Journeying with the theme of borders

As the climate heats up and the sea ice melts, the Arctic region is changing. Donald Trump’s new claims on Greenland illustrate how the region is part of a fast-moving political and economic “scramble” for resources that will impact the whole of the global North.  Against this backdrop, theatre maker Tom Bailey is embarking (March-May 2026) on a two‑month, 600km journey through the Arctic borderlands, camping on the way. Starting at Treriksrøysa in Pasvik, he will ski westward toward the Stamsund Festival in Lofoten. Along the way, he will meet people and communities to explore their experiences of living close to national borders, and explore the different kinds of human and non-human geographies in the region. In doing this, the project imaginatively explores different ways of envisioning radical possible Arctic futures beyond the present neo-liberal extractivism. This journey is part of the Threshold project, an exploration of “slow touring,” supported by the arts councils of England, Denmark and Norway, as well as the European Festivals Association. Bailey has previously completed a similar project, walking and travelling by sea for 1,600 km through Scotland and Norway. Threshold explores the ecological, artistic, and social potential of ultra-slow, low-carbon international performance touring. It asks: Can a slow touring journey form an artwork in itself?  Having just finished this journey before Stamsund Festival 2026, Tom will present, via a performative talk, the experience and documentation of the journey, sharing material for what will form a future show about the project. This will be presented in collaboration with Mechanimal designer, Natasha Soonchild, who will be in residency with Pikene på Broen and in Lofoten across the project. Threshold is a new green touring initiative between Mechanimal, UK, dramaturg Gulli Sekse, Norway and ILT Festival, Denmark.