Another inspiring year filled with creativity and international connection.
The first weekend of FUSE International flew by in a blur of creative, high-energy performances, celebrations and a high street parade. The first Friday marked the reopening of FUSEBOX after over a year closed and we couldn’t have asked for a better spirit throughout the night. Unapologetic filled the space with immersive and joyful cabaret and musical theatre and the atmosphere was electric from start to finish!
The weekend featured Kingston’s first ever Pride parade across the town, ending in a packed performance at The Bentall Centre. In the Rose Theatre, hundreds of young filmmakers celebrated at the Children’s Film Festival followed by musicians competing to win The Battle of the Bands. The Battle of the Bands also welcomed a special guest performance from Pink Eye from Nagaland. Sunday saw the Rose filled with dancers for the Dance Showcase, including our friends from South Korea, the Siheung City Youth Foundation.
The ACT Theatre hosted magical aerial and circus shows by Acrosphere Circus, exploring the world of myths and gods, whilst the Studio was home to a new play ‘Welcome to Broke Street’ by emerging writer Stephanie Caton which impressed audiences across two nights.
During the week, audiences were treated to an extraordinary showcase of talent from across the globe, with spectacular performances from visiting companies from Romania, Sweden and Korea lighting up the ACT Main. Wednesday’s Emerging Dance Showcase, curated by Associate Company Dillon Dance, celebrated the next generation of dance makers and performers in a dynamic evening of fresh choreography and creativity.
The Rose Theatre came alive with show-stopping musical numbers from Thames Music Theatre and Coombe Academy of Performing Arts, while FUSEBOX buzzed with unforgettable experiences, from the anarchic comedy of The Skins to If not this then that – a unique play performed entirely by the audience.
The weekend ended with two epic productions from National Youth Music Theatre, celebrating their 50th anniversary. Their first performance of Growl included international collaborations with Youth Theatre Kenya and Serious Play Shanghai. Our studio spaces were filled with thought-provoking fringe performances, and the ACT Theatre was home to explosive dance performances from Dillon Dance.
Thank you to all our amazing performers, tech teams, volunteers, chaperones and everyone who made the festival such a success!
