Level up your fringe experience

It’s Super Bowl week in the Arts & Life department – a.k.a. when we review every single show at the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival in the first few days of its run – so I’m resharing my list of fringe tips from last year because you know what? It is, frankly, very good information — especially if this is your first foray into fringe — and if performers can remount the same show in consecutive years, so can I!

I’ve updated it for this year, and added some new tips. Happy fringing!

Get a physical program. I know we do everything on our phones now, but having a physical book to page through is very helpful – and in 2026, analogue is in.

In the program, you’ll find a description of every show at the fringe listed by venue, as well as each show’s length (75 minutes is the max, typically, but generally fringe shows are 60 minutes), genre classification, and performance schedule.

Programs are $10 and are available at Liquor Marts as well as Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s box office and the info tent in Old Market Square. You can also download it.

Make sure your schedule is doable. Reviewers blessedly do not make their own fringe schedules, nor do we choose what shows we are seeing. Randall King, noted veteran Freep writer and Fringe Czar (a title I just made up for him and would no doubt horrify him), does it, and I don’t know what kind of algorithm he has in his brain, but he always makes sure I have ample time between shows or that I’m parked at one venue the entire time.

But I’ve deduced a thing or two from how my schedule are built, so here is my advice: Go through the program and pick out a handful of shows you really want to see, then spend some time seeing if the venues are close together and/or if you’re interested in seeing multiple shows at the same venue. This is the easiest and most stress-free way to do a double- or triple-header if you want to make a day or evening of it.

Think of considerations such as when/where to get meals, and if the venue is licensed (which typically means it’s 18+), has a bathroom and is accessible. If you are venue hopping, ensure that you have time to get to your next show, which leads me to the next two points:

Do not be late. You won’t get in. Period, end of.

Do not leave. You will not be re-admitted. Period, end of.

Be aware that sometimes the run time stated in the program is not the actual run time. This has happened to me a handful of times and it may affect you getting to your next show (though I will say, I’ve encountered shorter-than-advertised run times more often than longer-than-advertised run times).

Leave a buffer. Or read our reviews. We do have a limited word count, but we try to include practical information like this.

Book your tickets in advance. Tickets can be bought at the door; they go on sale 30 minutes before the first show of the day and 15 minutes after the start of the previous show. However, you’re rolling the dice. I recommend buying online to avoid disappointment.

Tickets for all performances are available in advance and are $12-$14. Advance tix are available up to four hours before a performance.

Frequent fringer? You can also get eight-show and 14-show passes.

Relatedly, book that hot show ASAP. Not to brag, but people will start mentioning five-star Freep reviews early on. If a show is getting lots of heat and you want to see it, get your tickets right away.

Have an open mind. Look, some fringe shows are spectacular, some will feel like they’ve lasted your entire life, some are WTF (complimentary) and others are WTF (derogatory).

Take a chance on shows that might be outside your comfort zone or your preferred genre. Who knows? It might be the best thing you see all year.

I’ve seen some truly special shows twice in a single festival because remember: once fringe is over, you may never see that particular production again.

Chat with people in line. This is a social event, so strike up conversations with your fellow fringers in line. Ask them what they have seen, what they liked, what they hated, and what they are planning to see. Lots of intel to be gathered in line.

Also, sometimes you’ll be at the end of the line and will have to hold up a sign to that effect, and that is a great icebreaker.

Be nice to volunteers, always, but especially on Day One. Fringe is an annual miracle that happens because of the tireless efforts of volunteers. Many of them are vets for whom this is not their first rodeo, but for many others, this is their first rodeo and they are learning the ropes. Be patient, be helpful.

Bring a paper clip. This is a weird tip, I realize, but go with me. Artists have to hustle to drum up word of mouth for their shows, and they do this via handbilling. They will approach you while you’re in line for other shows, make their elevator pitch for their production, then give you the actual handbill, which includes pertinent info about the show.

First of all, ACCEPT THE HANDBILL. Do not leave a poor artist hanging, especially the person promoting their one-person show.

Second: handbills can be quite useful in guiding your fringe experience, especially if you enjoyed the presence of the artist you just got to meet in the wild.

This is where the paper clip comes in. I like keeping them all together with a paper clip affixed to the front cover of my program, so I can refer to them later, they aren’t getting smushed in my bag, and, crucially, they aren’t creating litter in the venue or outside.

And finally, read our reviews. Think of this as my handbill! We’re seeing everything so you don’t have to.

I, personally, am seeing 12 shows in four days. A selection of our reviews will run in the paper, and all of them will be online here by Tuesday, July 21.

winnipegfreepress.com/jenzoratti