Name: Helena Bunker
Origins: Sweden/Greece
Role: Founding Director

From art student to university art student, to master art student, to fringe artist, to a producer of arts and baker of life. My journey has taken me to many incredible places and people around the world through different weird and wonderful forms. Half Greek, half Swede with a heart's majority anchored in England/Australia. Of all the fantastic (and catastrophic) projects I have been involved in I would say that experiencing the Fringe (and ok the arts exchange where I lived alone in a castle in Transylvania) has taught me the most. If I could, I would do it all again.

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
Several stomach punches that'll remind you why we do what we do and why the hell we stick to it. It sounds so pretentious, but I truly feel that the Fringe gives life to so many new thoughts, meetings acts, and experiences; it is so beautiful to see how this artistic collective thrives on its unique creative flame and how this global arts celebration create such a strong union.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
A) In the head of John Malkovich. B) In a place, and for those, where art is not accessible.

Name: Adam J. K. Potrykus
Origins: Poland / Sweden
Role: Founding Director

My FRINGE journey started in 1983 when our neighbours in Gdansk(PL) gave me a custom-built puppet theatre. It stayed with me when we migrated to Sweden. Ten years later, I got accepted to THELISI - School for Young Stage Art (Stockholm) where I met STOFF Co-founders Helena Bunker & Lina Karlmark. Many pretentious stage shows later via TV Production internships in Gdansk/Warsaw/Dublin, I ended up in Melbourne, where I studied FILM while engaging in music touring. I moved back to Europe in 2010 and joined troops with H&L, launching STOFF!

Since then, I’ve had the privilege to be part of a growing Baltic Nordic Fringe movement that includes the launch of the Bergen and Gothenburg Fringe festivals and the subsequent launch of the Baltic Nordic Fringe Network, that today includes 11 unique festivals in 7 countries. Read more about them here. Aside from all this fringe business, I’m engaged with the House of Producers (HOP). My “daytime” job is promoting Sweden to the world. This year, we’re the hosts of the World Fringe Congress, a gathering of our peers from across the 300 festival strong World Fringe community.

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
Something less ordinary that challenges my perception of life and society. Usually, a pinch of twisted + a slither of humour mixed with a fat dose of punk attitude delivers amazing. A share, unique experience that sticks with you for days in the deep part of your soul. The fringe gives a forum for voices less heard. For narratives that aren’t obvious in the public domain, It’s also a place where you can leave your worries behind and escape your everyday life routine thanks to local and global talent that take you for a thrilling ride!

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
Everyday life is a performance. If I have to be specific, i do love shows that embrace and utilise the unexpected and existing spaces in the host city. Venues that allow people to see their city in a light. A performance in an empty swimming pool hall? Maybe, a boat. One of # the most memorable experiences from #STOFF2023 was “NIGHT JOURNEY” by Reich + Szyber, which took the audience on a unique evening cruise around the Stockholm waterways.

This year, entire Stockholm is a stage when our festival avalanches into 21 locations, one of them being a nudist beach!

Name: Lina Karlmark
Origins: Sweden
Role: Co-founder

My first fringe encounter was in Melbourne, Australia. What a fantastic journey with the performance No No Pirouette. The fringe welcomed and supported this quirky, loveable and innovative piece of performance. It made me realise that fringe is for those who dare to try, to challenge, to question what art is and can be. It’s a fantastic opportunity for new artists and work. I want young artists to be inspired and fearless to produce their work.

What would you like to see in a fringe festival?
I would like to see artists and performances that are innovative, thoughtful, silly, funny, political, fast, slow, dramatic, or moving. In other words, all ranges of art that come together for a couple of days to interact and celebrate freedom of expression.

The world is your stage, where would you like to perform?
I love art in public spaces.

Name: André Hasselgren
Origins: Sweden
Role: STOFFICE support & Program selection.

I first participated in STOFF as an actor in 2013 and a few years later returned as part of the team. I'm trying to be around the different venues as much as possible during STOFF. It's a beautiful feeling to walk around and feel the festival's vibe, chat with artists and volunteers, and see the result of all the planning. The special feeling when so many people and creativity come together during a concentrated time, the mix of strict preparations and unpredicted events. Since I

like the festival format, I'm involved in others, such as the Tempo Documentary Festival. I'm also involved in the theater group Dramalabbet in Stockholm as an actor/director/pedagogue.

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
Things that don't really fit in anywhere else, the unpolished, the unpolite, the perplexing. Fringe at its best for me is to get blown away from categories such as "good" and "bad" and just feel that this is something I've never seen before.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
Anti-capitalistic performance at a bank, anti-royalistic performance at the royal castle, and so on!

Name: Gustav Andersson Lilliehorn
Origins: Sweden
Role: Producer / Venues & Tech

I first participated in STOFF as a volunteer back in 2019 and had a blast. 5 years later and I’m back as a producer, and I couldn’t be more excited. I hope to see as many performances as I can during this years festival (when I’m not working). I think STOFF is terrific because it allows the viewer to experience big variety of acts in many different genres during a very short time. It’s very special experience with unique acts and I’m very glad to be a part of it. I work in the film industry and I’m very amped about the FRINGE CINEMA session at Teater 3, especially because one of my films is showing there.

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
To quote a famous film: The “good”, the “bad” and especially the “ugly”. I hope to see acts that are raw, honest and unpolished, they’re my favorites.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
Preferably a big stage with a big audience. That has always been a dream of mine.

Name: Yola Dumont
Origins: France
Role: VIP Launch & Fringe Awards Coordinator

Born in France, I moved to Sweden three years ago for my studies. I am now working to strengthen cultural and artistic exchanges between France and Sweden at the Institut français de Suède (French Institute in Sweden) here in Stockholm. I am an art lover, passionate about theatre and performances of all kinds and I never miss an opportunity to discover something new. As a Fringe neophyte, I am ready to dive into the experience and to enjoy every bit of it!

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
I expect to see the unexpected. Something that I would never have thought of. Something that I would never have dared to imagine. Something that shakes me to the core and leaves me thinking of a million new possibilities.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
Amidst ruins, bringing life back to an abandoned place.

Name: Micaela Gillenberg
Origins: Sweden
Role: Marketing & Press

I first came across Stockholm Fringe Festival when I stepped in last-minute as a performer in one of the theatre productions. But it was the festival itself – its creative magnetism and wild artistic energy – that drew me in. That STOFF vibe made me return — first as an audience member, just to take it all in. A few years later, I was back with the theatre group Deine Frau, presenting Säg hans namn / Say It, a piece I wrote and directed. Theatre and art in all their forms have always been a fundamental part of my life, both personally and professionally, and have shaped my academic journey in theatre studies, writing, and cultural production. My practice encompasses communication work at artistic institutions and art companies, as well as artistic collaborations with independent art groups. I’m excited to work with this year’s festival — to experience every part of it, meet the artists and their work, and communicate their stories.

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
Something I didn’t know I needed – something strange, intimate, or emotionally raw. Something that lingers, maybe even returns in my dreams. I want to be surprised, disturbed, delighted – or haunted, in the best possible way.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
Maybe in a room behind closed doors — a parliamentary chamber, a closed boardroom, a government office, or a corporate meeting room — spaces where decisions are made.It could be interesting.

Name: Anna Thunström
Origins: Sweden
Role: Volunteer & Experience Coordinator

My first encounter with the Fringe was as a visitor in Edinburgh in 2013. Talk about diving into the deep end, I was overwhelmed with impressions! Since then, I have worked at many different art centres and theatres, and I love experiencing a variety of expressions. I especially enjoy it when art forms intersect and create new genres. 

As a singer and performing artist myself, I enjoy creating performances that are innovative and a bit ”outside the box”. I think it’s so great that Fringe is a place for trying out new things that perhaps wouldn’t get a chance to exist otherwise!

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
I expect to see the unexpected and meet things I cannot imagine until I experience them. I want to be surprised!

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
I really like places with unpredictable and enjoyable acoustics. Give me a chance to perform in a cave in Greece, please. Photo:

© Hedda Axelsson

Name: Sandra and Daniel Burg
Origins: USA / Portugal

Role: Team Hospitality Officers (*)

Lifelong learners, sometimes writers, cooks (that is mostly Daniel) and long-term travellers, drawn to circumstances that allow us to give back, learn, mentor and co-create.

Originally from San Luis Obispo, California, currently living in Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal. There part of the year and traveling and doing volunteer work the rest of the time. Like right now here with Fringe

Together through all the swells and not-so-swells for nearly forty years. We co-created, if you know what I mean (insert smiley face emoji here), four endearing, creative and delightful children. 

I (Daniel) cook because we are meant to nourish one another. We volunteer because we recognise our privilege and are duty-bound to contribute. We travel because there are so many lovely people we haven’t met yet. 

We are fit yet not fanatical, lighthearted yet neither fickle nor unpredictable. We believe that "what if" is the way that all great adventures begin and should never be spent on mourning opportunities not taken.

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
We have no expectations, only anticipations to be dazzled by the creativity of humans left to their own devices. We are already dazzled by the leadership of this festival and the earnestness and solidarity with which they approach this herculean task. The world would be a much better place if everyone lived with such passion and dedication. We are honoured to work beside them.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
To quote an Irish blessing… where the road rises to meet us, where the wind is at our backs, the sunshine is warm upon our faces, and rains fall softly upon the fields.

(*) Ps. We prefer to be called “Kitchen creatives (aka nourishment nudniks) and scullery maids”, but it was too long for the web designer!

Name: Lilian Bäckman
Origins: Sweden
Role: Art & Graphic Designer

2018 was the first time when Lilian Bäckman visited the Fringe. “It was like as if I was back at The Oasis (band venue) och experienced the punk scene with bands like Ebba Grön, KSMB and other similar units!

Lilian is inspired by the unruly, imperfect, anger, foul language, sadness and the forrest. Most of all, animals! Cats, Animals, animals!

Lilian Bäckman is a diverse artist and author working with various of projects and educational projects through many different mediums. She gives workshops in “Ugly-Beautiful”, ”My garden”, ”Black - a color theory” and ”Pinch with style”. 

Lilian has been working closely with Stockholm Fringe Festival since 2019 where she developed and illustrated the genius nonbinary party individual for the 10th year anniversary. Year 2020, the year of the rat according to the Chinese calendar, became a perfect foundation to create a symbol for the festival’s onward journey. The rat is an intelligent creature most commonly met by hate. The rat took a massive upswing during the punk era and for many still, they love what others love to hate. The rat. 

Check out Lilians wide range of work on her website, many available for download and on order in the webshop. 

About: lilianbackman.se

Name: Lee Simmons
Origins: UK
Role: Visual Identity + Web Designer

In 2010 after an incredibly long, often exciting and sometimes challenging gestation period, STOFF emerged into the world. As with all living things in the early years of existence, our little friend took some time to toddle round, explore, stretch, grow & to gradually find its true personality and values. With each passing year, STOFF learnt from its mistakes, it learnt from its audience & it learnt from the team who birthed it. And, in turn, we learnt from STOFF. From the start, there were certain things that were crystal clear to our young hero. STOFF believed in diversity and that the world could hold endless beautiful possibilities - if we only gave it the chance and treated it with kindness and respect. During its early explorations, mischief frequently rose to the surface and fun was never far behind. Yet, along with all the sass, it was easy to detect a more serious & pensive side to STOFF. There was an intelligent, calm, considerate and political side to this wonderful entity. It welcomed creativity in all forms, with open arms. It was hard not to fall in love with our flourishing protagonist. I had the good fortune of meeting STOFF right at the start of its life. In the beginning, before any of us were clear what STOFF would grow to be, I worked with the team to design the festival’s brand-identity. Over the years, as STOFF’s personality has grown stronger and more luminous, this identity has been tweaked & refined to better represent the festival it is today. Over the past 12 years, I’ve directed photo-shoots for the cover, amused myself by creating surreal collages and used graphic design to structure a website that, I hope, is fun to navigate & easy to digest.

What would you expect to see in a Fringe festival?
Something a little risky.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
In a light-filled forest by a lake - or the sea (does that exist?) Perfect!

Name: Jessica Barber
Origins: UK
Role: Artist & Participant Manager

TBC

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
TBC

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
TBC