2018 Fringe programme building up!
With a month to go before the final deadline for entries, Buxton Festival Fringe (July 4-22) has nearly 70 acts lined up already with many more to come as the bigger venues finalise their programmes.
The Fringe is open to all and there is still time to take advantage of its early entry discount scheme, which is available until the end of March.
As events build up on the Fringe website’s What’s On pages, Music is currently the largest section with diverse highlights including the return of 2017 Fringe Award winners Mr Simpson’s Little Consort, plus acclaimed pianist Eden Walker, singer-songwriter Cathy Rimer, Fringe Award-nominated barbershop quartet Close Enough, Buxton Studio Choir, Tideswell Male Voice Choir with Burbage Brass Band, City of Manchester Opera, musician and character actor Egriega and much more.
Theatre is also looking strong with everything from a one-woman version of Gawain and the Green Knight to a sell-out show from last year’s Edinburgh Fringe inspired by the Ordnance Survey map. A range of venues across the town include Buxton Working Men’s Club, hosting First World War drama Autumn in Picardy by Magdalen Theatre Group, the Pavilion Gardens, home to the Rotunda dome as well as several open-air Shakespeares, and Poole’s Cavern - the perfect location for Experiential’s physical theatre and film work, Trapped, about the 33 miners trapped after the collapse of the San Jose Mine.
There is also plenty of comedy, art, spoken word, family shows and other entertainment. James Hurn returns with his one-man tribute to Hancock’s Half Hour, Richard Pulsford wows Buxton with his puns, Mr Simpson’s Little Consort offers an evening with Samuel Pepys and the Fringe itself branches out with its new story-reading event at Buxton Library. With circus performers on the market place, major visual arts attractions such as the Great Dome Art Fair and a festival within a festival courtesy of Chelmorton village, there is plenty to attract all ages.
Fringe chair Keith Savage adds: “The reality of another Festival dawns as entries start to flood in. With another 100 events expected in the final five weeks the shape of the Fringe changes daily. Every day something new and exciting is added to the programme. I love this time of the year!”
This year's Fringe runs from Wednesday 4 to Sunday July 22 with the final deadline for the printed programme being Sunday April 15. The programme will be distributed in Buxton and beyond from the beginning of June and will be celebrated at a party at The Green Man Gallery, Buxton on Saturday June 2nd, 7-9pm - all welcome.
The Fringe is grateful to all its venues around the town and beyond, including the spectacular Buxton Dome, home of the Fringe's sponsor and close partner, The University of Derby. For more information about what’s on and how to take part, please visit buxtonfringe.org.uk, which also offers information on how to sign up as a volunteer or Fringe Friend.