, marking 39 years of presenting outrageous Drag performance across Canada and the U.S.
Playwright: Darrin Hagen
Director: Darrin Hagen
Cast: Zachary Parsons-Lozinski, Andrea House, Ainsley Hillyard, David McNally
Designers: Andraya Diogo, Zachary Parsons-Lozinski, Darrin Hagen
Stage Manager: Gina Moe
Queens of Romance
As the Hopeless Romantics' vibrant annual event draws to a close, we are thrilled to announce our final panel- QUEENS OF ROMANCE. Join 3 of your favourite celebrity novelists as they dish the dirt, spill the tea, and share their secrets for success in the world of romance writing. Selling out- so book now!
From the folks who brought you past Fringe hits MASS DEBATERS and CAROLE OF THE BELLES.
Playwright: Trevor Schmidt
Director: Trevor Schmidt
Cast: Jason Hardwick, Jake Tkaczyk, Michelle Todd, Trevor Schmidt
Designers: Trevor Schmidt
Seanchaí
When Fionn, a young writer, visits Siobhan, a retired Seanchaí (shawn-uh-key, Irish Oral Storyteller), to get some tips on how to tell a good story he gets more of a lesson than he bargained for. As the two trade tales of Irish heroes like Cú Chulainn and Fionn mac Cumhaill, they begin to explore the importance of stories in shaping what we remember, and in helping us come to terms with what we forget.
Written by Gavin Bradley, Seanchaí is an award-winning new Canadian play developed and produced by Rua Theatre. The production features Susan Sneath, one of the original founders of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, in her return to the Fringe stage after a 20-year retirement!
Playwright: Gavin Bradley
Cast: Susan Sneath, Mark Guerrero
Designers: Rebecca Cypher, Rhiannon Eldridge
Stage Manager: Davis Shewchuk
Director: Amanda Goldberg
DieNasty!
Edmonton's Live Improvised Soap Opera
Your favourite cast and your favourite characters are back to take on all things Fringe. What's going to happen? We have no idea! If you think you know Die-Nasty - think again. We're back and better than ever.
Director: Peter Brown/Jake Tkaczyk
Cast: Caley Suliak, Cody Porter, Chris Bullough, Jason Hardwick, Jesse Gervais, Joel Taras, Kirsten Throndson, Kristi Hansen, Lindsey Walker, Nikki Hulowski, Stephanie Wolfe, Tom Edwards, & special guests! Music by Paul Morgan Donald.
MURDER PLOT
The dead body of the Lord of the Manor has been discovered, and everyone in the house is a suspect. Sort of. It's up to the World-Renowned Detective to gather the possible murderers, discover the motive, deduce the identity of the culprit, and solve the case! But the suspects can't stop "helping"...
Playwright: Trevor Schmidt
Director: Trevor Schmidt
Cast: Mark Facundo, Morgan McClelland, Kristin Peters, Ed Picard, Sarah Rossman, Jeremy Schick, Marissa Tordoff
Designers: Trevor Schmidt
Stage Manager: Victoria Jones
FAQs
Click the arrows below to read the answers to some of our most common Fringe questions. Need more info? Shoot us an email: frontofhouse@varsconatheatre.com
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All Fringe Festival ticketing is handled through the Fringe Theatre Box Office. Head to tickets.fringetheatre.ca to purchase online. You can also call the box office at 780-409-1910, visit the main Fringe Box Office (10330 84 Avenue), or visit one of the satellite box offices located on the festival site.
Please note: the Varscona Theatre does not operate a box office during the Fringe Festival.
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Absolutely. The Varscona Theatre is equipped with three wheelchair seats. We are also happy to reserve spots in the first few rows for patrons with disabilities. If you use a walker, a cane, a wheelchair, or you just need a little extra help, we’ve got you covered.
If you need reserved accessible seating, please contact the Fringe Box Office at boxoffice@fringetheatre.ca or call 780-409-1910. They will get in touch with our team to make all the arrangements.
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We sure do! Our concession opens 15 minutes before each show. We’ll be fully stocked with beer, wine, and variety of non-alcoholic options. Don’t forget to grab a pack of Twizzlers—it’s an Edmonton theatre tradition.
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No, but we love that you’re sticking around for multiple shows! We ask that patrons please exit the venue and get into the lineup for the next show.
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We want to caution parents that not all of our programming may be suitable for children. This year most of our shows carry a 14A content rating. The Edmonton Fringe has helpful notes about each show in their program guide and on their box office website—tickets.fringetheatre.ca.
Please note: Bump and Grindhouse Burlesque, presented by House of Hush, is strictly for 18+ audiences only. No minors will be allowed into the performance.
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We do! Please email our front-of-house manager, Garett Ross, at frontofhouse@varsconatheatre.com for help locating your item.
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Our bathrooms are for Varscona patrons only. If you’re in the building to watch a show, you are most welcome to use our facilities.
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During the Fringe Festival, latecomers are not permitted.