With this year's programme for the Buxton Festival Fringe newly on the shelves, the organisers are welcoming the biggest Fringe yet. And with thriving theatre, music and comedy sections plus some big name stars - from Radio 4's Ed Reardon to Peep Show's Isy Suttie and German comic Henning Wehn, not to mention Barnsley bard Ian McMillan - it could also prove to be the best line-up ever.
With regular venue managers Underground Venues now incorporating the Pavilion Arts Centre as part of their space, they have been able to book some nationally famous comedy acts. Tom Crawshaw of Underground Venues says: 'We're really grateful to the Opera House for this new opportunity. The use of the Arts Centre is a real revolution for the Buxton Fringe - allowing it to welcome a whole new scale of entertainment, from big names from TV and radio, like Henning Wehn, Ed Reardon and Isy Suttie, to bigger theatre productions like The Maharajah & The Kohinoor and Big Daddy Vs Giant Haystacks - from the country's finest touring companies. As well as this, we're able to offer the most popular local acts a chance to work in a larger space, like George Telfer who has teamed up with Three's Company to bring his latest show to Buxton this July.'
Comedy is also represented by Radio 4's Helen Keen, time-travelling adventures from Birdy Chick-Chick, make-believe observational storytelling from Amadeus Martin and John Cooper (fresh from supporting Milton Jones). There's a solo stand-up show from Edward Eales-White (previously acclaimed at the Fringe for his appearances with Clever Peter), a comic history of riots from policeman turned stand-up Alfie Moore, BBC New Comedy Award-winning performer James Sherwood and charming storytelling with belly laughs from Elis James. Watch out too for the winner of last year's Fringe Award for Comedy Performer, Gerry Howell, returning with his new show, Moonshine and Trumpery.
Comedy and magic mix with regular Fringe favourite Dr Johnny Façade bringing a new show, In Pursuit of Miss Adventure. There is also a smorgasbord of physical comedy, manipulation, escapology, mind reading, music - and some pretty impressive magic - from The Wizards of Odd.
The biggest increase in shows has been in the Music category. There are regular Fringe performers such as the Amaretti Chamber Orchestra, High Peak Orchestra, Partita, Tideswell Male Voice Choir (this year teamed up with Chapel en le Frith Male Voice Choir), African soprano Margaret Ferguson, Jake Thackray tribute Keith E Smith, pianist Jonathan Ellis, City of Manchester Opera, electro pop from Project Adorno and popular film and light classical music from Fordante. They are joined by Burbage Band, trad jazz from Mart Rodger, Sam Dunkley with his chamber choir, Chorus Natus Est and Buxton's community choir, Local Vocals. Local talent is also represented by duo Sam Partridge & Peter Calder, bohemian band Rosie & The Ragdolls and soprano Laura Monaghan.
Theatre continues to go from strength to strength at the Fringe. Amongst the shows on offer are a hilarious new spin on Chekhov's The Seagull, a drama about Lewis Carroll, flat-share comedy in Being Nice, the story of Shirley Valentine as seen through the eyes of her hapless husband, Joe, The Tempest in the open air and Macbeth in Poole's Cavern. There's spine-chilling drama in The Haunting, Hyde and Jack: A Ripper's Tale and Buxton Drama League's Act One Winner, Hungry Generations. Three's Company and popular actor George Telfer team up for a play about Monty Python's Graham Chapman, and there's even a play about legendary wrestlers Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks! Younger talent is represented by the REC Theatre with A Midsummer Night's Dream and Lunar Tics, Imagine Theatre with Terry Pratchett's Maskerade, Shadow Syndicate with Abi Morgan's Fugee and Craft Theatre with Sarah Kane's controversial 4:48 Psychosis. All this and, as ever, The Shakespeare Jukebox taking residence outside the Opera House.
There are more events in the For Families section this year, including theatre for children such as award-winners The Clock Master and Little Pixie Productions with Granny's Big Top Tale. There are adaptations of the book Cowboy Baby, and the fairy tale, The Enormous Turnip, as well as The Buried Moon, a new children's show from Babbling Vagabonds. As piloted last year, audiences can find 'family friendly' events throughout the programme by using the 'smiley face' symbol.
Spoken word events cover the full spectrum from the performance poetry of Mark Gwynne-Jones and the Psychicbread (performing this year at The Devil's Arse), to colourful storytelling from Kat Quatermass, a talk on art forgery and poetry from Word Wizards, Packhorse Poets and Richard Tyrone Jones. Finally the Packhorse brings together internationally renowned poets Ian McMillan (a familiar voice on Radio 4) and Roy Fisher for one unforgettable night.
There is a wealth of art exhibitions to choose from ranging from larger shows such as the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery's annual Derbyshire Open, the Great Dome Art Fair, and the Burbage Art Group's annual exhibition, to events held in individual shops and houses all over town by artists including Adrienne & Langley Brown, Alan Bailey & Judith Kelly, Kate Aimson and Dawn Featherstone-Kent.
Film continues to grow, with a selection of acclaimed films from Buxton Films at the Railway, the winners of their Open Shorts competition and a film of last year's acclaimed play The Last Laugh.
And for those who like their Fringe events defying categorisation, there are guided walks around Buxton, close-up magic at the Palace Hotel, the chance to take part in a book club, and the return of the military tattoo in the Dome - tickets selling fast already! For a taster of many of the events at this year's Fringe, why not come along to Fringe Sunday, in the Pavilion Gardens on July 10 from 2pm to 4.30pm?
This year's Buxton Festival Fringe runs from Wednesday 6 to Sunday July 24 and details of all events are available online now at http://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk, where you can also find out how to become a Fringe Friend receiving a free programme, invitations to special events and 10 per cent discount on tickets.
The free, full programme of events is being distributed all over Buxton and the surrounding area at tourist information centres and other outlets from the beginning of June, so pick up your copy now. It will also receive its official launch at Fringe First, Buxton Opera House's celebration of the variety of the Fringe at the Pavilion Arts Centre on June 10. The Fringe can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and at the Buxton Advertiser's blog, accessible from the Fringe website.
The Fringe is hugely grateful to its many supporters including its main sponsor The University of Derby Buxton as well as The Osborne Group, High Peak Borough Council, The Old Hall Hotel, and, a new funder for the Fringe, The Cavendish Shopping Arcade.
Says Fringe chair Stephanie Billen: 'We are delighted with the line up this year and with over 160 events to choose from, there really is something for everyone. If you've never been to the Fringe before, this is a great time to start!'
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Note to press: The programme will be distributed from June 1st 2011.
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