The Guelph Fringe Festival is excited to return in August 2022. Attracting performing artists from all over the country, the four-day event will open your eyes to talent you've never seen before. Come to the Royal City for comedy, tragedy, and all manner of soon-to-be-award-winning acts. For schedule and tickets visit theguelphfringefestival.ca.

A Baby For Andy

Location: Silence

Drama

A queer couple has to come to terms with a dark secret between them a few months before the wedding.

Banjoker

Location: Red Brick Café

Comedy

BANJOKER, Is A fast paced funny stand up comedy with banjo pickin & snappy original songs and parodies.

Cheap Beer and a Bad Year

Location: Silence

Musical, One Man Show

When you lose it all, don't lose yourself. Cheap Beer and a Bad Year tells the story of the worst year of Adam Bryan's life, and the paths he forged to get to where he's at today. Join him on a musical misadventure in the form of a one man show where he recalls the ups and downs through song and comedy.

A Game Of Inches

Location: Guelph Museum

Girls' Night Cabin Fever

Location: Guelph Museum

Comedy, Thriller

This slapstick farce follows three childhood best friends who get together to rekindle their friendship at a remote and isolated cabin. When the girls’ weekend does not live up to their expectations, tempers flare between the friends. Soon, the tension turns to what hides in the dark. As the drinks keep flowing and their imaginations run wild, what is truly terrifying is the unknown.

Have You Flogged Your Crew Today?

Location: Red Brick Café

Autobiography, comedy, dramedy

Have You Flogged Your Crew Today is a mid-career look back on a quarter-century of my stupid decisions, bone-headed mistakes, and mind-boggling moments of utter incompetence making theatre. From missed cues to exploding props to building an entire set backwards I’ve done it all, usually with an unhealthy side helping of questionable personal choices along the way. But after 25+ years, hundreds of shows, and one global pandemic, I’m done with trying to cover up all of my mistakes. Some of them, it turns out, folks find rather funny.

Hi Again Highschool: An Improvised Assembly

Location: Guelph Museum

Improv/Comedy

The high school you'll actually want to return to! School's in session for a cast of mostly post-puberty improvisers, who will create stories, songs and comedy inspired by your real life highschool experiences. It's like Highschool Musical, Breakfast Club, and Wet Hot American Summer had a hilarious Fringe Show baby. Hopefully this time around - things will turn out differently. Or at least, more hilarious.

In My Brother's Eyes

Location: Guelph Museum

Drama

A story about what it means to be a family with a physically challenged member. Specifically a tale of two brothers who can never seem to see eye to eye will they be able to finally see each other for who they are or will bitterness and resentment keep them apart.

InnerGenerational

Location: Red Brick Café

Poetry/comedy/storytelling/music

Trauma & Healing is the discovery and showcasing of the second-generation immigrant’s experience in finding our place in Canada. Many of us suffer in silence through mental health issues, shame, guilt, pressures to assimilate and confusion in who we are, always feeling stuck in the middle. This performance is the exploration of our lineage and complicated family history, and through comedy, poetry, storytelling & music, we hold space for healing in expression.

MINE! True Stories and Legends of the Porcupine Gold Rush

Location: Guelph Museum

Musical, Solo Show, Storytelling

A 12-song / 60-minute musical journey back in time to a world of prospectors, pioneers, bootlegger-bandits, dog-sledders, high-graders and moonshiners. Writer/performer Will Gillespie tells harrowing real-life tales of adventure and perseverance from a unique corner of Canadian history through live musical performance of new, original Folk songs.

One Kid Show

Location: Silence

Drama/Musical

A girl navigates her reality of being a character in a play while her family and therapist try to figure out how to get through to her on the level that they perceive as normal.

Paradise On Earth – An Environmental Musical

Location: Silence

The story follows four young optimistic adults as the attempt to prompt sweeping action on climate change by writing and performing a climate focused musical. As they struggle to write music and find an appropriate tone for their show, they come to realize that they all have drastically different ideas on how best to combat climate change. Through humility and humour, our characters grapple with the immense complexity and seeming utter futility of the climate crisis, only to come out the other side with a renewed sense of optimism around a unification of efforts and acceptance that humans are weak comfort seekers with a limited supply of will power. Massive meaningful change can only come because we've created systems in which acting in a good and sustainable way is simple, easy and fun.

Transit

Location: Silence

Dark Comedy

In this dark-hued comedy, a lifelong friendship is tested when Frank’s bigotry and stubbornness threatens the dignity and rights of immigrant newcomers, Mo and his sister Lyra, who are trying to survive and prosper in their new suburban home. Despite Ernie’s attempts to smooth things out, Frank can't accept the changes to his world and his routines. The audience will find themselves caught between quick laughter and unsettling introspection. Above all, this play should dispel any illusions that we, the audience, are innocent of the “Frank-style” small-minded and discriminatory thoughts that Frank broadcasts to all.

Up Until Now

Location: Guelph Museum

Standup Comedy

Standup Comedian Jeremiah Ukponrefe presents "Up Until Now", a hilarious tale chronicling his life story chronicling first jobs, city life, and the proper way to use a Barbie Dream House.