What the Fringe?! – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Introduction

[4:27] From Computer Science to Theatre

[8:46] Building a compassionate arts community

[12:53] The Obama Leaders Africa Fellows

[17:50] Creating space for women over 40- The Usual Suspects Podcast

[19:28] How Lagos Fringe supports Artists

[28:42] Mentor artists and providing platforms

[36:50] Ending and Awkward Fringe story

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WTF with Kat Kuo

Season 3 · Episode 28

Thursday, September 10, 2026 • Duration 36:39

Improv! Music! And Posters! Oh My!! This week Lauren visits with fringe friend Kat Kuo. Kat lives in Rochester, NY, where she began a musical improv troupe, and is a big supporter of her local Rochester Fringe. Not only is Kat a hilarious improviser, by day she is a graphic designer and photographer, and gives some insight into why these elements are vital to promoting your fringe show. And, WTF kind of improv will Kat and Lauren get into during the interview?! Find out now!

Find out more about Kat and Mouth Harpo:

Mouth Harpo on IG: @mouthharpo

Kat Kuo: IG & FB @katkuo.design and @katkuo.improv

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Introduction

[3:55] Storytelling through many avenues

[10:22] Parenting, Improv, and Making Space for Art

[12:46] Why performance photography matters and making posters that pop

WTF with Erica Fee of Rochester Fringe

Season 3 · Episode 27

Thursday, September 3, 2026 • Duration 39:52

From fringe performer to fringe founder. This week we sit downwith Erica Fee, the founder and CEO of ESL Rochester Fringe. We talk about Erica’s Edinburgh Fringe debut success to building a world-class fringe festival in her hometown. We chat about why fringe is here to stay and learn WTF is the grossest thing Erica is willing to do for the festival she loves so much.

Find out more about Rochester Fringe online at: www.rochesterfringe.com

Keep up with the festival:

IG & TikTok: @rochesterfringe

FB: ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Intro[4:30] Falling for Fringe at Edinburgh[10: 45] Moving from Actor to Producer[13:15] Making Your Own Work in an Age of Screens[18:19] The Rochester Model, Explained[22:47] How the Fringe Helped Revitalize Downtown Rochester[39:00] How a Local Fringe Impacts Local Artists [35:10] Ending Story

WTF it’s an Edinburgh Special

Season 3 · Episode 27

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 • Duration 26:12

Show Description:

If you haven’t had enough of Edinburgh Festival Fringe, here’s your one last chance to take it all in. What the Fringe?! is thrilled to be recording live at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year. This episode was semi-curated by What the Fringe?! We received over 500 pitches this year. We narrowed it down to our top 125 shows, then invited every artist who pitched their show to us directly (not through a PR agent). Then it was a race to the Google form to see who could sign up first. We are thrilled to feature their shows and fringy stories.

Part 1

Dogberry & Verges Are Scared | @dogberryandvergesarescared

Mindreading and Other Freaking Wonders | @christianlavey

Betsi | @herstorytheatre

Extra Lives: The Interactive Video Game Concert | @extralivesmusic

“Planet of the Grapes" | @blackoutpete

Part 2

Earth to Squiggy: A Lenny & The Squigtones Musical | @earthtosquiggy

The Joker and The Thief | @dylanandwill

Artificially Intelligent Procrastinating Pundit | @denzildoescomedy

If We Really Were Witches | @ifwereallywerewitches

Irene Woo: Golden Child | @theirenewoo

Casual Receptionist of the Quarter | @nicole_gula

When We Were Young | @whenwewereyoungtheplay

Part 3

This Is How I Got Arrested... after smuggling drugs across the border but never actually getting caught with any drugs | @azaeliaslade & @thisishowigotarrested

WTF with Lubna Kerr & Ihsan Kerr

Season 3 · Episode 26

Thursday, July 30, 2026 • Duration 38:41

Can a short conversation at the fringe turn into a podcast, friendship, and super fan? Yes! Last year at the Edinburgh Fringe, Lubna Kerr sat down with me in the Pleasance courtyard and chatted me up, even though I told her I didn’t have room in my schedule to see her show. Now she is here on the podcast with her son Ihsan Kerr, sharing all about their upcoming collaboration. (I’m a big fan!) And did you know that one small adjustment in your wording could get people from the “global majority” to your show, WTF?!

Learn more about Lubna on her website: https://www.lubnakerr.com/

Keep with with Lubna and Ihsan on FB @ Kerr Arts Collective and on IG @ihsankerr and @lubnakerr

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Intro

[02:46] Edinburgh Fringe Energy

[06:07] Mother-Son Collaboration

WTF with Courtney Bassett of Half Trick Theatre

Season 3 · Episode 25

Thursday, July 23, 2026 • Duration 38:39

Hometown advantage in fringe is real. But have you ever thought about making Edinburgh your hometown, just so you can do fringe?! This week we are joined by Courtney Bassett, a Kiwi based in Edinburgh, whose theatre company, Half Trick Theatre, moved there to make great art. We also dive into their zany shows and just a few of Courtney’s obsessions. And Lauren learns WTF is the proper way to pronounce “Call of Cthulhu.”

Find Half Trick online at www.halftrick.com

Keep up with them on IG @halftricktheatre

For more on Alone, follow IG @jewelboxproductions and @alchemytheatre_

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Intro

[4:08] The Faustus Project

[8:30] Courtney’s introduction to the arts

WTF with Kristin McCarthy Parker of Recent Cutbacks

Season 3 · Episode 24

Thursday, July 16, 2026 • Duration 34:56

Are you one of those movie lovers who can quote films line for line? This one is for you! Kristin McCarthy Parker of the New York-based theatre company Recent Cutbacks spills the tea on how they take a small cast of actors and a live Foley artist to create shot-by-shot parodies of your favorite films. Recent Cutbacks’ innovative signature style has garnered multiple sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe. We also talk all about WTF to do when someone mistakes you for Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Learn more about Kristin and Recent Cutbacks on:

www.recentcutbacks.com and www. kristinmccarthyparker.com

Keep up with Recent Cutbacks on IF, FB, TikTok: @recentcutbacks and Kristin on IG: @kristinmcparker

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

YouTube: What the Fringe

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Intro

[3:27] Kristin’s Artistic Journey

[6:13] The Beginnings of Recent Cutbacks

[10:05] The Importance of Directing

[11:09] No Hidden Effects Signature Style

[15:39] Expanding the Work with Multiple Casts

[18:16] How Fringe helped gain audiences in New York

WTF it's World Fringe Day!

Season 3 · Episode 23

Thursday, July 9, 2026 • Duration 58:03

HAPPY WORLD FRINGE DAY 2026! 32 fringe artists from around the world join us to celebrate the best community in theatre, each with a show to pitch and a story you won't forget.

Saturday, July 11 is officially World Fringe Day, our annualcelebration of everything that makes fringe theatre extraordinary: creativity, accessibility, and a genuine love for live performance. Every year we open submissions for this episode and, in true fringe fashion, take the first artists to sign up. This year we filled up so fast we had to close submissionsearly. Each artist gets 2 minutes to pitch their show and share a story, so buckle up.

This episode runs longer than usual, and it's worth every minute:original shows, real fringe advice, and some genuinely hilarious stories from artists across the global fringe community.

Meet the artists and find them on IG (timestamps):

[0:00] INTRO

PART 1

[2:30] Two2Mango: Colonial Circus| @two.2.mango

[3:50] Joel Passante: Looking ForLove In All The Weird Places | @MPMMProductions

[5:22] Jordan Rooks: A Magician |@iamjordanrooks

[6:30] Josie “JUICE” Nixon: johnjack josie JUICE | @Just.juice_the_clown

[8:11] Amiee Dastin: THIS IS APLAY ABOUT GOD | @thisisaplayaboutgod

PART 2

[10:33] Piper Theatre Company: TheBloody Ballad of Bette Davis | @bloodybettemusical

[11:42] Mark McAuley: Diary of aMad Man | @santaponza

[13:39] Sophie Fisher: An Ode tothe Casting Director | @sophieeafisher

[14:39] The Back Pack: NOTED | @thebkpk

[15:38] Fake Escape: Don't YouForget About Me/ Day of The Locust/ Saving Britney | @fakeescapetc

PART 3

[19:00] Callum Grant: BrokenPlanet Show | @brokenplanetshow

WTF with Kristi Boulton

Season 3 · Episode 22

Thursday, July 2, 2026 • Duration 39:20

Can love overcome shame? Our guest this week is Canadian Fringe artist and storyteller Kristi Boulton, who has made it her signature creative expression to share some of her most shame-inducing stories and use love and forgiveness as catalysts for healing and humor. We also talk about WFT is so amazing about improv and Canadian Fringe.

Find Kristi Boulton online at: www.kristiboulton.com

Keep up with Kristi on Instagram @kristi.boulton andTikTok @stories_with_kristi

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media