Help fly ANTS AND OTHER STRONG THINGS to EdFringe!

Aim: Our gripping queer sci-fi romance set in a surveillance state at war with the LGBTQIA+ community is headed from Prague to EdFringe 2025.

Following a successful run at Prague Fringe Festival 2024, Ants and Other Strong Things is returning to the stage in 2025. This time, at Edinburgh Fringe venue theSpace @ Surgeons Hall. We’re beyond excited to perform our play out of mainland Europe for the first time and share Ants with a new community. 

What on Earth is ‘Ants and Other Strong Things’?

A gripping queer sci-fi romance set in a surveillance state at war with the LGBTQIA+ community. Written and directed by Raynar Rogers, our dystopian love story is a peek into the life of Charlie and Maya, a couple attempting to get through the hurdles of their relationship whilst the government’s oppressive anti-LGBTQIA+ regime tightens its grip. Ants tackles issues around security, surveillance and propaganda, forcing its way into the 2050s as we all watch from a familiar place in 2025. This dark and witty sci-fi reminds us that rights and the institutions that control them can seep into the smallest facets of people’s lives.

Who are we?

We are Limbo Pins, a Prague-based collective of international artists from four continents. We came together with the goal to put authentic queer experiences onstage amid mind-boggling times, and to create stories that ask some of our biggest, weirdest, scariest and *gulp* most intimate questions.

We are Raynar, Manuela, Magdalena, Jake, Vania, Brooklyn, Andres, Derek and Laura, with a little help from Sam, Lexi, Yara and Angel.

What are people saying about 'Ants'?

★★★★ “Lucid, heart-breaking, and cathartic. Ants and Other Strong Things is an intersectional dystopian drama elevated by mighty, soulful performances and tight chemistry.”  ~ Binge Fringe

How will your contribution help?

We’re looking (hoping, praying) to cover £3,765 towards the cost of:

• Fringe Registration
• Insurance
• Accomodation
• Marketing
• Technical and set needs
• Half of the venue costs

We are lucky enough to have received a financial award from queer theatre company Elastic Fantastic to cover part of the theatre hire, but as a small collective, the majority of funds we hope to cover with our crowdfunding campaign.

As a multi-national company, there is a gap in funding to bring voices like ours to Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We are not eligible for traditional funding routes, and are seeking to platform a story that has become so relevant to our times as we see LGBTQIA+ rights restricted and withdrawn worldwide.

If we do manage to exceed our target, we intend to cover living expenses and would look to make our show more successful by providing a BSL interpreter.

Meet our Core Team

Writer Director
Raynar Rogers (she/her)

Raynar is a queer Welsh writer, director and artist working within the intersections between neurodivergent, working class and queer experiences. Raynar has worked with Motley Crew, National Theatre London, National Theatre Wales, Wildworks, Wales Theatre Company and co-founded Rat’s Nest Theatre Company in her earlier years. Raynar studied Scriptwriting in Bournemouth University and is currently working on her MFA at Prague City University. Raynar has a number of poetry publications, and is currently researching visual stimming practices of the body.

Actor/Dramaturg
Magdaléna Škerenčák (she/her)

Magdaléna is a Slovak actor and dramaturg, also playing the role of Charlie. Magdaléna studied Acting at East 15, London and has gone on to work with the BBC, Pôtoň Theatre and Slovak National Theatre as well as self-producing short plays with her co-founded company M2+P. Magdaléna brings a strong dramaturgy background and an extensive set of acting credentials to her role.

Actor/Movement Co-Ordinator
Manuela Tabarés (she/her)

Manuela is a Spanish actor and artist working with movement and visual arts, also playing the role of Maya. Manuela depicts movement through abstract drawing techniques and is currently preparing a collaboration with Graphe, Contemporary Drawing Art Gallery, and Old&Modern masters at Martínez Avezuela. She is the youngest artistic trainer in the history of AECID, teaching drawing at Bamako National Institute of Arts. Manuela’s performance work treads the crossroads beautifully between dance and art.

Finally...

We are so proud of this show we created in corridors, borrowed classrooms and empty art studios. With each member of the team coming from a different corner of the globe, we decided to set this story in a nameless city. Our city could be any city. The reshaping of minds to weld the new normal into systematic effect happens everywhere, all the time - power is a surface on which to tread lightly, and yet many of our world leaders worsen living conditions and fiercely fight against the safety of our most at risk members of society. We bring you this play with the spirit of activism and the poignant gaze of storytelling. We’re so excited for you to get on board!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st July 2025 at 12:00pm