It’s our last episode for 2026- that means AWARDS and a special guest, Darren Lee Cole, Producing Artistic Director of SoHo Playhouse NYC! Darren’s theatre life began with a kidnapping, sort of, when his eighth-grade English teacher marched onto football practice with a clipboard and drafted a group of boys into the school play, and fringe has followed him ever since. Today, SoHo’s International Fringe Encore Series gives festival standouts from around the world their next step to off-Broadway. We end the episode with Darren helping Lauren hand out the 2026 What the Fringe?! Best of Fringe Awards! This episode is a bit longer, but WTF, it’s well worth the time!

Find SoHo Playhouse online at: www.sohoplayhouse.comand www.fringeencoreseries.com

Keep up with SoHo Playhouse on IG& FB: @sohoplayhousenyc

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Introduction

[5:36]- Darren’s Theatre Origin Story

[9:01]- The Value of Theatre Education

[18:20]- The Beauty of the Fringe Community

[25:00]- The Vision of SoHo Playhouse NYC

[30:05]- SoHo Playhouse Upcoming Season

[39:58]- The Future of SoHo Playhouse

[43:26]- Best of Fringe Awards 2026:

An Evening with Dame Granny Smith

Nun Slut

Outside In

Don Toberman Ping Pong Champ

Just To Be Close To You

Small Minded

Watership Down

the statue of liberty is nora from a doll’s house by henrik ibsen

Big Stuff

The Van Gogh Shogh

Steve Burns: Alive

You and me (and Whoever Comes Next)

[1:07:50]- Ending Fringe Story

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Local fringe festivals are one of the best ways to provide a platform for artists. This week we visit with Brenda Fashugba, co-founder of Lagos Fringe in Nigeria. Since its inception, the festival has been supporting the work of local artists, from helping fund their fringe expenses to providing show development advice to artists. And also hear about how a toilet epiphany turned into a chance of a lifetime, WTF?!

Find Lagos Fringe online at: www.lagosfringe.com

Keep up with the fringe on IG: @lagosfringe

And with Brenda on IG and FB: @brendauphopho

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

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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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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

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

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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

[23:30] The Origins of Mouth Harpo, Kat’s Improv Team

[26:09] The Secret Sauce Behind Musical Improv

[33:007] Ending Joke: The Legendary Sock Solo

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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

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

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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

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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

Henry VIII and his Groom | @omftheatre

Hater | @brava_guava

Robin Grainger: Lemonade | @robin_grainger

The Manchester Revue Saves the World! | @manchesterrevue

Shhh! (A Wordless Comedy) | @langspotvn

Cricket & The Freebugs | @thefreebugs

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

[0:00] Intro

[00:56] Dogberry & Verges Are Scared | @dogberryandvergesarescared

[02:25] Mindreading and Other Freaking Wonders | @christianlavey

[03:06] Betsi | @herstorytheatre

[04:37] Extra Lives: The Interactive Video Game Concert | @extralivesmusic

[06:14] “Planet of the Grapes" | @blackoutpete

[07:34] Earth to Squiggy: A Lenny & The Squigtones Musical | @earthtosquiggy

[09:29] The Joker and The Thief | @dylanandwill

[10:43] Artificially Intelligent Procrastinating Pundit | @denzildoescomedy

[11:23] If We Really Were Witches | @ifwereallywerewitches

[12:17] Irene Woo: Golden Child | @theirenewoo

[13:03] Casual Receptionist of the Quarter | @nicole_gula

[15:01] When We Were Young | @whenwewereyoungtheplay

[16:26] This Is How I Got Arrested... after smuggling drugs across the border but never actually getting caught with any drugs | @azaeliaslade & @thisishowigotarrested

[17:13] Henry VIII and his Groom | @omftheatre

[19:12] Hater | @brava_guava

[19:40] Robin Grainger: Lemonade | @robin_grainger

[20:32] The Manchester Revue Saves the World! | @manchesterrevue

[21:36] Shhh! (A Wordless Comedy) | @langspotvn!

[23:27] Cricket & The Freebugs | @thefreebugs

[25:18] Ending

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

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Intro

[02:46] Edinburgh Fringe Energy

[06:07] Mother-Son Collaboration

[15:55] Accessibility and representation for the GlobalMajority at Fringe

[20:22] Discussing “A Better Memory”

[25:30] How art is shaping the Ethical Discussion around AI

[30:37] Lubna’s as a FringeProducer

[33:11] Lubna & Ihsan’s Awkward Fringe Story

[37:35] Where to find Lubna Kerr & Ihsan Kerr at EdinburghFringe

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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

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Intro

[4:08] The Faustus Project

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

[10:15] Journey to Fringe and moving to Edinburgh

[19:17] Waiting for Wonka

[24:47] Creativity, play, and making theatre

[30:49] Alone

[32:55] Courtney’s awkward fringe story

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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

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

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

[21:50] A Fringe marketing strategy that worked

[24:31] All about KEVIN!!!!!

[31:09] The Awkward Fringe Story

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Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things