SETC Fringe Festival: A Platform for the Bold. A Celebration of the Unconventional.
Fringe exists to make space for work that doesn’t fit neatly into predetermined categories, for artists willing to take risks, and for stories that feel urgent, personal, or unconventional. It is a place where bold ideas are not only welcomed but expected, and where experimentation is treated as a strength rather than a liability.
At its core, Fringe is about impact. It’s about what happens when artists travel with work shaped by their own communities and lived experiences and place it in conversation with audiences and fellow creators from across the region. Time and again, Fringe proves that deeply specific stories can resonate far beyond their place of origin.
That belief is what first drew me to Fringe nearly four years ago, when I participated by bringing a devised piece created with a group of students. The work was rooted in local stories, and while we weren’t sure what to expect, the experience affirmed why Fringe exists: to foster meaningful exchange, amplify voices, and remind artists that their work belongs in the room. Since then, my work with the festival has focused on helping create opportunities for unconventional pieces to be seen and for space to exist where the “weird” can sit comfortably alongside the familiar.
Over the years, Fringe has hosted deeply moving solo performances, one-person Shakespeare adaptations, brand-new musicals, playwrights seeing their work staged for the first time, and performances blending movement, song, comedy, and tragedy. Beneath this wide range of forms is a shared commitment to truth; artists responding honestly to the world around them. What makes the SETC Fringe Festival unique is not just what appears onstage, but the community it fosters. Fringe brings together artists, educators, students, and audiences who are eager to engage with work that challenges traditional theatrical norms. Performances often spark conversations about process, experimentation, and the future of the art form, making Fringe a vital part of the convention experience.
And just as importantly, this work is incredibly fun. Fringe reminds us to keep playing, exploring, and enjoying the making of theatre, even as we take risks and push boundaries. We often say that if your show doesn’t quite fit anyone else’s parameters, it’s probably perfect for Fringe.
The 2026 Fringe Festival will take place on Friday, March 6, during the SETC Convention, with three performance blocks beginning at 4:00 PM. This year’s lineup features solo shows, college-devised ensemble pieces, an original song cycle, and scripts making their stage debut, all alongside sword fights, explorations of love, loss, community, and so much more.
Whether you’re drawn to intimate solo work, bold ensemble pieces, or performances that blur the lines between theatre and multimedia, Fringe offers something for everyone.