"With almost 200 Indonesian and international acts in a wide range of performing arts, the first International Festival Fringe Jakarta will put Indonesia on the map of social festivals held around the world," said Sachin Gopalan, CEO of Berita Satu media Holdings, publisher of the Jakarta Globe.
But what exactly is a "fringe festival"? Scottish playwright Robert Kemp first used the term in an article for the Edinburgh Evening News, published in the second edition of the Edinburgh International Festival in August 1948.
"Around the fringe of the official Festival drama there seems to be more private enterprise than before," he wrote . "I'm afraid some of us are not going to be often at home in the evening." He described the independent theater groups that had arrived uninvited to the Edinburgh International Festival for the second consecutive year, to perform in outdoor spaces - or "around the fringe." - the city of Edinburgh and not under the auspices of the official festival
over the years, the "Edinburgh fringe Festival" has become as popular as official Edinburgh International Festival and today it is one of the 12 official festivals held simultaneously in the city of Edinburgh each year for three weeks in August - and is the most famous of the 69 social festivals held worldwide
.over the decades by the technically correct but grammatically awkward title, "the Edinburgh Festival fringe" got simplified "the Edinburgh fringe Festival," and therefore "fringe" has become accepted as a kind of celebration rather than a part of another festival. The term "fringe" has since been adopted and adapted by the festival organizers worldwide and is used today to describe the festivals that incorporate multiple forms of art, usually with an emphasis on comedy.
The Jakarta International Fringe Festival, or "JakFringe," follows this trend and will be held in Lippo Mall Kemang and other places of Kemang.
Fringe festivals include an important component of comedy and JakFringe no exception. The huge increase in the popularity of stand-up comedy in Indonesia over the past two years has made it much easier than it would previously have been filling our scenes with extraordinarily talented local actors.
Over 60 Indonesian comedians will peform at the festival. JakFringe will also feature some of the biggest stars of the international world of comedy, who will perform alongside local actors. Headlining the festival is British comedy superstar Bill Bailey, which is still high on the list of the greatest comedians of all time. It will be delighting audiences with its unique Jakarta, directory of the musical. Bailey, who speaks a little Bahasa Indonesia, has been to Indonesia many times to make television documentaries and to continue the work here with the International Animal Rescue.
The time is right for JakFringe and we look forward to welcoming the local and international community for five days and nights of fun and entertainment. To purchase tickets and for more information on the festival, visit the festival website at www.jakfringe.com.