We're back. But where have we been?

 

Since 2019, Fragen Network has been on hiatus. That year, Paul Reynolds, the father of our Artistic Director Roland, became terminally ill. Paul was our first patron and ever our leading supporter, offering constant encouragement and assistance at every turn. During his care, Fragen took an extended break. After his passing in 2022, we began the long process of rebuilding, and now, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ll return to the Edinburgh Fringe in summer 2025 with two brand-new projects.

This year, 2024, Fragen Network quietly turned ten years old. This milestone has given us pause to reflect. Over the last decade, we’ve explored bold, physical, and original theatre-making that tackles the deep, universal questions at the heart of human experience. We’ve had the privilege of working with extraordinary artists and sharing our work with audiences across the UK and internationally. As we look to the future, we want to revisit the journey that brought us here and the people who made it possible.

The Fragen Ethos

Fragen Network is an international collective of theatre artists who ask questions — hence our name, ‘Fragen,’ the German word for both ‘to ask’ and ‘questions.’ For us, this is less a methodology and more a point of view. It’s a mindset that challenges us to confront essential human questions through theatre that is bold, physical, and rooted in collaboration.

Between 2014 and 2019, Fragen produced a string of ambitious projects. We began with Planter’s Island in 2014, followed by Blush of Dogs in 2015 and 5 out of 10 men at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016. In 2018, we developed the experimental 3SSTRS workshops, and in 2019, our busiest year yet, we undertook an incredible variety of projects. These included the Minotaur workshops in Estonia, Hell Yes, I’m Tough Enough at London’s Park Theatre — written by our talented collaborator Ben Alderton — and a rough version of Heiner Müller’s Hamletmaschine for the Astakhov Cultural Centre in Moscow.

Life Interrupted

But in the midst of this busy and fruitful period, life caught up with us. In 2019, Roland’s father, Paul, was diagnosed with PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy), a rare and terminal brain disease. Simultaneously, the pandemic brought the world to a halt. These combined events pushed Fragen into an indefinite hiatus.

As Roland recalls, “Directing and producing shows became impossible. My dad needed constant care to manage the basics of life. He moved back to his hometown, St Helens, to live with his mother, and I spent half my time there helping care for him. Life became a delicate three-person dance, filled with laughter, tension, and moments of pure love. Every day felt heightened by the very real sensation of time slipping away.”

Caring for Paul profoundly shaped our outlook and artistic practice. It was a period of intense connection, one that left an indelible mark on Fragen’s story.

A Time to Reflect

The five-year hiatus gave us space to reflect on what we’ve achieved, what we’ve learned, and what lies ahead. It also gave us the chance to appreciate the many people who’ve contributed to our journey. Fragen has always been a deeply personal project, and this pause reminded us of the value of community — the collaborators, audiences, and supporters who’ve shaped our work over the years.

We also realized that our story might be unfamiliar even to those who have followed us closely over the years. That’s why we’ve decided to start this blog: to share our journey, celebrate the artists and supporters who’ve been part of it, and bring our work to new audiences as we chart our path forward.

A New Chapter

Paul’s passing in 2022 marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. While his absence is deeply felt, his influence continues to inspire us. Roland remembers the experience of caring for Paul as “a time of great highs and lows, a confrontation every day with the hard, beautiful truths of life, and a reminder of what really matters. It was hard to move on, but slowly, day by day, that creative spark has returned. The writing I did during that period is now pulling me back to the stage.”

Looking ahead, our mission feels more urgent than ever. Art has a vital role to play in a world increasingly marked by division and uncertainty. We’re excited to contribute once again, and our return to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025 will mark the beginning of this new chapter.

We’re already assembling a team to bring two projects to life. The first is an adaptation of Knut Hamsun’s classic Norwegian novel Hunger. The second, Abhorrent Little Scrotum, is an original piece of new writing by Roland that tackles questions of identity, society, and the absurdities of modern life.

Thank You and What’s Next

This first blog post is dedicated to Paul Reynolds, without whom Fragen Network would not exist. His illness and care were the reason for our pause, but his unwavering support and love continue to fuel our work.

To everyone who has supported us over the years: thank you. We hope you’ll join us as we embark on this next phase of our journey. Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming projects, insights into our creative process, and celebrations of the amazing people who’ve been part of Fragen Network’s story.