Name: Helena Bunker
Origins: Sweden/Greece
Role: Co-Founder/Co-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: Produced in PL. Developed in SWE. Refined in AUS & UK.
Role: Co-Founder / Co-Director / BNFN Co-ordinator

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 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 12 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.

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 gotta be specific..., apart from being a Culture Nerd, I'm also a proper airliner geek. There is a Boeing 747 parked by Stockholm Arlanda Airport. It's been converted into a hostel. I'd LOVE to have a theatre plane. A mini-festival in the air. A truly global stage. However, that may not be a very ecological festival. We like our things Green in Sweden.

Moving forward, I’m keen to explore how our sector can bring new work for a new reality , while allowing new genres to emerge, both IRL and in digital performing spaces. Where is my 16 yo nephew going to experience his first meaningful performance experience? (Aside from witnessing countless STOFF launches, the digital/mobile phone sphere is his natural habitat). We’re in the process of developing such space: www.arenastoff.com. What will it become, and who will it benefit? YOU can help us establish that! Heads over there and share your thoughts, today!

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: Felicia Slotte
Origins: Sweden
Role: Festival Co-ordinator

A big reason for me to be a part of the Fringe network is my love for quirkiness and acceptens, places where people get to express themselves. This project, among many other projects I’ve been working on is all about creating forums like this. That’s why I´ve choose to studie arts, culture and aesthetics for many years. Because I love contributing to a more open and lovable world, where people get to meet and unite in something different..

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
I would expect unique and innovative art that challenges our view of life and society. A opportunity to see bold performance created out of passion and that gives you an experience that sticks with you and challenges your perception of the world.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
I really appreciate art in public spaces where you get to express yourself and create emotions in the ones not used to that kind of culture. But I also love mystic and intimate surroundings filled with fog and weird amazing people and would love to find a way to merge these two worlds together.

Name: André Hasselgren
Origins: Sweden
Role: Event Producer

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 at the different venues as much as I can during STOFF. It's a wonderful feeling to walk around and feel the vibe of the festival, 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 also involved in others, for example, at 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: Joel Nenander
Origins: Sweden
Role: Event Producer

I had my first encounter with the Fringe in 2016, as I joined the STOFF team as an artist liaison. I continued working with the team for two more years, experiencing new Nordic Fringe festivals emerge, and seeing the Nordic Fringe Network expand further. After a five-year hiatus, I’m excited to be back with the team for the 13th edition, hoping that this year, we’ll make the best one yet!

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
I would expect to see work created out of necessity, with great passion and determination. Queer narratives and bold performers. Work that is uncompromising, raw, peculiar, funny and smart.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
I would love to make a durational performance in the Stockholm metro system, on trains and platforms. It’s anyway a very performative space, shared by most of us, that tells a story about class, gender and whatnot.

Name: Lea Jöst 
Origins: Germany/Sweden
Role: Volunteer Co-ordinator

I am a lover of good food and improvised theatre! My first Fringe experience was performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018. I remember being utterly amazed by how the city was turned upside down by all the touching, funny, thought-provoking and political art and performances. I am particularly interested in dramaturgical narratives, all things queer and to do with the body. Currently, I am doing a Master’s degree in Performance Studies in Stockholm and divide my time researching drag and performance and doing practical work like here at the Festival! 

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
At a Fringe Festival, I expect to be surprised by different combinations of art forms. I like seeing a show/performance/installation where I don't know what to expect and which thoughts and feelings it might provoke.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
I like more intimate spaces where the audience and performers are close to each other and can build some form of relationship

Name: Stella Jacobs
Origins: GERMANY/UK
Role: Volunteer Co-ordinator

I came to Stockholm in 2022 to do a Master's in Performance Studies at Stockholm University. A week later, I became a volunteer at STOFF. I got to know different local venues and to talk to a bunch of interesting International artists. I landed at the perfect place to connect my interest in international Performing Art Festivals with my desire to explore Stockholm's cultural scene. This year, Lea and I will ensure your volunteer experience is as fun as ours.

What would you expect to see at a Fringe festival?
At the Fringe, I expect to laugh, feel inspired, and be surprised. Formally at STOFF, I built a shower, held up a plastic fork and made a friend by talking to a stranger through a paper cup. A lot is possible!

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
Where would you want to perform? On and around the escalators at Ropsten Station. Preferably a tectonic performance.

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

TBC

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: Henry Tremain
Origins: UK
Role: Motions Designer

I've always been interested in the unusual side of art - art that pushes boundaries and challenges conventions. I studied 'Multi Media and Sonic Arts' at university - a multidisciplinary art course with a focus on experimentation. Since then I have worked as a printer, photographer, sound engineer, graphic designer and spent most of the last 10 years as a touring musician. I've become obsessed with 'Blender' - an open-source 3D video creation software package that I have been using to make animations for STOFF to help promote the amazing festival.

What would you expect to see in a Fringe festival?
I would wish to see something new to me, that I have not experienced until that moment - Something that inspires me to think in a new way.

The world is your stage. Where would you want to perform?
A small and intimate venue where the lines between performer and audience are diminished.