Is there anything more enchanting than the picturesque landscapes of Sicily, drenched in the golden hues of October sunshine? For fringe veterans more used to the rains of Edinburgh (or the rains of Brighton, or the rains of Dundee, or the rains of… you get the point), this is a delightful opportunity to savour the magic of fringe theatre while basking in the warm rays of the sun.
Nestled on the west coast of this stunning island, the Catania Fringe Festival is blossoming into its third year, attracting an eager crowd for its vibrant celebration of the arts. Sheltering from another deluge (and the crowded streets) in a fringe press office during the Edinburgh Fringe, a small Broadway Baby contingent concocted a plan to travel to the Catania Fringe, watch some performances, and enjoy the sunshine. The only real issue was that only one of us spoke any Italian.
So, how do you enjoy a fringe festival if it is mainly in a language you only have a limited understanding of? On flying into Catania, the group of reviewers (a parliament of reviewers? a flock of reviewers? A jeroboam of reviewers?) swiftly made our way to the heart of the festival, the Catania Fringe Central offices.
To our relief, we discovered that everyone spoke English - to a ridiculously high degree - which meant that explaining the festival's roots and providing details on which performances we should see was far easier than you’d hoped. Several non-verbal performances, from dance to physical theatre, were accessible to all. Finally, whilst some theatre shows had limited speaking parts, with either a script (emailed to us) or a translator offered by the fringe to join us, the performances were generally understandable to non-native speakers. After jotting down a few notes, we settled in the picturesque Bellini Plaza, sipping on cappuccinos as we mapped out our adventures for the coming days.
Like many fringe festivals, evening performances are the norm, allowing festival-goers ample time during daylight hours to explore some breathtaking sights—like climbing the landscape-dominating Mount Etna, wandering through the charming Greek port of Syracuse, or soaking in the rich history of Roman ruins in Taormina. Venues are dotted throughout the city, although the majority are within walking distance of the centre.
Our first performance was the dance show Alter_Azione, which the website described as ‘The modification of the substance and appearance of things, of a condition, the very essence of life and therefore of art’. Maybe it made more sense in the original Italian. The four performers were excellent, although interpretative dance can benefit significantly from a programme that offers some explanation instead of leaving the audience to interpret themselves. ‘Excellent performances; I had no idea what was going on’ would be my one-line review.
Then, onto The Sensemaker, which drew a lively, sold-out crowd! Previously awarded four stars on Broadway Baby, this was a quality fringe show. While some pre-recorded segments had been translated into Italian, the festival director accompanied us to whisper the occasion translation and ensure we didn’t miss out on anything important—though honestly, the plot was broadly accessible even without translation.
The following evening introduced us to Ed Recovery by Lia Locatelli, the first performance delivered entirely in English. This emotive verbatim piece gave voice to the struggles of young individuals grappling with eating disorders. A brave and illuminating presentation, it artfully delved into the disturbing complexities of these issues. A smaller audience for this performance - was this because it was in English? It could very well have been. A final trip to the Sheraton hotel towards the north of Catania (some distance away from the centre; however, the fringe managed to arrange a lift for us) to catch the young Ukranian company, 004 Mime Company and their excellent production of News.
While there were plenty of opportunities for non-native speakers to catch shows, a significant proportion of the programme was in Italian throughout the festival, meaning the language barrier was a consistent challenge. For the Catania Fringe to flourish in the years ahead and appeal to a broader international audience, addressing this linguistic hurdle will be necessary—whether for performers or attendees. Striking a balance that accommodates residents and international visitors is key. At the same time, English proficiency in Catania is commendable; it cannot reasonably compare to the seamless bilingual experiences in cities like Prague, where English performances at the Prague Fringe attract enthusiastic local crowds.
As I write these words from the sun-kissed balcony of our Sicilian apartment, I can wholeheartedly recommend this vibrant festival. Catania Fringe possesses everything one could dream of: a conveniently located festival easily accessible by regular, affordable flights, a city brimming with hidden gems of bars and restaurants well off the typical tourist path, a flourishing arts scene already thriving in the town, and—perhaps most importantly—almost perfect weather to enjoy it all.
