Dive into the must-see shows of FUSE International in Kingston
From the stage classics to the unexpected: dive into the MUST-SEE performances this year at the FUSE International festival in Kingston. By Ben Berman
Pictured: Dance Showcase
Kingston’s youth arts festival, FUSE International, springs back up this summer with a slate of classic and innovative performances across town, with artists from all over the world flying into Kingston to share their work.
FUSE is hosted by the charity Creative Youth, which prioritises creativity as a career path for young people.
This year’s programme ranges from family theatre to cultural dance, and even Kingston’s first Pride festival! FUSE runs from 26 June to 5 July. Here are just a few of the highlights.
1 First Pride in Kingston
The LGBTQIA+ community celebrates Kingston’s first official Pride festival this year, courtesy of the choreography company Unapologetic. Afterdark, a cabaret performance, commences on 26 June and celebrates self-expression through singing, dancing, and drag. “Pride Day” is hosted on 27 June with pop-up performances, and a parade from 2pm to 3pm invites the community to celebrate with the festival’s artists.
2 The Basement Door Battle of the Bands 2026
Bands from around the region come face-to-face to win The Basement Door’s Battle of the Bands. Some of which include the alternative rock band Hand of Nothing and the metal band Forgotten Sentiment. The three-hour music concert on 27 June is hosted by The Basement Door, which provides a stage for young musicians’ voices to be heard. If you’ve got an ear for rock music, grab a ticket while you can.
3 Rulebook to Society
A heartfelt, contemporary musical, Rulebook to Society, follows an autistic woman as she navigates the struggle of understanding unspoken social norms in a system created to exclude neurodivergent people. The musical combines pop music, theatre, and comedy in a darkly funny show. The show runs 50 minutes at FUSEBOX Kingston on 5 July.
4 Divine Tides
“What becomes of a dream that dares to fly too close to the sun?” Divine Tides borrows inspiration from myths like Icarus and tales of sirens for their acrobatic show. The 90-minute dance mixes themes of love and hate in an intimate, circus performance. It’s hosted by Acrosphere, an acrobatics company that teaches the form to students of all ages. Catch Divine Tides at the ACT Main on 27 and 28 of June.
5 Why she left me
A new play premieres at the festival titled Why she left me at ACT Studio on 2 July. The piece follows a grieving man who encounters a mysterious figure after the suicide of his wife. The figure presents a tempting offer: a second chance at marriage with his wife.
6 Growl
Your kids can learn the story of the Big Bad Wolf through the concert performance of Growl on 4 July. The two-hour musical presents the wolf’s perspective on the classic fairytales of Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. When hunters threaten to cut down the trees of the forest that the wolf protects, sometimes you have to “act Big and Bad” to stand up.
7 Àjo – The Sojourn
Flying in from Nigeria is Peekok YouthARTS Initiative with their rhythm-based performance Àjo – The Sojourn. The piece explores the journey of migration and identity through a combination of movement, music, and African culture. The piece runs for 45 minutes on the 26th at ACT Main.
8 Lord of the Flies
Relive the biting classic Lord of the Flies on stage. The allegorical tale follows a group of boys stranded on an island, as their immaturity dives into madness and murder. The play runs for 80 minutes, and goes up on 2 July at ACT Main. Acting Up is a drama club that promotes a group of young and diverse high schoolers to express themselves through theatre.
9 Emerging Dance Showcase
A freshly choreographed Emerging Dance Showcase depicts “the future of dance” through a global variety of expressions. Some of the works include PRICE OF SILENCE, which explores intimacy and the power of silence; Nritya Alaap, which seeks to popularize an Indian style of dance known as Odissi; and Five Movements of Korea, which combines vocalists and dancers to communicate the current culture of South Korea. The performance runs at 80 minutes on 1 July at the ACT main.
More info: https://creativeyouthcharity.org/fuse-international/
