Pacifica Stories

Performers from around the world. Shows on every stage, in every pub, around each corner. A vibrant community of theater-lovers and artists. This is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest performing arts festival, and the destination for Pacifica Travel’s most recent international excursion. 

Over the summer, a group of 12 PACARTS students traveled to Scotland with three staff members to carry on Pacifica’s tradition of performing at the Fringe Festival every three years. This year, their show was Neil Bartman’s musical “The Theory of Relativity” based on the book by Brian Hill. They performed a total of 6 shows throughout the week, exhibiting courage and professionalism in taking the stage night after night. Director of the Arts, Nate Overby, enjoys seeing Pacifica students empowered and inspired by participating in a global event. 

“Our students were able to join a universal conversation between artists around the world,” said Nate. “Those you see perform on stage are the same people you pass by on the streets, stand next to on the bus, or find sitting in your own audience night after night.”

In addition to the unique experience of being Fringe performers, our Seawolves got to enjoy the sights of Scotland and London. They saw multiple shows on London’s West End, walked the streets of Scotland, and even got to tour the Royal National Theatre in London where they were able to see set, costume, and prop design in real time. This travel experience is unique from Pacifica Travel’s other trips in that it steeps our PACARTS students in a rich arts-heavy environment from start to finish. 

“I had such a wonderful experience in Edinburgh over the summer,” said Pacifica senior Nona Goddard. “The friendships I developed over the course of the trip are friendships I know will last a long time. I loved being able to spend my time in one of the most beautiful cities in the world with some of the most beautiful people I know doing something we all love.”

The students who traveled to Edinburgh are regularly involved in our yearly PACARTS performances, and took on extra summer rehearsals to be part of this show. Their passion and dedication to theater is what makes the PACARTS community so special. Encouraging this passion with exposure to the larger arts community is a blessing to our students and our school.

“There simply isn’t anything quite like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival,” said chaperone and English teacher Hilary Miller. “ I’m thankful I got to witness students be inspired by performers, grow in independence, forge new friendships, and encourage each other as they put on their own performances. God has made an absolutely beautiful world, and I love how Pacifica encourages its students to courageously and joyfully explore it.”