Uphopho, others birth Lagos Fringe Festival

The maiden event will feature plays, panel discussions, masterclasses and screening of short, student and documentary films across 15 venues

DIRECTOR, choreographer and founder of PAW Studios, Kenneth Uphopho, has announced that the inaugural Lagos Fringe Festival for performing arts and interdisciplinary conversations, will take place from November 11 through 18.

The festival, in partnership with the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Women In the Arts Festival, Access Africa Festival and Freedom Parkwill feature local and international artistes from South Africa, UK, US, Ghana, Senegal, Zimbabwe and the Republic of Benin.

Uphopho, whose company has successfully collaborated with the British Council in producing the Lagos Theatre Festival, the largest outdoor festival in West Africa in the last five years, disclosed that, “Lagos Fringe will present ground-breaking performances in film, theatre and music and showcase these events simultaneously with the 2018 edition of AFRIFF.

According to Uphopho, “We are pushing beyond the usual boundaries in the arts by collaborating with existing platforms to create an experience of a lifetime for artistes and creatives. This year, the focus is on diversity and inclusion in the arts, a development that has birthed creative exchange that will feature industry experts, curators and professionals engaging with emerging artistes for three days during the festival.”

The festival, he added, was scheduled to take place in over 15 separate venues, with Freedom Park as the main hub.“Lagos Fringe will present a programme curated with the idea to address audience development and the creative case for diversity in the general arts, theatre and film culture in Lagos. The programme will include plays, showcases, panel discussions, masterclasses, and screening of short, student and documentary films that will be selected from submissions to AFRIFF. The screenings and panel discussions will be free to the public.”

The opening events of the festival, including unveiling of the Lagos Fringe Advisory Board, recognition Awards to distinguished practitioners for their contributions to the arts and an opening musical play performance will happen at TerraKulture.

Producer Brenda Fashugba, who spoke on the programming, said it would be exciting and rich in diverse art forms, especially in encouraging more women, persons living with disabilities and other marginalised demography to express themselves.

Some venues will be across the Lagos mainland including University of Lagos, Lagos State University, colleges of education as well as artistes from Bariga, Alimosho, Ikeja, Surulere and National Theatre. The goal is to raise awareness on inclusion and inspire standards for students and performing artistes

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At the other venues, AFRIFF will host programmes that include seminars, trainings and conference on topics affecting the film industry today. The discussions will tackle different topics ranging from film production, funding, regulatory and distribution issues. These venues will also be a home to screening of shorts, documentary, animation and film.

Fashugba disclosed that registration to participate in the Festival, currently ongoing, would end on August 31. Interested participants can register by visiting www.lagosfringe.org or www.facebook.com/lagosfringe