REVIEW: Define Queerness, Define Queerness Collective, EdFringe 2026 ★★★★

Beautiful storytelling and exploration of the intricacies of real queer identities, performed through verbatim and reenacting real interviews from queer couples. 

Define Queerness is a creation by Grey Baker and Charlie VanSton, a pair who introduce themselves out of character at the beginning of the piece, and serves as more of a performance art piece about queer identity than a play. There is no through-line or plot, the piece is simply recreations of interviews they have done with queer couples in order to analyse the intricacies of real queer identity. Define Queerness takes on a relaxed and informal format, and feels very gentle throughout, which is absolutely a benefit of the piece, Grey and Charlie go in and out of characters throughout with clear communication and adding subtext each time they do. It is a peaceful experience, akin to watching a documentary, with outstanding and grounding real performances from the two creators.

The main criticism I have of the piece is one that they even flagged as an issue within the context of the actual play, as both creator/performers are white have no visible disabilities, with the the people they interviewed also having that lived experience, the play only succeeds in defining queerness for a privileged select few of the community. But there is absolutely space for this to expand its diversity, with additional actors telling additional queer stories this could be a far more substantial and diverse representation of queer realities. 

I also would have liked some more of a narrative, I felt that the show was at it’s best when the performers were moving around the stage and illustrating stories from the interviewees past, and personally I found the questioning and definitions of queerness became somewhat repetitive, despite that being what the show was designed to do. 

This was a generally brilliant and insightful show and I greatly enjoyed and related to the queer stories within it, however I felt that as a piece it would be greatly beneficial to a non-queer audience, which I understand is an incredibly difficult audience to market to, when you are a queer show. Define Queerness is so real and detailed and informative, but needs to be seen by those who are yet to learn about those experiences, not those who are living them. 

Define Queerness is a performance art piece that is bound to grow and change and explore more the longer it is around, it is a performance art piece that is beautiful and has the capacity to change minds and lives, and I’m glad to have seen it. 

Recommended Drink: A cup of tea, as you sit to talk with your friends about what it means to be queer.

Catch Define Queerness on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout August at Main Space at Venue 13 at 19:45 (1hr). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Box Office.