It’s that time of year again. From Sept. 7–17, the lively seaside city of Vancouver hosts the annual Vancouver Fringe Festival, a vibrant celebration of theatre, storytelling and performance. This year, festival producers Travis Bernhardt and Chris Nash of Chris and Travis oversee 40 Fringe performers and artists and present a special two-hour preview on Sept. 6. At the preview, each act gets two minutes to pitch their show to festival-goers, offering a fast, exciting snapshot of the diverse programming on offer.
The Dramatic Works Series shines a spotlight on playwrights of Asian descent, featuring several notable productions. Among them are Gruesome Playground Injuries by Island Productions, written by Rajiv Joseph; I Am For You, written by Mieko Ouchi and produced by Wunderdog Theatre; Bombay Black, by Anosh Irani; and Bondage, written by David Henry Hwang and presented by West Moon Theatre. These plays explore a range of themes and styles, from intimate character studies to bold, provocative narratives.
Fringe Workshops remain a popular component of the festival, offering hands-on learning and creative exploration for participants. Highlights this year include Shadow Puppetry with Mind of a Snail, suitable for adults and teens aged 14 and up; How to Puppeteer Anything: Object Puppetry Masterclass led by Ingrid Hansen of Snafu; and a two-track storytelling series titled Your Story. Your Voice., which separates sessions for New to Storytelling and for Experienced Storytellers. These workshops provide rare opportunities to develop performance skills and connect with makers in an encouraging environment.
Across venues around the city, including the lively Granville Island arts district, the festival presents around 100 shows spanning theatre, musical theatre, puppetry, comedy and more. Among the season’s standout offerings are Cry-Baby: The Musical from Vancouver-based Awkward Stage Productions, a fresh take on musical storytelling; Interstellar Elder, presented by Little Orange Man, which mixes speculative ideas with emotional resonance; Kitt & Jane, the imaginative tale of a 96-year-old astronaut tasked with safeguarding the last remnants of humanity; and Gold, Guns & Greed, a gripping dramatization that revisits the story of Gold Rush-era serial killer Agnus McVee.
Beyond the mainstage productions, the festival atmosphere includes live music, street-level performances and a wide array of food options, creating a lively cultural hub where audiences can sample new work, discover emerging artists and celebrate community. Whether you’re a longtime Fringe fan or a first-time attendee, the Vancouver Fringe Festival offers a rich, inclusive program full of surprising moments and unforgettable performances.