The Camden Fringe is almost upon us, providing one of the best times in the capital to get into Fringe theatre, and the stories it can tell. To get prepared for the festival, Read About Stuff is running a ‘Five From The Fringe’ interview series, where creative teams answer five questions about their upcoming Festival shows.
In this interview, I chat to Surya Dev Chandra about their new show FREEDOM.
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
FREEDOM is a participatory visual arts exhibition and live performance created by Unity Arts Collective that combines immersive live sound, audiovisual art, physical theatre, sculpture, movement and audience interaction. The exhibition features artwork co-created by refugees, migrants, students, local artists and community members, exploring themes of hope, resilience, identity, transformation, freedom, life and death.
Audiences can expect a deeply sensory experience where the boundaries between performer, artwork and audience dissolve. Through a powerful combination of physical theatre, live sound composition, visual installation and movement, visitors are invited into an environment that is constantly evolving. The performance engages directly with the exhibition space, using puppets, sculptures, soil, sand, sound, human bodies and research materials to explore the relationship between freedom, memory, life and death.
At the heart of the experience is a live audiovisual landscape created by sound artists. Their work transforms the exhibition into a living, breathing environment where sound becomes both atmosphere and action. Rather than simply observing, audiences are encouraged to move through the space, engage with the work and reflect on their own understanding of freedom.
What drew you to this specific story, and why does it belong at the Camden Fringe?
The project grew from a desire to create space for voices that are often unheard and to explore freedom through lived experience, creative expression and human connection. Working with refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and local communities revealed how freedom can mean very different things depending on a person’s circumstances, history and sense of belonging.
At the present time, the idea behind FREEDOM, the empathy it creates and the shared human experiences it explores, feels especially important to share with as many people as possible. Camden Fringe is an ideal platform for this, as it brings together audiences from diverse backgrounds in one shared space. FREEDOM sits between visual art, theatre, performance and community engagement, challenging traditional formats and inviting audiences to actively participate. Its themes of identity, belonging, resilience and transformation feel especially relevant in today’s world, making it a meaningful contribution to the festival.
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
One of the biggest challenges has been bringing together a wide range of contributors, experiences and artistic disciplines into a single cohesive work. The project has involved collaboration between refugees, migrants, students, community members, visual artists, performers and sound artists, each bringing unique perspectives on freedom.
Another challenge has been finding a balance between the deeply personal experiences that inspired the work and creating an accessible, participatory experience for audiences. The process required careful listening, trust-building and a commitment to ensuring that every contribution was respected and meaningfully represented within the final exhibition and performance.
How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?
Design is central to the way FREEDOM communicates its themes. The exhibition itself functions as both set and living artwork, creating an immersive environment that audiences inhabit rather than simply observe. Sculptures, puppets, visual artworks, soil, sand and archival materials become active elements within the performance, reflecting ideas of transformation, memory, displacement and belonging.
Sound plays a vital role in shaping the emotional and physical experience of the audience. Through immersive live sound and audiovisual art, the performance creates a constantly evolving atmosphere that surrounds and responds to both the performers and the exhibition space.
The performance also draws strongly on physical theatre, using the body as a primary storytelling tool. Through movement, gesture and direct interaction with the space and exhibition materials, the performers explore themes of freedom, mortality, identity and human connection in a way that extends beyond language. Together, the visual, sonic and physical elements create a deeply immersive experience that encourages audiences to engage with the work on both an emotional and sensory level.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
“A search for freedom.”
At its core, the work is an exploration rather than a conclusion. It asks what freedom means in relation to our bodies, our memories, our communities and our inner lives. Through participation, movement, art and shared experience, the performance invites audiences to join that search and discover their own understanding of freedom.
FREEDOM runs at Chisenhale Dance Space on 14 – 16 August. Tickets are available here: https://camdenfringe.com/events/freedom/
