Take Part - Information for Entrants
We are now open for entries for the 2021 Buxton Fringe. We are actively planning for the 2021 Fringe and anticipate seeing a varied programme of live and online events. We also hope to be able to hold our usual promotional events such as Fringe Sunday. We will, of course, continue to monitor carefully the Government's Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions and respond accordingly. The health and safety of our performers, audiences and volunteers remains our priority.
In a Nutshell
- Anyone can enter the Fringe but it is up to you to find and book your venue. The Fringe also accepts purely online events.
- Buxton Fringe does not book or select entrants.
- The final deadline for the Fringe printed programme is now Tuesday May 18 2021. Performers seeking to withdraw from the Fringe can do so at any time up to this point and will be eligible for a full refund. May 18 is also the deadline for anyone wanting to use the Opera House ticketing facility.
- Fringe 2021 runs from 7-25 July.
- There are currently 3 managed venues in the Fringe: Underground Venues, The Rotunda and The Green Man Gallery. See our venues pages for details of their entry deadlines which may be earlier than the Fringe's.
- 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 entry fee is now £50 across the board. In recognition of the uncertainties facing many performers the fee has been kept to a minimum and there is no tiered entry fee structure for 2021. However the Fringe welcomes early entries.
- It is up to you to arrange your publicity materials, public liability insurance, ticketing and front of house staff as well as getting copyright clearances.
- You get to keep your ticket money (special arrangements will apply at managed venues).
- We do not have a centralised ticketing system. Managed venues have their own box offices. Otherwise you may sell your own tickets or The Opera House box office can sell tickets on your behalf for a £10 set up fee per entry. The Opera House also charges you 7.5% of the face value of each ticket sold. If your event is free to the public then you will be offered the chance during the Fringe entry process to add a Donations link should you want to.
Why enter the Fringe?
- The Buxton Festival Fringe is one of the largest in England yet remains on a human scale. Overwhelmingly positive performer feedback in 2020 included: "The entry process was really easy and the support has been fantastic!" and "Fabulous... You're doing what you can during a pandemic - can't fault ya!" and "Thank you for making us feel so special and wanted".
- Buxton Fringe is a charity run by a committee of highly experienced volunteers who are ready to offer personal advice and provide marketing back up. See How to grow your audience. New for 2021: We are also offering some introductory advice on how to monetise online events. Please contact the Programme Co-ordinator to request this.
- Thanks to the Fringe's financial supporters, entry fees are attractively low.
- Many of our entrants use it as a stepping stone to the Edinburgh Fringe thanks to its handy timing in July. The nearby Greater Manchester Fringe is also in July.
- The Fringe is open to all. Amateurs and professionals of all ages are more than welcome.
- Gain valuable publicity through our Reviews and Awards.
- Our Community Groups Link scheme offers you the chance to work with local community groups and schools.
- It's simple and fun. Performer feedback includes Polis Loizou from The Off-Off-Off Broadway Company: "Buxton is by far the most organised and pleasant fringe experience we've encountered so far!" and comedian Nathan Cassidy: "Buxton Fringe is incredibly special. Creatives can only create with the right support and that's what the Fringe gives us. A very special place."
What we do
- We run this website.
- We publish thousands of printed, full-colour Fringe Programmes and distribute them across the county and beyond including to national media.
- We provide information and advice on venues and programming.
- We have a Press team with nationwide contacts.
- We supply entrants with media lists.
- We supply entrants with an accommodation list.
- Throughout the year we promote the Fringe through social media channels. When we are not in a pandemic, we also hold promotional events such as the Christmas Party, the Programme Party, the Launch Party, Fringe Sunday, Fringe at Five and Buxton Carnival.
- As part of our Community Links scheme designed to bring the Fringe to a wider audience, we offer entrants contact details for schools, care homes and other community organisations as well as reaching out to the community ourselves with schemes such as 2020's Phone@5.
- We run the Fringe Information Desk which handles information and publicity for artists and audiences during the Fringe.
- We offer a ticketing facility through the Opera House - this costs an extra £10 on your entry fee.
- We strive to recognise excellence through Awards and plan to have an Awards ceremony on the final Sunday of the Fringe. Unfortunately events that only take place on this final Sunday cannot be considered for awards.
- We like to review each entry, usually after the first performance, and publish the reviews the next morning on the website and at the Information Desk.
