Fringe artists on the town

As always, the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, which runs to Sunday at various locations, attracts artists from all over the world. We sent out a survey to a handful of out-of-towners about their experiences at North America’s second-largest fringe. Here are some of their responses:

Joanna Rannelli

Vancouver

First fringe: 2023

Current show: Bangs, Bobs and Banter: Confessions of a Hairstylist

Winnipeg’s current slogan is “Made from What’s Real.” Some people don’t like it, others do. What slogan would you suggest?

I do like that slogan, but if I were to pick something else: Beautiful from the inside out.

When people ask about your Winnipeg fringe experiences, which stories spring to mind?

The people in Winnipeg are some of the nicest people I have met on tour. It warms my heart to know that some people take their two-week vacations around the fringe so that they can come out and support the festival. Last year a woman came up to me after my show and said that she edited a book with similar themes as my show and wanted me to have a copy of the book, and sure enough a couple days later she dropped it off at my venue. How incredible and generous.

What’s the most challenging part of performing on the fringe circuit?

It can feel scary walking up to strangers and pitching your show. I have found Winnipeg patrons to be so open and they seem to genuinely want to hear about your show and get to know more about you. The people are why I keep coming back to Winnipeg fringe. They are so giving and amazing. I also find it hard being away from my dog. Luckily, when billeting, there is typically a dog or cat that is around to give and get love from.

There are a lot of magic shows this year. If you could pull off one magic trick, what would it be?

Make people laugh at the drop of a dime. I believe laughter can heal.

The theme this year is Gone Fringin’: Venture into Our Neck of the Woods. Describe your neck of the woods in one sentence.

My neck of the woods is miles of ocean wrapped in a mountain hug.

Describe your show in five words or fewer.

Revolving chair of colourful characters.

Chris Gibbs

Toronto

First fringe: 1997

Current shows: Not Quite Sherlock: The Gaslight Detective and Not Quite Sherlock: The Tunnel of Terror

Never Forget Your First

My first trip to the Winnipeg fringe was 1997. I was doing two shows with a comedy duo called Hoopal. One was a physical comedy theatre show called A Quiet Night In, which we had first performed earlier that year at the Wellington Fringe in New Zealand. The other was an outdoor show. Another touring performer saw one of the outdoor shows and introduced herself to me at the Saskatoon fringe. We’ve been married since 2000.

Winnipeg’s current slogan is “Made from What’s Real.” Some people don’t like it, others do. What slogan would you suggest?

Every time I tell Winnipeggers that I like the city, their response is something along the lines of “Really?” So, I would suggest … “Winnipeg; no, it is nice.” But based on what I’ve heard, a more appropriate one might be “Winter is coming.”

When people ask about your Winnipeg fringe experiences, which stories spring to mind?

We didn’t make it back to Winnipeg until 2000, but people remembered us, and were lining up for all of our shows from the beginning. It takes away a lot of the fear that comes from putting on a show, knowing that there is an audience that is looking for something they like and they will find you, even if you try to stop them.

How many kilometres (or miles) do you have to travel to get to Winnipeg? How are you getting here?

This is like that bit in The 39 Steps, except I’m coming from Toronto, so … 2,059 kilometres. Am I right, sir? I am flying and then I will get a cab. In 2005, when I first performed Not Quite Sherlock here, I had so little money in the bank that I had to walk in from the airport. Winnipeg is the only city I know where you can do that.

Based on your visits, what suggestions do you think the city should incorporate to improve itself?

Two fringe festivals?

What’s the most challenging part of performing on the fringe circuit?

For me, the challenge is what happens outside of the fringe. The Canadian fringe model is the best method I’ve ever seen for providing an opportunity to do the job that I love. It allows me to go out, deal directly with the audience, and if they like the show, they give me another chance next year. When it’s not fringe, it’s not directly about the audience anymore. The job becomes convincing a theatre to let me do a show for their audience, or trying to get a director to let me play a part for them. That can work out, and when it does, it’s nice. But that part of the job would be even more difficult without the confidence boost that comes from playing to a nice fringe audience.

The theme this year is Gone Fringin’: Venture into Our Neck of the Woods. Describe your neck of the woods in one sentence.

A 10-minute walk from the ravine.

Describe your show in five words or fewer.

Not Quite Sherlock … times two.

For more information on the fringe and to buy tickets, see winnipegfringe.com.

[email protected]

Ben Waldman
Reporter

Ben Waldman is a National Newspaper Award-nominated reporter on the Arts & Life desk at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ben completed three internships with the Free Press while earning his degree at Ryerson University’s (now Toronto Metropolitan University’s) School of Journalism before joining the newsroom full-time in 2019. Read more about Ben.

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