Fringe Programme Party 2026
In spacious surroundings downstairs at the Buxton Working Men's Club (soon to be home to Underground Venues during the Fringe in July), a host of performers treated an enthusiastic audience to tasters of their brilliantly diverse shows. With thanks to the WMC and photographers Stephanie Billen, Rob Harrison, Carole Garner and Dan Osborne.
Is there anyone out there? Fringe Chair Ian Bowns takes the mic (CG)
Audience members take their seats. (DO)
Compere Rob Harrison picks up the all-important Fringe programme (SB)
Actor/writer Siobhán Healey and actor Nathan Dowling introduce an extract from their show Unleashed. (SB)
Siobhán and Nathan Dowling give a flavour of Unleashed SB
Siobhán Healey in full flight (CG)
Siobhán Healey has the audience's attention (SB)
Actor/writer Siobhán Healey and actor Nathan Dowling as a dominatrix and her client (CG)
Siobhán as dominatrix (SB)
Siobhán Healey and Nathan Dowling perform a scene from Unleashed at the 2026 Programme Party (credit: Stephanie Billen 2026)
Emotions run high in a scene from Unleashed (SB)
An emotional crowd applauds performances at the Programme Party (SB)
Compere Rob Harrison introduces the next act (SB)
Comedian Dom Hutchins takes the stage (RH)
Dom Hutchins offers a flavour of his comedy show (SB)
Dom Hutchins feeds off the audience's enthusiastic reception at the 2026 Programme Party (credit: Stephanie Billen)
Variety star Charles Lloyd has much to recount (SB)
Charles Lloyd commands the stage (SB)
"Can you hear me at the back?!" (SB)
Tall stories guaranteed as Charles Lloyd gets into his stride at the 2026 Programme Party (credit: Stephanie Billen 2026)
Charles Lloyd is about to lie down on a bed of nails... (SB)
Nearly there! (SB)
He's done it! Charles Lloyd at the Programme Party 2026 recreating a memorable stage moment lying on a bed of nails (credit: Stephanie Billen 2026)
Susie Halksworth plays a yoga teacher in her show Let's All Just Take a Moment to Breathe Here (SB)
Director and Director of Photography Al Boyd with producer and actor Barbara Cunningham discuss Edale film Stone of Stone (SB)
Al Boyd has a story to tell (SB)
Barbara Cunningham explains the background to Stone of Stone (SB)
Spoken Word performer Skye Lilly introduces an extract from The Fomo Show (SB)
No-one is missing out as Skye Lilly performs (SB)
Rob has more acts to introduce (SB)
Stewart Taylor explores the possibilities of virtual reality at the Programme Party 2026 (credit: Rob Harrison)
Stewart Taylor gives the audience an extract from his larger-than-life show Virtually There (SB)
Stewart Taylor has the information at the tip of his fingers... (SB)
The possibilities are endless with virtual reality... (SB)
Rob Tovey talks about theatre show The Triple Bill (SB)
Fringe Chair Ian Bowns is enjoying the acts! (SB)
Helen Bates, Josie Kelly and Angela Buttrill from Chapel Players (SB)
Chapel Players tell us about their drama The Cagebirds to be held at The Crescent (SB)
There is always a chance to make a donation or pick up some of our awesome merchandise! (CG)
Singer-songwriter Will Hawthorne performs at the 2026 Programme Party (credit: Stephanie Billen)
Will is in the groove... (SB)
Those all-important programmes looking smart at the Programme Party with artist Andrea Joseph's cover design (SB)
Picture shows: back row from left to right: Angela Buttrill, Helen Bates and Josie Kelly (Chapel Players), comedian Dom Hutchins, singer-songwriter Will Hawthorne, actor/writer Siobhán Healey, actor Stewart Taylor, singer Taylor Giacoma, middle row: actor Nathan Dowling, spoken word performer Skye Lilly, front row: variety star Charles Lloyd and actor Jan Brennan (credit: Stephanie Billen)
Until next time! Farewell from some of the many artists who helped make the Fringe Programme Party such a success! (credit: Rob Harrison 2026)
