The Fringe Manila Festival enters the second half of its first decade, returning to fill some holes and bridge gaps in the metro with some things bold, some things nude, and some taboo!
In an increasingly turbulent world, art is crucial — as an escape, a form of catharsis, and platform of voices that call for change. With tours, exhibitions, performances, and workshops throughout Philippine Arts Month this February 2020, the Fringe is ready to fuel Metro Manila’s creative spirit!
Fringe Manila is an unjuried arts festival that provides access, opportunities, and safe spaces for artists and collectives with no rules or restrictions. It traces its roots to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which has defined the Fringe ethos and structure. Since its launch in 2015, it continues to encourage audiences to support independent artists, as well as championing alternative and unconventional spaces as cultural centres — incubators, platforms, and stages — that develop the arts and cultivates its future.
With its artist-driven and 'un-curated' design, the Fringe has mediated opportunities for artists and communities to gather together. Fringe artists can produce, present, and perform works they might not have a chance to otherwise, all while building cross-cultural relationships with fellow participants and audiences, as well as engaging with the local artistic community.
The festival debuts with the Fringe Foreplay Program from 8 to 11 February with performances by Chopsuey Improv in Poblacion, Langgam Performance Troupe at the Yuchengco Museum, and Unsafe Space Show at Commune, Fringe Manila venue partner. Markets such as KOMIKET, the Filipino Komiks and Art Market in Ortigas and Pineapple Lab’s Really Really Fringe Market featuring South Korea-based muralist Yoyojin will also join the festival.
The Fringe Manila goes full force as it kicks off the festivities on 12 February with Opening Ceremony, the Fringe Manila opening night party at this year’s Fringe Club located at the rooftop of the Draper Start-Up House in the heart of Poblacion’s art district at Makati. Festival-goers can expect performances from regular participators Burlesque PH and Deus Sex Machina.
To celebrate 100 years of Philippine Cinema, The Lopez Museum and Library joins the festival with a series of free-to-the-public film screenings at Pineapple Lab entitled “Classic Filipino Cinema” through the Lopez Arts Initiative. These screenings will be taking classic Filipino films to another level with the deconstruction of notable titles that marked turning points in the Philippines’ film history. Expect works from human rights activist Rhadem Morados, performances from House of Worship featuring Filipino artists advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community, first-ever voguing house in the country House of Mizrahi PH, and eclectic The Addlib Dance Studio.