Edinburgh Memories: Reflections on ‘Dimanche’

By UMS

UMS tour to Edinburgh, August 2023

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the world’s largest celebrations of live performance, transforming Scotland every August into a whirlwind of new ideas, bold artistry, and global creativity. Each year, members of the UMS team travel to Edinburgh to immerse themselves in the festival, discovering innovative performances and forging relationships with artists whose work might one day make its way to Michigan.

In August 2023, UMS had the joy of leading a special donor tour to the Fringe. Among the many wonderful performances our group experienced, one production was a particular standout: Dimanche, created by the Belgium-based companies Chaliwaté and Focus.

A masterful blend of puppetry, physical theater, video, and clowning, Dimanche approaches the realities of climate change with wit, wonder, and deep humanity. It’s inventive and laugh-out-loud funny, yet emotionally resonant in the same way that makes the film WALL-E so charming and beloved. It’s a story that sneaks up on your heart, even as it sparks your imagination.

This season, we’re thrilled to finally bring Dimanche to Ann Arbor for six performances at the Power Center, January 7–11, 2026. Below, enjoy reflections from participants on the 2023 Fringe tour and get a first look at the production’s trailer — a glimpse of the unforgettable experience that awaits.

“Seeing Dimanche was truly a unique theatrical experience. Most climate change awareness pieces are full of talk. This one has none! Only real action and wondrous surprises. Mime, puppetry, acting, and stagecraft deliver the message of our changing climate — touching our spirits and minds through the range of our senses! Don’t miss it.” — Neil Hawkins

“Dimanche is one of the most visually inventive stage productions I have ever seen, blending, physical theater, miniature sets, and precise puppetry. It is a brilliant statement about the world sliding toward climate catastrophe. The darkly comic presentation is both wonderfully entertaining and thought provoking.” — Laurence Baker

“When we saw Dimanche in Scotland, it blew us away. The artists use all the tools that make a night out at a live performance truly special. And the stories they tell tackle serious subjects with humor while also making you think.” — David Leichtman

“Climate Change can be difficult to discuss and sometimes words fail me but words were not needed to convey emotion and open us to the questions they raise. Dimanche immerses us in their world with vignettes that explore our changing climate. We really enjoyed their show when we saw it in Edinburgh and are thrilled that audiences, including students, will get a chance to experience it and think about the issues they raise.” — Bill Phillips