Transforum Theatre, a student organization in Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance, performed last month at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland. Dedicated to helping students pursue their passions and explore their creativity through art, Transforum Theatre was invited by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to perform an original work, “A Collection of Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” at the Greenside @ Nicholson Square venue Aug. 18–23. Written and directed by Transforum Theatre president and founder Daniel Ebert, the work combines and expands upon some of the most memorable stories written by the Brothers Grimm.
Participation in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an honor and an exciting opportunity for all involved, allowing students to hone their craft, gain practical experience and represent Kent State. Writer and director Ebert is thrilled to “head a student-run, grassroots effort to create what is essentially a small theatre company producing original work on an international stage.” In founding Transforum Theatre and participating in Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Ebert wanted to maximize his and fellow classmates’ learning experiences in preparation for future careers. Ebert described the trip as a “stressful, but phenomenal once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The fairy tales written and published by the Brothers Grimm in the 19th century inspired Ebert’s production. In producing the work, Transforum Theatre sought to revive the timeless and universal themes of the stories for modern audiences. “A Collection of Grimm’s Fairy Tales” uses a variety of theatrical muses, such as enhanced storytelling and shadow puppetry, to give life to the classic tales.
The Transforum Theatre members who attended the Edinburgh Festival Fringe chronicled their experiences through a blog located at http://transforumtofringe.wordpress.com.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world, and every year, thousands of performers converge on Scotland’s capital city to celebrate arts and entertainments of all genres. For more information about the festival, visit www.edfringe.com.
For more information about Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance, visit www.theatre.kent.edu.