SUPERFAN

I need this show in my mouth Inject it into my veins I love it so so much TEN STARS I made stickers guys this show is so peak

If I had to choose one word to describe this show it would be "visceral".

Holy crap, these kids knocked it out of the park with the writing and acting, I don't think I've ever felt so uncomfortable in a play.

I do have some familiarity with Dionysus and the story of the Bacchae, as well as a decent understanding of Beatlemania style fan culture of the 60s, which is exactly why I bought my ticket, but that's absolutely not necessary to enjoy this disturbing retelling of a Greek tragedy.

The original songs were a treat! The costumes were adorably period appropriate, though the school uniforms admittedly became less charming as they became stained with blood. The performances by the young actors were very impressive, especially in moments where they were all speaking or breathing in synch.

This was my first time seeing a Theatre Network Summer Academy show at Fringe, but it won't be my last. The future of theatre in Edmonton looks very bright!

Cultish, disturbing and absolutely unreal; the kind of show you can’t stop talking about the whole drive home. I’ve seen this show twice now, and I was still on the edge of my seat the second time despite knowing what would happen. The lighting, the music, and the incredibly talented actors fully immerse you in the show. The chilling screams, the uncanny synchronized breathing, and the heartbreaking sobs had me needing to remind myself that what I was seeing wasn’t real. I am not too familiar with the text it’s based on, but I can tell you that the script perfectly written to highlight each characters personality and their individual significance to the storyline. Without spoiling it, the play demonstrates how easy it is for admiration and worship to slowly twist into a more sinister and unhinged kind of devotion. If you enjoyed “Midsommar”, “Misery”, or are just a fan of all things dark and bloody, this is the show for you.

A very unique but faithful spin on a Greek story. The actors who wrote the play themselves are very talented with very promising futures. I'm exited to see what they do next. Overall it was a very enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend it to those who aren't squeamish.

I didn’t know what to expect when I sat down to watch “Superfan”, and yet I was blown away by the talent of the young actors that co wrote and performed in this show.

The story was dark, but intriguing; quite reminiscent of Carrie and Yellowjackets. I was excited to see how the plot would progress.

The cast was very talented, and I loved the costuming and set design. I would definitely recommend going to see Superfan.

Superfan is very entertaining and intriguing play.. Think “Lord if the Flies”, set at a prep school, with a nearly all-female cast, meets Greek tragedy. The young cast is fabulously skilled and talented - we will hear from many of these performers in the future - and they collectively bring great energy to this presentation. The play builds deliciously slowly to the surprising and shocking climax, and brought the whole audience along for the ride. I was enthralled, start to finish. Highly recommended.

“Superfan” is an intense and very necessary play to share with the world. It was an incredibly well-executed; the director, cast, and tech did amazing in terms of the details put into each scene. I really loved how they adapted the play from “The Bacchae”, and the “false god” narrative was played out very well by the cast. As well, the enthusiasm that each character had further enhanced the quality of the play. I really appreciated the character design for each person and it really felt like every cast member knew what it was like to be in their character’s body (or even, in another character’s body… 👀). Overall, I enjoyed this show a lot and would definitely recommend it!

if this isn’t a five star fringe show I sincerely don’t know what is

production value is very high for fringe (they had matching costumes and a big set) and the story feels fully fleshed out. a fringe ensemble this big rarely has the characterization and development for each role. the lighting is outstanding but thats to be expected with even gilchrist (his alphabet line lights are a personal favourite of mine). writing was great, acting was great, design was great.

i’ve seen ten shows so far (I don’t review everything I see, only when I have something to say about it). anyways, i’ve seen ten shows. this is my favourite. I anticipate it will stay that way for a while.

If you make it out to the Roxy at any point, see this show while you’re there!!

I knew nothing about it but I was in the area to see Edmonton Queen so I decided to stop it and oh my god mind blown!!!! The actors were so incredible I didn’t even realize it was a youth production it was seriously professional quality. I was so drawn into the story and the horror was so good

The actors playing Gloria and Ana were my favorite but they were all so talented. If I have time I think I’ll go back!!! See this people!!!! Can’t believe I haven’t heard anything about this show from other people it was such a good surprise

It was a good show, not great. Some parts moved very slow. Could've been condensed into an hour imo

Might be the best show ever

Superfan is a rock ’n’ roll fuelled adaptation of Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy The Bacchae, but it is anything but a traditional retelling. This creative remake transforms the classic story into a chaotic, intense, and frightening Fringe experience, while giving a once Greek God, Dionysus, a new look.

The lighting and sound choices play a huge role in telling the story. The lighting creates distinguishable atmospheres, while the loud, eerie sounds builds tension and keeps the audience on edge. Together, they make the world of Superfan feel increasingly wild and dangerous.

What makes the show stand out is its willingness to embrace chaos. The narrative takes unexpected turns and combines ancient tragedy with a rock ’n’ roll energy that makes the story feel more modern and unpredictable.

The production doesn’t hold back either, ending with a gory payoff that matches its escalating intensity. I would recommend Superfan to anyone daring enough to sit through an intensely creative and chaotic narrative.

Sydney Koke, AYTC

I went into Superfan completely blind and was utterly stunned at the talent and storytelling ability of the entire cast. From the moment the story started I felt fully immersed in the moment and felt as if I were experiencing everything firsthand. From the stunning original music to the costume and set design, you become fully invested in the story of Dionysus and his super fans. The story is overall a great reflection on pop culture hysteria and fandom culture as a whole.

If you are looking for a show that will consistently blow your mind and have your jaw on the floor, I would absolutely recommend this show. Due to the content of the show I would definitely recommend to horror lovers or generally more mature audiences, but all in all a spectacular experience.

The actors did a great job of creating and drawing me into the world of Superfan, it was disturbingly entertaining play. I had no previous knowledge of what I was going to see, the poster just caught my attention and I’m so glad it did. I did appreciate the heads up of gore/cannibalism/etc in the announcements and playbills so I wasn’t caught off-guard. Overall this show was incredibly well done and is one of my top 10 favourite shows I’ve seen. The special effects were also incredible! If you get a chance definitely go watch!

We liked this show a lot, but the PG rating it is given is wildly inappropriate. Overall, I liked this as a modern adaptation of the Greek classic. I love a good dark drama, and there were no dull moments in this show. It’s a bit longer than a typical Fringe show but I barely noticed. It’s wonderful to see young actors not only being part of Fringe, but also writing shows and then starring in them. As a note for people Fringing with young people, I would NOT recommend this for anyone under 16 despite the PG rating. A PG rating suggests brief and/or comedic violence/blood/etc. but this went beyond that with a prolonged grotesque scene involving a particularly egregious act. I understand why that scene is the way it is as it makes sense in the show, and I would give 5 stars if it had been rated appropriately and I had NOT brought my kid with me, but because it had a PG rating I did, and for this misstatement I’m torn between 3 and 4 stars. Editing to add: I know the box office updated the trigger warnings a few days AFTER Fringe started, but is of little comfort the people who had already purchased non-refundable tickets to a show under a false pretense. It really makes me question all Fringe shows now.

Superfan was a perfectly terrifying play. With excellent writing and performance the play kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Supported by incredible music and excellent effects the show sent shivers down my spine and left me shocked in my seat. If you like horror you’ll love superfan!

We were excited when we heard that the same troupe that brought us “Hot Garbage” last year were back with a new production. But went prior to the description being edited. I sent an email to the box office about the rating and the description being incomplete and I was glad to see our concerns were addressed (we wouldn’t have brought our 10 year old daughter to this play if the description was more clear.) The performers did well and I was very impressed with the overall production value.