{"id":8931,"date":"2019-08-28T11:24:21","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T09:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=8931"},"modified":"2019-08-28T11:39:42","modified_gmt":"2019-08-28T09:39:42","slug":"sharjah-fringe-calls-for-international-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2019\/08\/28\/sharjah-fringe-calls-for-international-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharjah Fringe Calls For International Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The producers of the inaugural edition of the UAE\u2019s 2020 Sharjah Fringe have put out a global call for producers of children\u2019s and family theatre to apply to be part of the first Fringe Festival in the region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fringe, due to take place from 16 January \u2013 1 Februrary 2020, is seeking work that will \u201cinspire, entertain, thrill and amaze\u201d a young audience and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking for theatre, dance, music, magic, puppets, circus acts and everything in between,\u201d Nobesuthu Rayi, Executive Producer of the Fringe said. \u201cThe programme has space for about 60 shows that will be staged across Sharjah in our three Fringe hubs. Performances can be in Arabic, English, or be non-verbal, and will be scheduled in venues that seat anywhere from 100 to 1000 audience members.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fringe is modelled on similar successful events held across the world, where artists are given spaces to perform in exchange for a nominal registration and venue hire fee, and earn the bulk of their box office takings. As an added incentive, though, producers are making travel and accommodation grants available to productions who want to minimize the risk of taking part. \u201cIt\u2019s an untested formula in this part of the world and we want artists and audiences to have as positive experience as possible,\u201d Rayi said, adding that the grants of between US $500 and $2700 could be applied for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fringe is being co-produced by South Africa\u2019s National Arts Festival and UAE-based Dolphin Creative, on behalf of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). \u201cShurooq have recognized the dual value of Fringe Festivals \u2013 firstly to transform an arts landscape by offering opportunities for artists and audiences to find each other, and secondly to give residents and tourists new ways to explore a city and its culture,\u201d Fringe CEO Tony Lankester said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen the massive economic and transformative impact some of the biggest Fringes have \u2013 in Edinburgh, Adelaide and Edmonton for example. It will take a while for the Sharjah Fringe to reach the scale of those events, but the energy and philosophy of independent, accessible and relaxed theatre is the same.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artists have until the end of September to submit their proposals for inclusion in the programme. A briefing document and application form can be found at www.sharjahfringe.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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