SDSU takes center stage as global Fringe leaders gather on campus

A fringe is defined as the border or outer edges of an area or group. As an adjective, it describes something that is not part of the mainstream – something unconventional or outlying.

Fringe festivals truly embrace this concept, celebrating experimental, open-access, and uncensored performance art, such as theatre, dance, or films. Fringe implies a space to create, have fun, and challenge expectations. Produced outside of established institutions, fringe leans into the strange and unusual – creativity that is not afraid to take risks and challenge the norms of the art world. 

San Diego State University will host day three of the World Fringe Congress this year in collaboration with San Diego International Fringe Festival, the chosen host city for 2026. The San Diego Fringe Festival will run from May 19-23, with SDSU hosting on May 22.

Fringe theatre originated at the 1947 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which featured original performances held in unconventional spaces, such as storefronts and churches. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival continues to be one of the most prominent in the world, with much of it taking place at the University of Edinburgh.

“It's a great place for people who are writing something brand new, whether that be a play, a musical, a dance piece, or comedy,” said Stephen Brotebeck, director of the SDSU School of Television, Theatre, and Film.

Brotebeck’s experience with fringe sparked his interest in furthering the partnership between SDSU, San Diego Fringe, and World Fringe Congress.

He now serves as the liaison between the university and both organizations and is scheduled to speak on a panel May 22 about the collaboration process between universities and fringe festivals. He described the partnership as a “win-win on both sides.”

Brotebeck’s theatre career has long been intertwined with fringe. He visited the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year and watched everything from fully-produced musicals to one-woman shows in a tent.

“The range of what you can see at a fringe festival is quite phenomenal,” Brotebeck said.

When he was living and working in New York City, he directed two shows at the New York International Fringe Festival.

“It's an opportunity to really showcase what the work is without relying on overdesigned elements. It's really just about the text, the words, the show, the actors,” Brotebeck said. “There are design elements, but that's not the main focus. That, to me, was really exciting.”

Campus festivities for the SDSU-hosted day will include campus tours, breakout sessions, panels about how universities and fringe festivals can work together, and presentations by SDSU students, lecturers, and staff. It will also feature a reception for delegates of World Fringe to discuss their festivals and exchange ideas.

The SDSU Emerging Filmmakers Showcase will be featured at the festival along with work from the SDSU theatre arts design and technology program, new, original work created at SDSU, and productions from around the world. 

According to Brotebeck, this year’s festival will mark the pilot year of a hopeful, multi-year collaboration with both San Diego Fringe and World Fringe Congress.

“I think what's going to be exciting is for us to showcase what we do at SDSU to a global audience,” Brotebeck said.
”We're going to have people from all over the world, all over the country, and they'll be able to not only see our venues and see our beautiful campus, but also see what our students do, what our faculty does, and what our staff does.”