The Philly Fringe Festival is back and playing local artists with cutting edge theatre performances & diverse cultural experiences.

I kicked off my Fringe Fest experience with Of Plastic Things & Butterfly Wings, an environmentally themed performance. Centered around a plastic water bottle named Sam, she lost her parents in the ocean Gyres (assumed to be the Pacific Garbage Patch). She meets a blue crab, parrot (who thinks she’s a seagull), and the Oldest Turtle Who Ever Lived. The show is complete with a little percussion in the background and sound effect, encouraging audience participating throughout the hour-long performance.

While this show is targeted towards kids, all ages can enjoy it. The small cast made efficient use of the props, effectively getting their anti-litter (and anti-single use plastics) message across. It’s also a great point to start discussions with your kids about where those flimsy bottles & bags will end up.

You can catch this show for only $10 tonight, Saturday & Sunday (along with a post-performance discussion during Sunday’s 3 PM performance.) Check the Philly Fringe Festival website for tickets. After Philly’s performances, the show will be touring through the Fernbrook Farms Environmental Education Center.

Photos: Charlotte Jacobson

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher