First Ever BorderLight International Theatre and Fringe Festival to Premiere in Cleveland Wednesday

A new theater extravaganza is coming to downtown Cleveland this week.

Featuring more than 100 theatrical performances and events from troupes around world, the first ever BorderLight International Theatre and Fringe Festival kicks off Wednesday and runs through Saturday. All events take place within walking distance from each other, in and around Public Square and Playhouse Square.

All shows fall into one of three categories. First, "BorderLight International" brings three critically-acclaimed theatre groups from around the world to Cleveland's center stage. Performances include: Under Construction, a non-verbal physical comedy about three eccentric roommates from the Israeli Davai Theatre Group; the 2016 Olivier Award-winning, Silent, a solo-act about a man who has lost everything grasping for redemption from Irish theatre company Fishable; and finally, Creatures, a public procession of life size animal puppets through downtown Cleveland from South African Roger Titley.

While Under Construction and Silent feature multiple performances throughout the week, Creatures premieres only once, at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Ticket prices are $18 to $30, with the exception of Creatures, which is free.

Part two of the festival, "CLE + International," includes a series of five collaborative performances from Cleveland-based theater companies and international performers from Bolivia, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Syria.

Show topics range from the story of a young woman during the Syrian Revolution to that of a young African girl who asks too many questions. Tickets prices are $18 to $30.

For those willing to spend money on the arts but within limits, the "Fringe Festival" offers a discounted, but no less engaging, theater experience. Twenty-seven shows from performers across the country present the spectrum of contemporary theatre, with shows in stand-up, interactive theatre, solo performance, circus theatre, street spectacle, physical theatre and more.

All Fringe Festival tickets are $12. Multishow package deals, available online, include a 4-Pack for $40 and an 8-Pack for $70. Scene readers get $2 off each ticket with the promo code SCENE. There are also two Accidental Comedy shows that will cost $18 on Friday and Saturday.


Created as a non-profit by Dale Heinen and Jeffrey Pence in 2016, the festival is sponsored by various Cleveland groups. You can purchase tickets online, or at three walk-up Tickethubs located at the Hermit Club, Cibreo Privato and Old Stone Church.

For more information and a full schedule of events, see the festival guide pdf or visit www.borderlightcle.org. Keep in mind that some shows fill up faster than others, so be sure to purchase your tickets as soon as possible.

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