Staff picks from the CBC Fringe Festival Review Crew

The 29th edition of the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival kicks off today.

There are 169 productions on offer, and as any Fringer will tell you, one of the best ways to find a good show is to ask around.

• Winnipeg Fringe 2016: read our reviews

So we asked the CBC Fringe Review Crew who'll be seeing dozens of shows over the opening days of the festival what they're looking forward to.

Performance artist Shawna Dempsey's pick is Jonno by Alix Sobler: "A train wreck of fame, narcissism, sexual predation and the CBC? Alix Sobler tackles the events that made the country finally say 'enough' regarding sexual assault in Canada. In the hands of such a good writer, it is guaranteed to be hilarious, insightful and queasy-making, potentially all at the same time. Needless to say, based on a true story"

CBC Radio producer, veteran Fringe reviewer (and Fringe performing veteran) Kaj Hasselriis says: "I'm a sucker for magic shows at the Fringe. It's a relief thateven in the era of smart phones and social media, people of all ages are still delighted by old-school card tricks and sleight of hand. One magician I always lookforward to at the Fringe is Vancouver's Travis Bernhardt. He's back with a new show called Charlatan! and I hope it'll be as creative and nerdy as all his others."

Self-described "Black Hole Theatre alumna, recovering theatre instructor and proud Winnipeg Fringe reviewer" Michelle Palansky is looking forward to Lana Schwarz's Lovely Lady Lump: "For me, it's personal. At the end of March, I completed my own breast cancer treatment, and although it was not a laugh riot, there were some particularly funny bits. And pieces. Now, I'm particularly tuned into the proliferation of 'cancertainment' (patent pending) for mass consumption. Some of the stuff is hilarious and honest, and some of it is just TMI. Eager to see where Lana lands on the continuum. Most happy fringing everyone! Happy Fringemas!"

Winnipeg Comedy Festival artistic director Lara Rae says: "I am currently reading Milton's allegorical masterpiece Paradise Lost, and so to find there is a rendering at the Fringe from Rabbit in the Hat Productions out of Toronto (hell) with puppets and computer animation included really gets me excited! As much as someone who just admitted she spends her evenings alone reading Milton can be excited about anything."

Veteran CBC reviewer John Sadoway says: "I am looking anxiously forward to this year's production of The Collector by the 28th Minute, based on John Fowles' terrifying novel. The story is so totally apropos today, with the recently cracked open discussion of violence against, and enslavement of, women and the scary thought that, though the perpetrators of such crimes may be restrained and feared for their actions, they may be victims of their own 'born that way' condition, in need of help and solace rather than marginalization and hatred. I have high hopes the 28th Minute's audiences will be left without knowing if there is a villain in the piece."

Actor (and another Fringe vet) Bradley Sawatzky is looking forward to Girl's End: A Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse: "This musical/comedy is one to watch so sayeth my trusted sources. 'A fresh take on zombies with original and ass-kicking music.'"

Kelly Stifora, another vet of both Fringe performing and reviewing, is looking forward to Brave Hearts: "A promising confluence of local talent will present this 're-imagining' of Harry Rintoul's look at being gay in Canada during the AIDS era. Everyone should try to take in some well-produced, thought provoking drama among all of the Fringe zaniness, and this is the intellectual nourishment I am most looking forward to this year."

(Kelly also giveshonourable mentions to One Man Dark Knight"I know the impressions will be great, but how will Ross' hilariously frantic approach translate Christopher Nolan's often brooding take on the Caped Crusader?", and Melanie Gall's Jazz Cat "It's time to introduce my three-year old to the Fringe. The nugget loves music, and Gall was a delight to behold in 2014's Red Hot Mama: A Sophie Tucker Cabaret.")