About the show

The Snake Pit is a one person exploration of trauma and avoidance, looking at how far we go to avoid talking about the things that effect us. Using meta theatre, singing and immersive sound, this show explores how we cope when we’re forced to address the stories we’re not ready to tell.

"Welcome to my jungle. That’s my jungle, not your jungle. I control everything here, even you, because you paid to see me. But don’t you worry I am here to entertain! To show you a show about … well that would be telling!"

Photographer credit: Jade Radley

About the artist

Crystal is a queer, nonbinary, theatre maker, performer, poet, and activist. They like creating original, thought provoking theatre that challenges societal boundaries and educates their audience.

They enjoy infusing spoken word into performance and their work has an emphasis on mental health, sexuality, gender, body image, classism, and climate change. They are also the artistic director of Enlight Insight Theatre Company. (A community and young people’s theatre company raising awareness on issues that need address.)

About the show

The Refugee, written and performed by Harshana Nanthagumar, is a verbatim piece which recounts Harshana's parents escape from war torn Sri Lanka in the 1990s. A deeply personal account of survival, The Refugee explores the emotional and psychological impacts of war and the deepening bond between a mother and daughter through the reliving of this story of survival.

About the company

Harshana Nanthagumar is a theatre maker and soon to be Engineering undergraduate.

About the show

I Was Told. consists of 55 minutes of humour, authenticity, shared moments between the audience and the performer, as well as feminism and a large portion of empowerment. I Was Told. plays with, questions and manipulates how the audience and the artist herself perceive her as a performer and woman on stage. It unites Spoken Word with ring juggling, humour with serious topics, lifts the audience up whilst encouraging reflection.

I Was Told. successfully premiered in August 2022 as part of the Spoken Word Festival Odense, Denmark., and in collaboration with Dynamo Workspace.

Review of the premiere (Fyens DK): 'The hour in Kathrin's company is both humorous and audience-engaging, but also thought-provoking.'

About the artist

Kathrin Wagner is an interdisciplinar artist, uniting spoken word and contemporary circus.

About the show

15 People. 5 Plays. Same Crisis.

SPENT by acclaimed playwright Alex McSweeney (last part of the trilogy – The Next Girl at FUSE 2022 and At the River's Edge IYAF 2021 at The Rose) explores the cost of living crisis on young people. Combining sharp, contemporary dialogue with high energy physical theatre, the piece raises questions about how young people can survive the crisis.

Reviews for Alex McSweeney’s Distance 2018 (The Park Theatre):

'emotionally compelling, deftly structured… exploration of mental health in men' The Stage.

And Out of the Cage 2015 (The Park Theatre): ‘Packs and emotional punch’ Time Out.

About the show

Each year Creative Youth’s wonderful team of young people head to Brighton Fringe to judge the best theatre and stand-up comedy shows by performers under 27 at the festival.

The winner is invited to perform their work at FUSE International. Be sure to catch this year’s choices and keep an eye on our website for the announcement of the winners.

About the show

Who here hasn’t been rejected? asks Adam Kelly of his audience.

Adam is a self-described autistic gentleman who, despite his best efforts, has never had a girlfriend. He would like to change that…

'Humorous, heart-warming and thought-provoking (Adele Aria, Arts Hub), ARCO Snr, for mature audiences, takes a heartfelt look at the life and struggles of a young man trying to make connections with the people and world around him. This is an award-wining solo show that has come all the way from Perth, Western Australia.

Join us as Adam and Finbar dance, draw, fly and joke their way into our hearts.

About the company

A Place To Fit In & Stand Out. West Australian Youth Theatre Company is nationally recognised for providing high quality professional experiences that develop skills for theatre, employment and for life.

WA Youth Theatre company are committed to creating opportunities for their members both locally and in their regional communities and strive to provide a space of inclusion, creativity and artistic excellence that enriches the lives of young people.

ARCO is a WA Youth Theatre Company production by Adam Kelly and James Berlyn.

ARCO Jnr creative development was supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

The world-premiere of the work was commissioned and presented by AWESOME Festival. The 2023 International Tour of ARCO has been supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council and by Creative Partnerships Australia, through the Plus1 Program.

About the show

Join Whole Lotta Comedy where the comedians of the future perform for you today.

Young comedians who are already making their way on the UK comedy circuit join together to entertain you.

To find out more about Whole Lotta Comedy visit www.wholelottacomedy.com

About the show

Over the course of 30 years, the lives of Kayleen and Doug intersect at the most bizarre intervals, leading the two childhood friends to compare scars and the physical calamities that keep drawing them together. This wildly funny dark comedy, by the talented American playwright Rajiv Joseph, provides a humorous look at human vulnerability. An accident-prone dare devil and a corrosive masochist navigate friendship, love and all that lies between.

The company of this performance is comprised of university theatre students pursuing degrees in theatre performance and production. They are led by our faculty but are challenged to uphold the professional standards of the theatre industry with their membership in the company. Students must audition and interview to be selected for this company and represent the very best of USC Upstate Theatre.

About the company

The Theatre Program at USC Upstate strives to create an environment that nurtures dynamic, collaborative, and inspiring theatre arts with the goal of cultivating the whole theatre artist and human being. With an inclusive curriculum, funded international opportunities, and various productions we foster a diverse student body and faculty that supports one another as they navigate the process of creating theatre from a novice to an advanced professional level at graduation.

With a well-rounded curriculum, students are given many opportunities for practical application of classroom learning.With a variety mainstage and student directed productions USC provide ample opportunities to work in all aspects of theatre including production, performance, and front of house.

USC strive to model consent-based training in all aspects of the theatrical process and production which creates a supportive place to make brave choices from which one can learn equally from success and failure.

Photographer credit: Del DeLorm, Assistant Professor of Theatre USC Upstate

About the show

A story exploring the relationships between queerness and religion. Watch the tale of Ciara O’Brian, a Northern Irish Catholic girl, given her mother's journal detailing how to be a good Catholic and life during the Troubles.

Fighting with her ancestors and the past, Ciara is led to a self-discovery in the modern day. Her life is soon turned upside down when, Protestant girl, Olivia Devlin stumbles into her life. Despite their history, the two girls start to heal old wounds as they battle to stay in each other’s lives. However, in this story happily ever after isn’t always what it seems. Two worlds collide, but will it be enough?

About the company

Footdown Productions is a female led, queer, neurodivergent, production company. Based in Southwest London and formed in 2021 by working class female presenting creatives, they are a non-profit company run purely on crowdfunding, bursaries and donations. Footdown saw their professional stage debut with the original physical theatre show, ‘Like You’.

The show had a successful Fringe tour, winning the 2021 ‘Audience Choice Award’ from Brighton Fringe. Following this, the company assisted with the casting and production for the award nominated short film ‘I think we’re alone now’. The team is honoured to be taking their most recent theatre show ‘Ciara’ on this professional fringe run.

About the company

It is the opening night of ‘The Worrisome Troubles of Timothy Potts’, and its cast cannot wait. However, the playwright has escaped from prison to see his ‘masterpiece’. He takes control of both the show and the entire audience!

Are you ready to be taken hostage?

★★★★★ – 'A slick, briskly paced and wonderfully anarchic production' LondonTheatre1

★★★★★ – ‘Brilliantly put together, witty and entertaining’ West End Best Friend

★★★★ -‘Fast paced hour of idiotic nonsense’ Daily Express

★★★★ -‘Takes high-concept comedy to new and perilous heights’ Broadway Baby

★★★★ 'A fast-paced hour of delectable silliness' Threeweeks

About the company

The Bad Clowns are a trio of comedic delights made up of close friends John Bond, Christian Dart and Sam Walls. With their unique blend of sketch and improv comedy they have been warmly received at various festivals around the UK including the Edinburgh Fringe, Leicester Comedy Festival, Brighton Comedy Festival, and five years running at the International Youth Arts Festival.