Urgent matters of our time brought to stage

Fringe arts festivals around the world are known for bringing something a little different to audiences and the upcoming Buffer Fringe event promises to do just that, bringing new and experimental work by local and international artists in Cyprus to locations around the capital.

Organised by Home for Cooperation, the festival gives artists the opportunity to meet and interact both among themselves and with the audience “in a true celebratory spirit of multiculturalism and peaceful coexistence”, say organisers.

The festival debuted in 2014, when it established itself as a highly respected international festival. It took place in the buffer zone. This years’ event will celebrate its fifth consecutive year with a growing number of participating artists.

The main stage will deal with the concept of ‘breaking point’, showcasing performances that explore this theme on a broader social, global as well as an intimate and personal level. Those performing on the main stage will attempt to explore the limits if their own art forms, by delving into a socio-political narrative and expressing the urgent matters of our times through their eyes.

The main stage will offers a number of ‘micro-formats’:
Duets: An experimental platform which encourages cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural dialogue in which an artists can explore a subject with another from a different discipline. The festival will be pairing up artists randomly and giving them a week to come up with a concept to present on the stage.

Satellite: The idea behind this format is to reach out to communities that have a limited chance to engage in artistic exploration.

Home Visits: A collaboration between Buffer Fringe and Rimini Protokoll from Germany. Rimini Protokoll created a project called Home Visits Europe and they will be bringing the concept to Cyprus, visiting apartments and creating discussion around identities.

Artists’ speed-dating: Creating a space where artists and the general public can meet and share experiences.

Fringe on Screen: A collaboration between the Buffer Fringe Festival and the Stockholm Fringe Festival.

Critical Mass: An attempt to bring together artists as well as audiences to discuss artistic practice in the form of panels, lectures, workshops and seminars.

Buffer Fringe V
Series of artistic events at sites around Nicosia. November 1-4. For more information and exact events visit facebook/buffer fringe performing arts or www.home4cooperation.info

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