Fear Fables: The Horror Drag Anthology

I really, really wanted to love this.

I love Queer art, I love drag, and I love horror- but unfortunately I was let down. I debated about posting a reivew or not, but ultimately thought I should, because I so badly want this show to come back bigger and better!

The set: The set itself was fabulous. I loved it, I was immediately taken to a campy summer camp. However, I felt the set was extremely under-utilized. With a set of large doors, it was a shame that no one came through them. I wish that there had been more interactions with the large tent on stage, more running and weaving through the trees in the back. I felt like many of these pieces were used in one performance and then not again. Which is a shame because they were so lovely!

The props: The props that were used were well constructed, I loved the book in particular. But more thought could have been put into placement. Simple things, like having props preset on stage- rather than having a crew member pass them onstage to a performer.

The staging: I know the host mentioned they are used to being in smaller venues- and I'm so glad that they had a bigger one this year! Unfortunately, I don't know that they had the experience with how to work with such a large venue. The biggest issue- so many incredible moments of floor work were done so far downstage that the audience beyond the front few rows couldn't see it. I mentioned this earlier, but also there were so many missed opportunities to really interact with the set- most performers stayed in a small bubble in downstage centre, when there are all these fabulous pieces to interact with. A final note on staging- is just that for such a large venue it's important to keep in mind how BIG things need to be to reach the back. Often times I felt the eyelines were more directed at the lower rows, opposed to the middle of the theatre, so we often lost the performers faces , overly intricate make up can look muddy from a distance so we lost the performers eyes and lips. Some make-up looks can be absolutely stunning from 5 feet away, but are lost completely when you have a venue as large as the Westbury. Other comments mentioned this, but going into the crowd at this venue doesn't really work, as the house lights do kill the vibe of the overall spookiness.

the performances: Naturally with an anthology there will be a variance in skill level- I understand this. But the gap between levels felt very wide in some cases. There were a few absolutely stunning numbers, and other numbers that I felt dragged, with repetivite movements, and not much more than lip synching while standing. I think that shorter numbers, or more interaction with set (or secondary performers) could have given the performers more to do. I also think shorter numbers could have helped out our host- I loved what they were doing with the introductions but some of them felt a little rushed, which I think just comes down to having a tight time. Additionally, some of the pieces felt really out of place, and not really on theme. I think there were so many places to go with a summer camp theme, and I wish that had informed the performances more, rather than just being a backdrop.

The costumes: Some of them were absolutely gorgeous! I loved the park ranger costume particularly. Others became a little muddy from a distance, lacking some shape and definition. I wish there had been a bit more color contrast, even just a bit of highlighting so our eyes could decipher more.

The standouts: Karly Klimax- jaw dropping, incredible. Would go back next year just to see her perform again. Emmonia: Super campy and fun. Fabulous host, loved the occasional political commentary, loved their evil laugh. I wish their introductions had more time to breathe, as when they had a little more time they really brought us in. Their opening number was also super campy and fun for the most part, I absolutely loved her use of props, the flashlight bit especially - but I did have one big issue with it, which brings me to-

Safety: There were two moments in the show where I felt unsafe. One moment in the opening number where I felt it was veering into SA which was not flagged in the content warnings. It made me pretty uncomfortable and based on other reviews I'm not alone in this. I don't know if this was intended, or if it was just unfortunate positioning of the two performers. The second moment was also in the opening and involved rope going around an actors neck. I was genuinely concered about the actors safety. I know the performers may have both felt completely safe- but in that moment I was really taken out of the show because I was afraid for them.

Diversity: I really enjoyed how diverse the cast was. Next year, I'd love to see a fat/plus-size or disabled queen- but really, great work on getting diverse Queens overall.

Misc: The merch- OMG LOVE the idea of merit badges. I love when shows have thematic merch and that is such a brilliant idea, whoever came up with that huge kudos. -The camp counsellor character that kept having a bad time- was just so funny and wonderful! I loved having that character to play against the queens.

Overall: This show has so, so much potential. I think this group would really benefit from a dramaturg or an outside eye to help with things like cohesion and staging for a style of venue that may be completely new to them!

I really believe this idea has legs to go the distance, and am genuinely looking forward to seeing what they make next year. I really want more Queer art, and these are clearly such passionate individuals with really great ideas.

Wow! What a show, loved every second of it ! Seeing some of my favourite performers in this city on the fringe stage! What a time to be alive. I went last year and I’ll continue going for as long as the production is running ! I took the trolley to get to the show too, what a wild ride :p

amazing show. amazing cast. no notes. everyone had a different pov and was great throughout the whole show. i love queer art.

I have seen Fear Fables every year it’s been put on at the Fringe. As with any anthology show, there are a few high highs, a few low lows, and plenty of numbers in between the two. While I can always count on Emmonia’s cheeky hosting, beautiful set pieces, stunning costumes, and an effective ending, there are also some common misfires. Shoehorning performances that don’t quite fit into the theme and lackluster lip syncs are just as common in this show.

While there were a few highlights in the show this year, particularly Karly Klimax’s hilarious, energetic, and well-rounded number, the gap in quality between the performances was noticeably wider than in previous years.

This is the kind of show that should be in a more intimate venue. With a theatre like the Westbury, you could theoretically be seated several metres away from the performers and miss the details. The space feels cold, and the classic interaction between drag queen and audience becomes awkward and sterile. There’s no dancing through the crowd to collect cash or do bits with the audience. If a queen wants to climb the risers, the house lights go up and the magic of this spooky show is immediately disrupted.

To pick on one more small element that made a big difference, one of the numbers had music that was much quieter than the others. This muted the effect of the performance and honestly kind of felt awkward. I don’t know if this was an issue with the audio file or the techs or what, but it made for a somewhat subdued crowd.

This wasn’t enough to turn me off Fear Fables, but next year I likely won’t prioritize it in my schedule.

I love horror, drag, and horror drag so this did not disappoint – it was both sick and sickening, and overall a good gay time! I want to especially highlight the truly beautiful set, costuming, and musical choices.

This show will make you wish it were Halloween. - By: Krissy Berkholtz

We all love summer camps! Archery, going swimming, the camp counselors getting possessed by demons…the good ol days. Fear fables: The Horror Drag Anthology was a haunting, sexy, hilarious, and fierce time! With every performer bringing their own quirky, yet spooky personality with their mini fear fable that acts as the introduction to who they are as a performer. When you first enter the theatre you’re greeted with a bloody amazing set, as if taken straight out of a horror movie. Every individual performance was full of life…which was shocking since there was so much death. The lighting designs complimented the sound designs perfectly, setting up an amazing atmosphere for a dreadful evening. Every outfit and custom makeup look was done to excellence to match the horror filled thriller they put on for us. With dynamic burlesque dancing, every monster captivated the audience with their unique looks and attractive spectacle. If you’re a thrill seeker, and ready to get down and bloody, then get ready for the best summer camp you could ask for and sign your name on the dotted line to have both your soul and breath stolen away.

Gorgeous, grotesque, and completely captivating.

It was great

Emmonia threatened not to invite me to Christmas if I didn't give her six stars.

(It is worth noting that Emmonia, the host and creator of this show is my brother-in-law)

I had to actually write additional code on my review website to support displaying six stars on a show, and it required a review architecture update. I have other things to do.

And yet, I did it, but not just because of nepotism, but because Fear Fables is great. If you love drag, if you love campy horror, if you love incredible creative costuming, this show is for you.

Fear Fables is now in its third year. Every year has gotten better, and now in the premiere Westbury Theatre, the show is back for its best presentation yet.

It has doubled down on what makes it great which is incredible horror inspired drag costuming, all with an incredibly silly and irreverent presentation.

I had the chance to see this year’s Fear Fables and was really excited to return after seeing last year’s production. The new sci-fi theme was such a fun direction, and it is clear the cast and crew put a lot of passion and creativity into this show.

The set design was a standout from the very beginning. It was bold, inventive, and instantly set the tone. I also loved the opening completely drew me into the world and kicked things off with such strong energy. That first number set me up with high expectations, and it was a thrill to watch the show unfold.

I left appreciating the heart, creativity, and ambition of this show. It is not an easy task to merge horror, sci-fi, and drag, but this team has the vision to make it happen. I hope that they return next year and to watch how they up their game even more.

Seeing the critical reviews of Fear Fables made me really appreciate this show even more than I already did. Could there have been improvements ie: music being too loud, lighting choices, use of space… sure. But critiques about the content within the show has been funny to read. I’m sorry did we watch the same super campy punk rock drag show? I’m not here watching Hamilton, I’m watching a showcase of individual queer performers basing their performances on a theme with a loosey goosey narrative. The show knows is unserious, however you can see the sincerity in the set, the costumes, and community (selling out their entire run!) More drag, more punk, more camp, more queer art!

Phenomenal, even better than last year. I loved that the show was focused around a more specific theme this year, which made the anthology feel more coherent. Costumes, sets, all intricate and delightful to look at. Songs were all bangers. Host cracked solid jokes and kept it moving and focused. Very fuckin weird and spooky and fun performances of a diversity of styles. I hope they can get even bigger venues in the future. This show is quickly becoming a Fringe tradition for me.

Incredible performance from the entire cast. Captivating from start to finish

This was such a great show that I'm going to see it again with more people for a 2nd time.

Is it weird? Yes. Is it entertaining, absolutely! Is it fun? Yes!!

I laughed, gasped, and took in the serious notes and context of each set. I've seen all of these performers in shows outside of the fringe and watching them on that stage was like witnessing them all fully upgraded.

Every cast members act was well-thought and Emmonia and Mortis X really bring it all together in the best way and I enjoyed the set and Alien aspects.

Every act was incredibly unique, the campy portions and Emmonias hosting really lightened the show which I found was needed since the material is a bit on the heavier side since all of the artists are portraying what their lives are like as LGBTQIA individuals in Alberta. It was also very nice to see so much diversity in the cast with members of both the Haus of Art and Ebonii in the show.

5 stars all around and considering their last 2 shows are sold out I'm happy I managed to score tickets to come again!

Fear Fables never disappoints in showcasing stories and point of views of each performer through their artform; an intense and high forms of horror drag with a diverse queer POC performers.

definitely recommend to see if you haven’t already!!!

What a fantastic horror drag show! The set design was gorgeous and the performances were amazing! The Backstage is such a perfect theatre for this show and the performers use the entire space beautifully. I love the entire punk rock vibe of the entire production. Honestly, I can't wait to see where the team takes it from here.

To be open and honest, I was in this production last year but was not chosen this year to be apart of it, however from seeing every night last year and seeing it now I have witnessed an exponential growth in just about every area. Genuinely within the first ten seconds of the show starting I got chills. The set design is bigger, the stories meld together better, the costumes are more intricate generally. I am so happy I had the time to see this. Anyone who is a fan of drag, horror or just plainly wants to see some talented artists doing their thing should 100% come out to fear fables. Additionally, every number is well thought out and many are political in terms of message. The opening number sets the tone so well for the rest of the show and makes the story clear and easy to understand so the audience is not left questioning why all of these characters are being shown. The first chapter in the show clearly shows how trans women can just be seen as “monsters” playing with the overexaggeration of this image conservatives are attempting to push. The second chapter was a nice change from the weight of this as it was a campier number about how “the entire human race” is inside this performer. The third chapter was a clear homage to the movie “Nope” and was a perfect blend of reference and personal twist / creativity. The costuming and reveals were so cool and shocking and I had no idea where it was going to turn in the best way. The fourth chapter was so powerful and although I was sitting all the way in the back, I could feel the emotion, power and strength that was radiating from this performer the entire time. I was genuinely moved, the way this performer moves to the song and the imagery with their mask was so creepy and impactful. The fifth chapter was the perfect followup with one of the best costumes I have ever seen at the fringe. The prosthetics used on this performers head were impressive, they were scary but still “beautiful”. The sixth and final chapter was the perfect way to end off the chapters as it was someone getting turned into an alien, it made so much sense with the storyline of the ship and just tied everything off so nicely. The props used were so intricate and the attention to detail was insane. The final group number with everyone on the ship to tie off the story was so satisfying and exactly what it needed to end things off.

All of that to say, I was not bored for a second.

diverse cast and performances, some laughs some meaningful performances, rad set. Sometimes the audio is a bit loud which was the case last year too. Happy I brought my earplugs

After seeing Fear Fables, I would absolutely recommend it if you are looking for something fun, sexy, and campy. The pacing is good, the cast is diverse, the show is the right length with just enough performers and I really enjoyed the costumes this year. It's my second year seeing it and I am looking forward to what they bring next year.

In the interest of transparency, I saw this production on August 17th.

In the face of the bigoted political environment of Alberta in 2025, Fear Fables is a subversive middle finger. This show does not highlight the traditional drag queen that you might see on television and is unapologetic in its employment of exceptional alt drag artists from the Edmonton scene. The numbers you will see range from comedic to gut wrenching, but all are done with such competence and pacing that they blend seamlessly together.

I would also like to highlight Fear Fables' commitment to queer intersectionality. Members of the Haus of Ebonii are on this cast, Mx Jackson's number is a particular highlight for fans of Nope, and CallMeKeeks' number is a standout for the themes it handles and the grace with which it does so. The matriarch of the Haus of Elle, Jielle, is also part of this cast. Seasoned Fringers may recognise her and CallMeKeeks from All Tease All Shade last year. But this year marks a radical departure from Jielle's All Tease act with a number I found both esoteric and erotic. Her handling of the transgender body as a subject to both the self and to societal persecution is jaw dropping. I couldn't look away when she was on stage.

Every member of this production should be proud. There is a lot of content here for the run time, set design is high quality and intelligent, the hosting is engaging, and time between acts is kept to a minimum. Fear Fables had high expectations to fill from last year, and I am thrilled to report it shattered them.

A minor accessibility nitpick though- Fringers who are hard of hearing should come early to sit closer to the stage. Some acts in this production do not use a microphone to deliver spoken lines. Fortunately, it isn't necessary to hear these lines to understand the messages conveyed.

In short, my fears have been fabled, and I can't wait to see what this production brings next year.

I was really looking forward to this year’s Fear Fables. After seeing the show last year, I hoped the new sci-fi theme and having more time would allow for a big step up. Instead, I was left feeling the same feedback as I did last time, and ultimately I was disappointed.

The set design was honestly one of the coolest parts of the production, and the opening captain was fantastic and a true stand out. That first number pulled me in and got me excited for what was to come. The overall idea of blending horror, drag, and theatre is such a strong concept, and I really wanted to see it soar as a queer horror lover.

But once the host started speaking, it pulled me out of the world. Their first act had presence, but the moment they transitioned into narration, the tone shifted and I found myself disconnected. For a show that leans so much on a narrator to tie it all together, the hosting ended up feeling like a weak link.

A lot of the acts felt repetitive, with similar movements, lots of red lighting, and heavy use of strobes, which made them blend together instead of standing out. At times, the acts also felt unrehearsed and even dangerous, but not in a way that added to the thrill or horror, instead it was distracting and took away from the experience. I also kept waiting for a stronger through line around the “book” that is supposed to anchor the story, but it never really came through. And while the set was gorgeous, it was not used nearly as much as it could have been, which felt like a missed opportunity to fully immerse the audience.

For a production on a theatre stage, the use of space felt surprisingly limited. Performers spent almost all of their time in the front quarter of the stage, leaving the rest of the stage and set underutilized. At times performers moved into the audience, which felt less like an intentional choice and more like they did not know what else to do with the space. It gave the impression of slipping into a bar show format, especially when it resembled the moments where tips would normally be collected, rather than embracing the full theatrical environment available to them.

One thing that really stood out to me in a negative way was when performers stated they had no theatre experience. That did not highlight their craft in a meaningful way, and honestly felt disingenuous since drag itself is theatre and they have even performed at Fringe before. Instead of building connection, this diminished the validity of drag in these spaces, which was disappointing to hear in a show that should celebrate the art form.

Overall, I still appreciate what Fear Fables is trying to do. It has potential, and the artists involved are clearly talented. But right now it feels more like a bar drag show transplanted onto a theatre stage, rather than a production that takes full advantage of the space and storytelling possibilities. I hope they seek out non bias feedback outside of their personal loops, because this idea really does deserve to shine.

This show F$#%in' Rules dude!!

Mortis X and Emmonia have produced a drag show that not only had me going crazy in my seat, but their incorporation of drag artists with different showcases, interests, and talents makes this one production I will not soon be forgetting.

I'm new to being an audience member for drag and burlesque shows; three years ago, shows like these would not be on my priority list when starting my first-draft of my Fringe list. This year, it was number TWO of the top five shows I had to see and it did not disappoint.

From Mortis' opening performance that set the space-themed exploration of thrills and chills up perfectly (and introduced a really awesome subversion on burlesque) to Emmonia's IN.CRE.DI.BLE taking over as host of the show, I new that me and my seat neighbours were in for a wild and twisted experience.

But as metal as this production was, it was really well orchestrated and organized. Each performance is highlighted as a chapter in the Fear Fables and I love that because it made me feel each act had a underlying message of "You thought that was freaky and fabulous, wait until you see the next one."

And I must commend everyone of the performers; J**z Elle, Art Official, MX Jackson, CallMeKeeks, Romulus, and Damien Ghoul you were all excellent, and each of your showcased pieces had standout moments throughout, and many of them felt like fully formed anthology horrors in their own right.

The tech was also excellent PARTICULARLY the lighting. Throughout the show I adored how every scene and performer was lit. The only thing that made me wince on a technical level was the sound felt pretty heavy through the microphones and speakers at the top of the show, but I attribute that to my ears opening up at a noon showing, although I did notice that any speaking that was not in a mic needed to have full projection from the performers so they could be heard.

But does that detract from the show in any way? No. Would I want it to be adjusted? Not if it would make me head-bang less to any of the songs featured.

The last thing I want to highlight is CallMeKeeks piece, specifically because it mad me cry. As a horror fan, I know that good horror or thrilling pieces of media are not solely based on shock, but they make you think, they make you interested in the world and society you are a part of and engage critically with your community. Chapter 4 had a reveal that just hurt me in the best way because the hurt was an acknowledgement of a truth told through a fantastical scenario, which awakens your mind, again, to your society and community.

Cheers to all the Fear Fables crew and thanks for making this production such thrilling and special experience!

Fear Fables is the perfect mix of horror, sci-fi, and gay humour from Emmonia. each story ties together yet are unique and stand just as well on their own. The burnt creature from the Third Degree chapter was horrifying but still enchanting, holding my attention from start to finish. Every one of these performers put in the work and it shows. There were many important political statements through queer art and I was honestly too captivated to remember to take any videos, I bought tickets to see it a second time! Special mention to the two assistants setting everything up between numbers and making appearances throughout the show. Everyone must see this before the end of it’s run!

Fear Fables was one of my favourite shows at last year's Fringe, so I was so excited that there's a new set of stories this year. And it did not disappoint. This horror girlie is so fed! Amazing artist lineup, and I'm in awe with the amount of love and effort they put into their craft. Drag is art, and these drag monarchs are artists!

Three more shows for them at the Edmonton Fringe. Grab a ticket now if you haven't already.

Not as good as last year’s show, however I would still recommend. Emmonia really holds the show together and is the reason to see this show.

As an enjoyer from last year, this year felt less organized. From last year to this the improvements I wanted to see were absent as I wanted more continuity between the stories and the descriptions would contradict the numbers themselves at times. The one number that really turned this around for me was the “first chapter”. I found it a very negative message to be promoting at this time. The intention was unclear and it felt very reductive from the narrative it was trying to tell. I left feeling disheartened that it seemed that this wouldn’t be brought up. Sexual empowerment is important but this was in poor taste and felt very male serving. It overshadowed a lot of my feelings towards the rest of the show. Also during the show it was mentioned they have minimal theatre background, this wasn’t obvious except for the fact that it didn’t seem edited and the stunts look dangerous. I get nervous watching the “stage hands” do their falls. I was disappointed with the lack of attention and review with how much of an upgrade it got this year.

I was very excited for this years run of fear fables given the level of ingenuity and creativity presented at last years run, unfortunately I was a little more than disappointed, where the previous run held strong in being an anthology with multiple themes and stories, this run seemed to be stuck in between an anthology and a complete story but did not pertain to either, the stories were messy and not very well thought out and constantly clashed with the story and rules the story sets itself up with, I would also like to note that last year included a beautiful and incredibly well thought out piece on trans women and violence against trans women and queer people and did so in such a magnificent and intelligent way, unfortunately chapter 1 of this years run completely contradicted that statement and if anything put dangerous and reductive representation as the front runner, the lack of thought out story and poor writing in chapter 1 made it stand out in such a way that I had a hard time enjoying the rest of the show because of the tone it set, and where I can see the idea might have been trying to go it fell flat and became very male centered and misogynistic especially in the way it presents women and trans women and how they’re perceived, it did not feel like representation as much as it felt like a unintended mockery. I have high hopes for next year but unfortunately this year did not hold as strong as it did previously.

Glamour in the Dark By Martha Estrada Baca

Horror, drag, and outer space might seem like an unlikely combination, but in ‘Fear Fables’, they merge into something both eerie and electrifying. The anthology-style show takes audiences into the cosmos, guided by the commanding and charismatic narrator Emmonia. What follows is a kaleidoscope of performance art, dance, and theatrical spectacle. The structure of ‘Fear Fables’ is simple yet effective: a series of short horror tales, each staged with its own unique aesthetic and style, threaded together by Emmonia’s storytelling. This anthology format keeps the pacing snappy and allows for a wide range of styles, from high-glam drag performances to choreography that leans into the grotesque. Emmonia anchors the evening with wit and presence, balancing theatricality with sly humour. As a narrator, she pulls the audience deeper into each fable, her flair providing levity even as the stories turn chilling. It was an unforgettable performance and show, I could not recommend it more if you enjoy horror or drag.

This show has some of the best costumes and makeup we have seen at the fringe! It was entertaining and creepy but some of the burlesque numbers could've been a bit more refined and the music would be more pleasant turned down a couple notches.

Guaranteed Excellence

Fear Fables was sheer Queer-Quality, the choice of story-line was out of this world, every performer was mind blowing.

Fear Fables is back for another year of spooky, campy, horror-inspired drag.

I went to the (sold out!) opening night of this show and the host, Emmonia, said "my brother-in-law Troy is in the audience right now so I'm expecting a 10/10 nepotism review"

Ask and ye shall receive (but my scales are out of five stars!)

Last year's Sterling-nominated presentation was put together in under a month after a last minute venue became available, and still led to great reviews and several sold-out shows.

This year, the braintrust of Emmonia and Mørtis X have had the whole year to prep. It shows. They've put together a brand new show, and this time they're sticking with one static cast of performers, which really helps with thematic cohesiveness.

If you're a fan of drag, this is one to go to.

fear fables was one of my top shows from last year, so when they came back this year with a sci fi inspired show on a larger stage, i jumped at the chance. Emmonia's costume was a work of art, as was michis work on the sets and costuming. the performance numbers were well choreographed, hands down one of the most elaborate drag shows fringe has to offer this year. side note, fringe has also been incredibly accomodating to my specific disability this year.