Delft Fringe Festival: Especially in these times, listen carefully to what is really being told

Alderman Frank van Vliet: "Delft Fringe Festival contributes to happiness"

Delft, Wednesday 29 May, 2024 - Tuesday evening 28 May was the festive opening of the 13th edition of Delft Fringe Festival in Theater de Veste. Like all Fringe Festivals worldwide, the festival in Delft celebrates creative freedom. The festival helps today's creators continue to tell their stories. Director Roel Funcken: "Stories give colour to your world. Especially in these times, listen carefully to what is really being told. Take these stories with you and share them with the people around you." Alderman for Culture, Frank van Vliet: "The stories at Fringe keep you moving and thus contribute to happiness."

It is a drizzly evening, but there is an expectant buzz in Theatre De Veste. As Frank van Vliet says in his speech, the audience has come tonight for the stories, for the inspiration. "It gives you new insights, makes you agile and thus contributes to your happiness."

Underexposed topic on stage

Director Mystha Mandersloot opened the evening with the performance 'Stories of Abortions'. Actors Ard Kok, Bob Donkers and Remijn Weijdema are on stage, three completely different men whose partner has had an abortion. Gradually their stories emerge. The shock when their partner turned out to be unplanned pregnant. Fear of not being able to be a good father. The concealment. Grief. Doubt. Regret.
- Stories of Pathogens can still be seen at 28 May, 1, 2 and 8 June

I am building my own house

Second on stage is actor Oudail el Omari. He is self-taught. He was born in Curaçao and grew up in a mountain village in Lebanon. At the age of 13, he emigrated to the Netherlands with his parents. In poetic terms, he recounts his wonderful childhood in Lebanon, where he played carefree in his grandmother's garden. When that came to an end, he packed a small suitcase with a few important things: his religion, his culture, his language and his voice. Homesickness emerges from Oudail's story. Where is his home? He concludes with: "I will build my own house with my own bricks."

- Hijra can still be seen on 30 May, 1, 2, 6 and 8 June

Harmonious and comforting

Dance makers Emma Thomson and Mariví van den Hooff provide a beautiful conclusion to the evening with their dance performance 'But what if we'. In their dance, we see two people interacting in different ways. Harmonious and comforting. Aggressive and desperate. The movements are synchronous, supporting each other or opposite. The strong facial expressions of both dancers perfectly complement their movements. Despite struggling with each other, there is a heady embrace every time. Until a final, calm embrace. Then they each go in a different direction.

- But what if we can still be seen on 30, 31 May, 1 and 9 June

Stories with message and necessity

Today's new creators have relevant stories to tell. Through dance, theatre, words and music. About climate, identity, immigration, feminism, inner chaos. Delft Fringe Festival is there to help new makers tell their stories. The festival supports, advises, encourages and enables. 
Funcken: "As always, there is much to discover during the festival and I warmly invite you to go exploring. Immerse yourself in genres you already know and, above all, step out of your comfort zone and see a performance you would never otherwise choose. Let yourself be seduced, entertained and moved by the talent of the future."

Still until Sunday 9 June, audiences can be amazed, moved and entertained at 31 special playgrounds in Delft's city centre and TU district. Tickets are on sale via www.delftfringefestival.nl.

Tales from Progenitors - Mystha Mandersloot. Photographer: Sjoerd Derine.

Hijra - Oudail el Omari. Photographer: Sjoerd Derine.

But what if we - Emma&Mariví. Photographer: Sjoerd Derine.