A party full of art – theatre, comedy, cabaret, drag, circus, dance, poetry, VR and everything in between, in venues all over Reykjavík.
Unlike most of Iceland's arts festivals, a Fringe isn't curated: anyone with a show and a place to put it on can take part. Having performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, and then struggled to find a stage in Reykjavík for our own work, Nanna asked herself the obvious question – 'why don't I just do it?'
Nanna co-founded the Reykjavík Fringe Festival in 2018 with Jón Magnús Arnarsson, and served as its artistic director for its first five years. In that time it grew from a five-day festival of 50 shows into a ten-day celebration of 90, with artists flying in from all over the world – and somehow it went ahead, on its original dates, through two years of a global pandemic.
Owen worked behind the scenes as a venue technician and helped with the production, and could usually be found behind the decks at the opening party as the festival's resident DJ.
The festival joined the Nordic Fringe Network, letting artists apply to eight festivals in six countries with a single application, and formed exchanges with festivals further afield, such as San Diego Fringe and PortFringe in Maine. Each year ended with an award ceremony, with awards ranging from the Grand Prix to the 'Punch In The Face' and 'Fringe of the Fringe'.
The festival continues today under new direction at rvkfringe.is.
RVK Fringe 2022
24 June – 3 July 2022
- 90 shows – 50 local, 40 international
- Nearly 200 performances
- Artists from 17 countries
- 6 official venues, plus 5 'bring your own' venues
With travel restrictions finally lifted, year five was given free rein to thrive: our first ten-day festival, spanning two weekends, and a record year for ticket sales. Highlights included Triptych Men, a hilarious and moving piece of physical theatre by Israeli company Sabotal Theatre; After, a spooky immersive play for just four audience members at a time; and Ari Eldjárn's sold-out Saga Class.
Programme 2022
- 70 skipti sem ég þurfti að vera sætur / 70 Times I Needed to Feel Cute
- A Study of Choices
- After
- Arctic Creatures
- Ari Eldjárn: Saga Class
- Ariadne aus Crete
- Artificial Digital Scarcity
- Baba Karam – Through Jamileh and Khordadian
- Becoming Icelandic
- Bird About Town
- Birding
- Bootyswing Burlesque
- Búkalú – Burlesque & Cabaret
- Cheeky Kiki: Queer Burlesque Workshop with Vice Versa
- Clara and The Free Time
- Crossroads
- Dead People Are Liking Things On Facebook
- Do You See What I Hear?
- Eldklárar og eftirsóttar
- EuroVisionary
- Fantasia Floreale – Metamorphosis
- Friðrik Valur: Clean
- GasMask Man – Culture of Terror
- Guide to Guiding
- Hej Förresten! / Hi There!
- Her Past in Their Present Now
- HOLD: The Musical
- Humble
- I rummet.3
- Iceland, Please Love Me
- Identity Crisis
- Joke Show – Game Show
- Jól í júní með Dömum og herra / Christmas in June with Ladies and a Gentleman
- Kvöld með Sjóræningja Jenny / An Evening with Pirate Jenny
- Let It Burn
- Líf
- Linda's Freak Show
- Lonesome Hunter
- Love Is All Around
- Lyric Dragonfly
- Manic Pixie Dream Boi
- Mansfantasier // Male Fantasies
- Match Me!
- MIMRA in Concert
- Mind Reader Nordstrandamus
- Nick Jameson: A Crowd of One
- No Makeup
- Notes from Shetland to Shanghai
- Örlagaþræðir – Threads of Fate
- Outdoor Class: Broadway Jazz with Tom Harlow
- Outdoor Class: Introduction to Burlesque with Margrét Maack
- Pip
- Please Step Aside
- Ravenclaw Kanye
- Rhythm, Acrobatics, Body Percussion and Beat Box with Bugge Bang
- Richard Brown: Horror Show
- Rozarina Larsen: Asian Persuasion Tour
- SADBOI
- SEIÐR
- Shattered
- Showtunes & FILTH! An Evening with Tom Harlow
- Sirens of Poland – Hajman
- Sóðabrók / Dirty Undies
- Solstice
- Space Mama Piggy by Sólveig Eva
- Story Gauntlet
- Strange Love – The Icelandic Comics Society
- Tassel Twirling & Boa Work with Olive TuPartie
- Tease with Tom Harlow
- The Emotional Universe of a Melodramatic Woman
- The Gorgeous Life: Where Are They Now?
- The Green Zone
- The Half-Adventures of Reverend Roh
- The Playground
- The Road
- The Tutti Fruttis
- THEM by Spindrift Theatre
- Three Grimm's Fairy Tales
- Triptych Men
- Velvet Determination
- Við dönsum undir öskufalli endalokanna / We'll Dance on the Ash of the Apocalypse
- WH0 CARES
- Will Finn & Rosie Calvert
- Y Todavía Somos
- You're Lucky He Was Nice
- Your Flaws: The Musical
Awards 2022
- Grand Prix – Mansfantasier // Male Fantasies
- Outstanding Performance – Triptych Men
- Artist Favourite – Triptych Men
- Audience Choice – Ari Eldjárn: Saga Class, and Sóðabrók / Dirty Undies
- Rising Star – Dan Roh: The Half-Adventures of Reverend Roh, and Ari Eldjárn: Saga Class
- Punch In The Face – Shattered by Diana Varco
- Pen To Paper – Space Mama Piggy by Sólveig Eva
- Best Family Show – Hej Förresten! / Hi There!
- Best Character Actor – Líf
- Maine Award – Let It Burn / Linda
- Off To Italy – Y Todavía Somos
- Nordic Fringe Network – You're Lucky He Was Nice
- Act Alone – Bird About Town
- Grapevine Award – A Study of Choices
- Take My Breath Away – No Makeup
- Funny Award – Isabel Maria: The Emotional Universe of a Melodramatic Woman
- Fringe of the Fringe – Do You See What I Hear?
- Best Ensemble – THEM by Spindrift Theatre
- Best Duet – Will Finn & Rosie Calvert
- Notice Me!! – Dan Nava: Becoming Icelandic
- Spirit of the Fringe – Chris DeFillip of PortFringe & Story Gauntlet
- Volunteer Award – the entire 2022 team!
RVK Fringe 2021
3 – 11 July 2021
- Around 70 shows, performed more than 150 times
- Venues across the city, from Tjarnarbíó to a roller derby hall
- Record ticket sales
The theme was 'Contact'. Restrictions were lifted just two days before the festival began, and international performers once again filled the streets. The President of Iceland dropped in on the gallery opening, and the opening show was Sauðatónar / Sheep Music – a concert played for the sheep at Árbær Folk Museum, with people welcome too.
Programme 2021
- #txtshow (á netinu)
- A Solo From the Pit
- Allt fyrir ástina með Bibi Bioux
- Andrew Sim: How to Reappear Completely
- Angry Dan
- Anyway...
- Ást á elliheimili – er ég góð manneskja?
- Awkwardly Confident
- Chansons... Musical Cabaret with Intercultural Views on France
- Clown on the Fifth Floor
- Come, Look At Me
- Couch Cabaret
- Disorder
- Egoland
- El Grillo
- Flirting From the Fringe – Daðrað af jaðrinum
- Fringe Roller Derby
- Game On
- Graphic Novel Showcase: The Golden Circle
- Grýla – Not For Children
- Guide to Guiding
- HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr
- HelgaSon
- Homo Sapien
- Identity Crisis
- INvisible
- Lag eftir lag
- Linda's Freak Show
- Little, Blue, & Rhymes with Sue
- Lolly's Book
- Lovísa Battlefield
- Magic Class
- Making Peace
- My Voices Have Tourettes
- No Penis, No Knowledge
- Nokkur orð um mig
- Oktoberfest – Crowd Control 2.0
- Oleg Denisov: Economy Vodka
- Oleg Denisov: Russian Troll
- Open Your Heart
- Origine
- ORIGINS
- Perfect World of Love
- Poser's Reflections
- Pure Evil – A One Man Show About My Cat
- Reykjavík Story Night: Showtime!
- RISA – Friction
- Sauðatónar / Sheep Music
- Science Magic
- Seasonal Elements
- Stattu upp
- That's Weird
- The Dreamer
- The Icelandic Comics Society presents: Strange Encounters
- The Magical Corner
- The Pink Hulk: One Woman's Journey to Find the Superhero Within
- Three Men from the North
- TIME INSIDE
- Viewpoints and Shakespeare
- W.W.K.D – What Would Kimi Do?
- We Are All On The Same Bus
- WILD // VILLT
- You Have Probably Already Seen Me Naked
- Youth Fringe: Sirkús, Sviðsframkoma, Sviðssetning & Uppistand
Awards 2021
- Grand Prix – A Solo From the Pit by Elias Faingersh
- Outstanding Performer – Mauricio Rodriguez
- Artist Favourite – The Clown on the Fifth Floor by Storm Dunder
- Audience Choice – Linda's Freak Show by Andrew Sim
- Rising Star – Mauricio Rodriguez, Anyway...
- Act Alone – The Pink Hulk by Valerie David
- Maine Award + Character Actor – HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr by Heather Massie
- Best Duet – Friction by Riia Kivimäki & Saku Mäkelä
- Best Ensemble – Lag eftir lag by FWD Youth Company
- Punch In The Face – Ást á elliheimili by Sara Rut Arnardóttir
- Take My Breath Away – The Clown on the Fifth Floor by Storm Dunder
- Funny Award – W.W.K.D. What Would Kimi Do? by Kimi Tayler
- Fringe of the Fringe – Perfect World of Love by Fierbinteanu
- Notice Me! – Identity Crisis by Danilo Nava, Lovísa Lára & Regn Sólmundur
- Pen To Paper Wall – Angry Dan
- Youth Fringe Award – Dan Helgabur
- Family Friendly Show – Game On by Kría Aerialists
- Nordic Fringe Network Award – Three Men From the North by The Nordic Council
- Grapevine Award – Three Men From the North by The Nordic Council
- Spirit of the Fringe – Alexander Smith
- Volunteer Award – Svandís Einarsdóttir
RVK Fringe 2021 in numbers. Footage by Bob Schellens, title animation by Owen Hindley.
RVK Fringe 2020
4 – 12 July 2020
- Around 50 shows – 37 local, 13 international via livestream
- 120+ performances from 8 countries
- 6 venues, plus online
The biggest challenge so far. While festivals around the world were cancelled, RVK Fringe went ahead on stage and online: international acts performed via livestream, and local acts filled venues during a brief window when Iceland had no Covid cases at all.
This was also the year the festival got its new look – hand-folded posters by design studio Arnar&Arnar, later nominated for an FÍT design award.
Programme 2020
- A Quintet For NO Human
- Airi's
- Americanized
- An Ice Thing To Say
- Big Red, Little Blue
- Big, Small Town Kid
- CRAPSHOOT! Or Why Al Voted For Trump: A Love Story
- Crowd Control
- Do U Gal
- Experimental Typography
- Fantastical Beings
- Forbidden Fruit
- Good Cure For Tragic Life
- Grýla – Not For Children
- Guide to Guiding
- Heima er Bezt
- Hold On To Your Thumbs
- I'm Tired by Jono Duffy
- Ladies and A Gentleman Burlesque Your Socks Off by Dömur og herra
- Linda's Freak Show
- Molting
- My Voices Have Tourettes
- Nick Jameson: Why Are You So Old?
- Opening Up by Sindri Sparkle Freyr
- Opera Guitta
- Origine
- Pop Up Tattoo by White Hill Tattoo
- Pure Evil – A One Man Show About My Cat
- RadioLove: Corona Vacation
- Rebirth
- Reykjavík Ensemble Theatre Workshop
- Secret Cellar Comedy Showcase
- Soulflow Fringe Comedy
- Space Mama Piggy
- Squeak!
- Storm Doesn't Rhyme With Porn
- Strange Communities
- The Clown On The Fifth Floor
- The Little Ballerina
- The Pink Hulk: One Woman's Journey to Find the Superhero Within
- THEM by Spindrift Theatre
- This is Not A Show
- We'll Dance on the Ash of the Apocalypse
- Wraith
- Yes, Please
- York Underwood
- Þriggja rétta
Awards 2020
- Grand Prix – Clown on the Fifth Floor by Storm Dunder
- Outstanding Performance – I'm Tired by Jono Duffy
- Artist Favourite – I'm Tired by Jono Duffy
- Audience Choice – I'm Tired by Jono Duffy
- Rising Star – Big, Small Town Kid (Arnór Daði & Mauricio Rodriguez)
- Act Alone – Grýla – Not For Children by Christian Hege
- Best Online Performance – Grýla – Not For Children by Christian Hege
- Best Duet – Hold On To Your Thumbs (Kimi Tayler & Laufey Haralds)
- Best Ensemble – Túttífrútturnar
- Punch In The Face – Opening Up by Sindri Sparkle Freyr
- Take My Breath Away – Origine by Simona Di Nardo
- Funny Award – Good Cure for Tragic Life (Helgi Steinar), and Squeak! (Dan Zerin)
- Fringe of the Fringe – Linda's Freak Show (Andrew Sim & friends)
- Notice Me! – Big, Small Town Kid (Arnór Daði)
- Pen To Paper – Strange Communities by the Icelandic Comic Society
- Grapevine Award – Big, Small Town Kid (Arnór Daði)
- Nordic Fringe Network Award – THEM by Spindrift Theatre
- Spirit of the Fringe – Tinna Þorvalds Önnudóttir
- Volunteer Award – Artur Szklarski
The festival's directors wrap up 2020. Video by Sonia Sars.
RVK Fringe 2019
29 June – 6 July 2019
- 100+ shows, from 25 countries
- 250+ performers, 200+ performances
- 20 venues, from Tjarnarbíó and IÐNÓ to a circus tent
In just one year, the festival doubled in size. 2019 also saw the first Youth Fringe, a parade from Hlemmur to Tjarnarbíó, and a packed closing party in Bíó Paradís with awards in 16 categories. At the opening party, Huldufugl built a glowing installation for the silent disco, and Kassinn played to sold-out audiences again.
Programme 2019
- A Sexual Series
- A Time-Travel Lip-Sync Silent-Disco Walking-Tour Performance House-Party by the Orchestra of Kimis
- Altered States
- American Single
- Andrew Sim: Aggressively Queer
- Art of Astonishment
- Benchi's Baby
- Betrayal
- Blackpool
- Bleach
- Broom of the System
- Citizens Band Radio: Physical Theatre Workshop
- Clara: Sex, Love & Classical Music
- code bend time
- Dance Double Bill: L'uomo | SQ
- Dear Samantha
- Dömur og herra BEST
- Dragsúgur
- Draumveruleiki
- Ég býð mig fram Sería 2 / I Volunteer
- Erin Fowler: Qoya Workshop
- Exodus – Trilogy of Escaping People
- Fatal Instrument Show
- FEMME
- Fifi von Tassel presents: Varietease
- Frank Wurzinger: Clown Workshop
- genes and tonic
- Goodbye Gunther
- Hooligan Dachshund
- Hótel hamingja / Hotel Hapenis
- I[c/r]eland
- Ice Ice Iceland
- Improv Ísland
- INvalid / ÖRyrki
- Iris Thorarins vs ABZÛ – Live Games, Live Music
- Isa Bonachera: The Great Emptiness
- Issun Boshi
- Jallabina
- Jono Duffy: Jesus Year
- Kassinn
- L'uomo
- Laurie Black: Space Cadette
- Linda: Easy Killing
- Liquid States
- Lolly Magg: Sexy Talk
- Mass Confusion
- May You Live In Interesting Times
- MIMRA
- Mojave
- My Voices Have Tourettes
- Nebula 101
- Rauða skáldahúsið: Víti / The Poetry Brothel Reykjavík: Inferno
- Regn. Live and Direct
- Repertory Theatre
- Romeo & Juliet
- ROSK
- Science, Love and Revolution
- Someone Else's Sadness
- Svavar Knútur: The Cultural Truffle Pig
- Swimming Properly
- The Ambiguous Vagabond
- The Chess Player
- The Pearls of Pauline
- The Reykjavík Punk Walk
- The Rude Awakening. Sex, Shame & Liberation
- The Saga of the Shining Emblem
- The Swan Woman
- This Body
- Throwaway!
- Transparent Encounter
- Under Dark Skies I Lie and Hear the Wind That Comes From Lands Forgotten
- Veður / Weather
- Very Serious Actor
- Viggo the Viking
- We Are So Small
- What Can I Say?
- What Remains
- when it turns red
- Why Are You So Old?
- With a Strong Voice
- Yes, That's My Name
- Youth Fringe Show
- Youth Fringe workshops: dance, clown, comedy, and immersive theatre with Huldufugl
Awards 2019
- Grand Prix – Ég býð mig fram / I Volunteer
- Outstanding Performance – Swan Woman / Svankvinnan
- Audience Choice – The Saga of the Shining Emblem
- Rising Star – Linda: Easy Killing
- Act Alone – Laurie Black: Space Cadette
- Best Ensemble – Throwaway!
- Best Duet – Repertory Theatre
- Nordic Fringe Network Award – Romeo + Juliet
- San Diego Exchange – My Voices Have Tourettes
- Punch In The Face – INvalid / ÖRyrkinn
- Take My Breath Away – SQ
- Funny Award – Hooligan Dachshund
- Fringe of the Fringe – A Time-Travel Lip-Sync Silent-Disco Walking-Tour Performance House Party by the Orchestra of Kimis
- Youth Fringe – Veður / Weather
- Spirit of the Fringe – Huw C Jones
- Volunteer Award – Ana Zahin & Adam Purnell
Stöð 2 News catch up with Nanna in the middle of the parade from Hlemmur to Tjarnarbíó (in Icelandic).
RVK Fringe 2018
4 – 8 July 2018
- 50 shows
- 120 performers, 130 performances
- 11 venues, with Tjarnarbíó as the festival hub
The very first Reykjavík Fringe. It opened with a party at Hlemmur Square featuring hula-hoop, burlesque and drag, introduced every show in two minutes flat at Preview Night, and closed with the Poetry Brothel at IÐNÓ. Kassinn by Huldufugl was among the sold-out shows.
Programme 2018
- A Beautiful Day Forever
- Absolute Magic
- After Hours With Keith Brown
- All the Sisters in Me
- American Single
- Brot
- Cat Walk
- Clown Workshop with Frank Wurzinger
- Cold as Icelandic
- Cycles
- Dömur og herra á jaðrinum
- Dragsúgur
- El Diablo of the Cards
- Epic Fails
- Forget-Me-Nots
- Goldengang Comedy Variety Night: Best Of
- Grúska Babúska
- I Wouldn't Date Me Either
- Improv Iceland
- Improv Workshops with Mary Lemmer
- ÍRiiS ft ABZÛ
- Jallabina
- Kassinn
- Kría
- Ladies, Gentlemen and All In-Between!
- Leigumorðið
- Magic Workshop with Ewerton de Andrade Martins
- Miss Mokki Burlesque Workshop
- Monstress by Helga Thoroddsen
- My Voices Have Tourettes
- Once There Was a Girl
- Orð by Sólveig Eva
- Pearls of Pauline
- Perfectly Mediocre
- Phone Whore
- Poetry from the Skaldic Eagle
- Poetry Slam
- Rachel Schollaert. Incorrect.
- Rauða skáldahúsið / The Poetry Brothel Reykjavík
- Regn
- Reykjavíkurmær
- Seint
- Skaði Þórðardóttir
- Smut Slam with Cameryn Moore
- Sonur skóarans og dóttir bakarans
- Sparkle's Cabinet of Wonders
- Svavar Knútur: The Broccoli Monologues
- Switch Off
- The Confetti Maker
- The Ordinary Princess
- The Pain Tapestry
- Thor vs Jesus
- Two Years of Dry Misery
- Vertigo
- Vættir
Awards 2018
- Artist Favourite – The Confetti Maker
- Artist Favourite – Ordinary Princess
- Artist Favourite – American Single
Sold-out shows included I Wouldn't Date Me Either by Jono Duffy, Kassinn by Huldufugl, Royalties of Reykjavík by Dragsúgur and Phone Whore by Cameryn Moore.
The opening party of the very first Reykjavík Fringe at Hlemmur Square. Video by Haukur Valdimar.
Press:
- Fringe as a Blueprint for Building Community with Nanna Gunnars – East of Moon Transmissions (podcast), 2025
- We Are Family – Reykjavík Fringe 2022 – Total Theatre, July 2022
- Iceland Prepares for the 5th Reykjavík Fringe Festival – TravMedia, June 2022
- Fyrsta listahátíðin eftir afléttingar (in Icelandic) – Leiklistarvefurinn, June 2021
- Iceland's Reykjavik Fringe Is Far From Melting Away This Summer – BroadwayWorld, June 2020
- Reykjavík Fringe Festival July 4-12 – Iceland Monitor (mbl.is), June 2020
- Spotlight on: Nanna Gunnars – Rose Bruford College, July 2019
- Reykjavík Fringe Festival: Open That Mother-Fringing Curtain – The Reykjavík Grapevine, June 2019
- Rose Bruford College Graduate Launches Inaugural Reykjavik Fringe Festival – BroadwayWorld, June 2018
- Jaðarvettvangur fyrir öðruvísi list (in Icelandic) – Vísir, June 2018
- A Party Full Of Art: Reykjavík's First Fringe Festival Is Here – The Reykjavík Grapevine, June 2018
- Fringe Theater Flourishing In Iceland: An Interview With RVK Fringe Festival Director Nanna Gunnars – Transparent Language Icelandic Blog, May 2018