PRESS RELEASE For immediate release - May 2014
Now celebrating its 35th year, Buxton Festival Fringe has gained a reputation as one of Britain's friendliest festivals in a town that also is home to Buxton Festival featuring rarely performed opera, a music and literary series.
Buxton is a Spa, Festival and University town, surrounded by the hills of the Peak District in the heart of England. The Fringe is an integral part of the town's cultural reputation and is the biggest UK Fringe between Edinburgh and Brighton.
The Fringe is a great success story having grown over the years so that in 2014 it boasts nearly 600 performances across more than 30 venues from over 150 entrants. Estimated total audience figures including some popular free events were 27,000, in 2013, up 11% on the year before.
The 2014 Fringe takes place between July 9 and 27 with an exciting programme comprising massive Theatre, Comedy and Music sections as well as Dance, Film, For Families, Spoken Word, Street Theatre and Visual Arts. Entrants come from all over the UK and abroad with established stars such as Terry Christian and a host of comedians bound for Edinburgh joining up-and-coming young performers.
Events are fully listed on the Fringe website http://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk The free printed programme will be widely distributed from the beginning of June. A completely open-access festival, the Fringe does not undertake any selection or censorship, and provides a showcase for performers and artists of all kinds in a variety of venues. It does its best to ensure that every event in the Fringe receives a review, and organises the much sought-after Fringe Awards each year.
Buxton Fringe's philosophy is that art is for all and Fringe organisers spread the word by entering a float in the Buxton Carnival and promoting a free open-air showcase of Fringe events called Fringe Sunday (this year on July 13). New this year is Fringe at Five, a busking opportunity for performers; it takes place at the Bandstand in Buxton's Pavilion Gardens at 5pm from July 14-26.
The Fringe also conducts community initiatives such as providing work experience for local students, encouraging entrants to perform in schools, care homes and youth organisations, and providing free tickets via the housing association Adullam.
A BAFA member, the Fringe co-hosted BAFA's annual conference in Buxton in October 2007 and gave a talk on Social Sustainability at BAFA’s 2012 Roadshow in London.
Fringe chair Keith Savage says: "Anyone can enter the Fringe and we try to make it easy and affordable, to encourage the widest possible range of shows and performers. We have a good mix of established performers and those starting out. The Fringe is known for its intimate atmosphere and has a reputation for friendliness. The spa town of Buxton is firmly established as a Festival town and has a thriving and supportive artistic community. The Fringe is run by skilled and enthusiastic volunteers and we are especially grateful for the help we receive from many organisations including our sponsor, the University of Derby Buxton, plus supporters Trevor Osborne of the Crescent Spa Hotel Project, the Cavendish Shopping Arcade and High Peak Borough Council."
For further information, press releases and pictures please contact:
Marketing Officer, Stephanie Billen: Send message to Marketing or 01298 79351
Chair, Keith Savage: Send message to Info 01298 70705 or 07952 193 521