Entrants' Home Page - How to enter the Fringe

Fringe 2013 (July 3 - 21) is now open for online entries.
The closing deadline to appear in the printed programme has now passed. Please send a message to entries if you still wish to be part of the Fringe.

In a Nutshell

Anyone can enter the Fringe but it is up to you to find and book your venue.
Once you are sure of your venue, dates, show description, times and prices then you are ready to enter the Fringe using our online process.
When you enter you pay an entry fee to the Fringe - the earlier you enter the cheaper it is.
You must pre-arrange your publicity materials, public liability insurance, ticketing and front of house staff.
You get to keep your ticket money (special arrangements will apply at managed venues).

Why enter the Fringe?

The Buxton Festival Fringe is one of the largest in England yet remains on a human scale making it immensely attractive to both professional and non-professional performers and artists.
It is run by a supportive and welcoming committee of volunteers who offer personal advice as well as an impressive amount of marketing back up.
Thanks to its financial supporters it is able to keep entry fees low, making entering the Buxton Fringe a true bargain.
Many of our entrants use it as a stepping stone to the Edinburgh Fringe thanks to its handy timing in July.
The Fringe is open to all and has a great atmosphere.
In the words of performer Matt ‘Lab Monkey’ Pritchard in 2009: "Buxton Fringe is one of the highlights of my year. It is a welcoming and supportive festival without the trappings of commercialism. It is a place where creativity is encouraged and new talent fostered. There is a real sense of community between performers, audience and the Fringe committee."

Things you need to know

Fringe dates for 2013 are July 3 to 21. We strongly advise you to read these three pages of essential information and instructions before attempting online entry, even if you have entered before.

Entry fees and deadlines: From December 1st 2012 until February 28th 2013 you only pay us £45. From March 1st to 31st the entry fee is £65 and from April 1st to 21st (the strict and final deadline for the printed programme) it is £80. We are delighted to have kept these entry fees the same for five years. This is in large part thanks to the generosity of our main sponsor and supporters, including the Fringe Friends.

N.B. If you contract to perform with the managed venue Underground Venues, you will need to work to their earlier deadlines as detailed on their website.

We do not have a centralised ticketing system. You may sell your own tickets or The Opera House box office can sell tickets on your behalf - this service will add an extra £10 per entry.

Our Community Groups Link scheme offers you the chance to work with local community groups and schools.

What you do

You make your own arrangements with venues, making sure that you are appropriately insured.

You pay our entry fee and fill in the electronic form to enter the Fringe (unless you are going with Underground Venues in which case they enter on your behalf).

You pay the extra fee and enter the extra information on the entry form if you decide to use the Opera House ticketing facility.

You produce and distribute your own publicity materials (supplying some to the Fringe Information Desk).

You print your own tickets for sale on the door (the Opera House ticketing service provides its own tickets).

You offer a free ticket to your Official Fringe Reviewer and minimum 10% discount to Fringe Friends. This discount does not apply to tickets that are already concessions.

You keep all your takings (or your share if using a managed venue).

What we do

We run this web-site.

We provide information and advice on venues and programming.

We have a Press Officer with nationwide contacts.

We supply entrants with media lists.

We publish the Fringe Programme and distribute it to our mailing lists and publicity outlets.

We make every effort to promote the Fringe through multi-media channels as well as events such as the Launch Party, Fringe Sunday and Buxton Carnival.

We run a Community Links scheme to bring the Fringe to a wider audience.

We run the Fringe Information Desk which handles information and publicity for artists and audience.

We offer an ticketing facility through the Opera House. (There is an additional £10 fee for this).

We strive to recognise excellence, having an Awards ceremony on the final Sunday of the Fringe. Unfortunately events that only take place on this final Sunday will not be considered for awards.

We make every effort to review each entry, usually on the first night, and publish the reviews the next morning on the web-site and at the Desk. Artists frequently use these for publicity here and elsewhere. You are free to opt out if you wish but please be aware that reviewing is an important tool for us in the Awards process and opting out makes it harder for the awards panel to come to a decision about your event.

What we believe

We are a charity run by volunteers.

We believe that art is for all, not just an elite. This applies both to artists and audience.

We aim to provide an opportunity for artists to perform or exhibit in an environment that is low cost and an atmosphere that is receptive.

We hope that our Festival Fringe encourages artists to take risks and experiment.

We hope that our audiences are enthusiastic and encouraging of innovation and new work.

We do not select, we do not censor and nor do we selectively promote any work.