The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2024 - Issue 36

bitetheatre THEATRE REVIEW I n Birmingham, the Fierce Festival 2024 arrived with fresh air, challenging conventions and infusing the local arts scene with renewed energy. From 15-20 October, the festival marked a new era with Clayton Lee as Artistic Director. Known for curating cutting-edge performances that explore themes of identity, resistance, and the beauty of marginalised experiences, Lee brought a truly international perspective, hosting artists from over eight countries. “In a moment where we are teeter- ing on the precipice,” he said, “this programme is a love letter to the act of making, witnessing, and gathering at the edges of contemporary performance.” The programme mixed nine UK premieres and one world premiere, showcasing celebrated artists like Joshua Serafin, Dana Michel, and Jeremy Nedd alongside Birmingham’s Selina Thompson. Twine, Thompson’s latest production, marked her first new show in seven years and is the company’s first since joining Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. Inspired by the complexities of adoption and family, this work resonates deeply with audiences as it unfolds themes of belonging and the personal impacts of state intervention. However, Fierce Festival goes beyond theatre. Audiences saw an eclectic range of performances across Birmingham’s iconic ven- ues—from the Midland Arts Centre to the Library of Birming- ham—each show embracing the city’s vibrancy and adaptability. Joshua Serafin’s Pearls , inspired by the pre-colonial celebration of non-binary genders in the Philippines, envisions a futuristic world where trans bodies are revered as divine. This bold and unapologetically celebratory work exemplifies the inclusive Pearls Twine