Bookings bonanza for 2011 Buxton Fringe!

Press release: 10th March 2011

Entries are flooding in to this year's Buxton Festival Fringe (July 6-24). At the midway point of the booking period there are some 71 events confirmed - about 10 per cent up on this time last year.

Among the diverse array of entertainment on offer so far is poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan, popular comedian Helen Keen (currently appearing on BBC Radio 4), a bumper crop of music including a recital by Buxton singer Laura Monaghan and an anniversary concert from Burbage Band, a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream from the Young REC Theatre and the return of Buxton's crowd-pulling Military Tattoo. For full details of these events, plus many more yet to come, keep a regular eye on the Programme section of the Buxton Fringe website http://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk.

Fringe chair Stephanie Billen comments: 'It's all looking very exciting with a brand new venue in the shape of the Arts Centre Studio in the Pavilion plus a huge selection of music, comedy and theatre and other categories building up. The Buxton Art Trail is taking a break this year but I'm pleased to say that hasn't stopped plenty of artists getting involved with exhibitions and workshops in the Visual Arts category. The award-winning Chapel Morris Men are back and I'm hoping we may also get some other dance entries reflecting the full diversity of the genre'.

Performers who would like to appear at this year's Fringe but haven't yet signed up are urged not to panic. Although one early booking deadline has passed, there is still plenty of time to enter. There are two more deadlines: for performers who enter before 31 March, the Fringe fee is £65. The strict and final deadline for inclusion in the printed programme, published in early June, is April 24, with April entries charged at the full cost of £80. Details of how to choose your venue, enter and pay online are published on the Fringe website. For further information go to http://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk/entrants.html or telephone 01298 79351.

To keep in touch with the latest gossip on preparations for this year's Fringe, check out Keith Savage's Fringe blog, courtesy of the Buxton Advertiser, as well as the Fringe's lively presence on Facebook and Twitter. Stephanie adds: 'You can also enjoy regular Fringe communications, events and offers throughout the year by becoming a Fringe Friend, full details on the website or Send message to Friends

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