Q&A with Fringe Artist Holly Brinkman

We are thrilled to introduce a new series to the blog, Artists Q&A. It is another avenue to provide platforms for artists and celebrate all that is fringe.

Holly Brinkman

Artist: Holly Brinkman, Canada

A Woman’s Guide to Romance Novels

Holly M Brinkman - Woman's Guide to Peeing (4 STARS), My Body of Work (4 STARS), Pack Animals (5 STARS) - returns with an IMPROVISED show that blends the spontaneity of Whose Line is it Anyway with the seduction of HEATED RIVALRY. Praised as "riveting" by CBC Winnipeg, Brinkman is a performer celebrated for her captivating stage presence. With years of reading erotic fiction under her belt, she brings her SEX-pertise to the stage. Prepare for a sultry and hilarious tramp through your favourite bodice ripping, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, spicy romance novels! Featuring a different guest performer each night! Past guests have included Fringe Favourites Chase Padgett, Keith Brown, Tymisha Harris, and Martin Dockery. She'll talk dirty so you don't have to ;)

What made you want to create this story?

I love romance novels, and I often long for them to be more gay and more poly-inclusive, so that’s my goal on stage. To create romance stories that are more representative of the way I love.

How has it impacted you on a personal level to create a story that resonates with your community and be the voice you wanted to hear earlier in your life?

One of the things that I love about this show specifically is that it's my chance to put my own romantic experience into the romance novel. My main criticism of romance novels is that they can be very straight and VERY monogamous. Telling these stories on stage in a genre that I adore, gives me the chance to make the stories queerer and to find "happily against all odds" for polyamourous people. The other aspect of this show that I love is that it's NOT directly about my real life. My other 2 shows are autobiographical and sometimes it can be hard to stand on stage and tell stories about your life, they sometimes feel too raw or too close. I love playing in the fictional worlds of this show. And if I DO want to sprinkle in things that have actually happened to me, they are always cushioned inside of fiction and that has been really healing for me in a way that I wasn't fully expecting. 

A Woman's Guide to Romance Novels

What made you want to do a solo improvised show?! 

I've made and performed 2 other solo storytelling shows in previous years, A Woman's Guide to Peeing Outside and My Body of Work, and I've been doing improv on and off most of my adult life. I had the idea in 2024 to combine my love of romance novels and storytelling. I also really wanted to make a show that included guest performers. So I guess this show is the culmination of a lot of elements. 

What are the biggest hurdles in creating a solo improvised show?

I'm neurodivergent and sometimes find that it's hard to stay on top of all of the administrative elements of fringe festivals. It can be really easy for me to miss deadlines or submit things late (not unlike answering these questions, LOL). People often ask me HOW I manage to come up with the stories on stage in the moment but truthfully, I'm never short of ideas. They're always flying around in my head. It's all of the details leading UP to the stage that I can find challenging. That's why it's been so great working with Blair this season. He's really good at all the details that need to be taken care of before the stage and it's really good for me to have an outside brain asking me, did you do this? Do you want to add your posters to my order etc.

What makes your show special?

People often ask me if it’s hard to come up with the ideas right there on the spot but the truth is that I’m never short of ideas for romantic stories. Sometimes the hard part is knowing that I only have 60 mins.

What do you hope audiences will leave with after seeing your show?

A smile and a cheeky blush on their faces.

If your show were a cocktail, what would it be and why?

A Flirtini - vodka, pineapple juice, triple sec, and champagne. Because it takes classic cocktail elements like champagne and triple sec but flirts them up with fruity flavours. Sexy, fruity, and fun.

Catch Holly & A Woman's Guide to Romance Novels at:

Winnipeg Fringe July 15-26

Edmonton Fringe Aug 13-23

A Woman’s Guide to Romance Novels is being produced by Blair Moro (Cabaret of Murder & BRAIN) at the Winnipeg & Edmonton Fringe Festivals this year. Blair is bringing his brand new show "CULTS" to the Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Vancouver Fringe Festivals. Go out and see both shows!