The Valley Arts Fringe Festival is back for its 7th year, promising a spectacular celebration of creativity, culture and community spirit. Running for a month from Saturday, 14th October, the Chew Valley will come alive with a dazzling array of performances, events and workshops, showcasing the very best in comedy, music, theatre and community engagement.
This year’s festival highlights include a comedy extravaganza kicking off with George Egg: Set Menu in Bishop Sutton on 14th October. This award-winning, multi-sell-out, international-touring comic brings the best bits from his previous acclaimed comedy-with-cooking shows, plus some new surprises.
Theatrical delights for all the family include Roald Dahl and The Imagination Seekers on Sunday, 15th October in Ubley. A captivating tale of a secret organisation known as the Ancient Guild of TaleTenders who need your help to save the stories of Roald Dahl.
For adults there is an evening with Baked Alaska on Saturday, 21st October in Chew Magna. Hilarity ensues when a washed up 80’s synth-pop duo decide to reform - even though they can’t stand each other!
The Fringe Festival musical hub in Chew Magna features a diverse range of genres, from classical to contemporary including one of the most prolific performers on the English Folk scene - John Kirkpatrick, in concert on Sunday 22nd October.
Hot on the heels of a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run, local production company Second Chancers will take over Winford Village Hall on 27th October. This Love Island parody deals with the mine-field of dating in the modern world touching on everything from social media to serial killers – all to a banging soundtrack of 90s classics.
Meanwhile, the Albion Theatre Company brings a contemporary high-energy production of Much Ado About Nothing to Ubley on Saturday 28th October. This uproarious retelling is set in an open-air fitness centre and is sure to delight Shakespeare fans old and new.
The Fringe Festival is not just about watching; it’s about participation too. Valley Arts has put together a range of workshops from learning the Charleston or the harmonica, to beatboxing, circus skills, cheerleading, songwriting and Shakespeare - there really is something for everyone to enjoy!
Commenting on this year’s Fringe, Geraldine Hill-Male, Festival Director, expressed her excitement, ‘We’re thrilled to bring the Valley Arts Fringe Festival back for its 7th year. It’s a testament to the Valley’s love of the arts and all the local people who support us year after year. We are keen to build on the real sense of community the Festival brings and we encourage everyone to come and be a part of this incredible experience’.
Mindful that people are facing tighter purse strings, Valley Arts has sought to make ticket prices as reasonably as possible. This year the charity is also offering a ‘Pay What You Can’ option for selected shows including: An Evening with Baked Alaska on 21st October, and Second Chancers on 27th October.
Valley Arts seeks to ensure events are open and inclusive for all.
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Details of all events and ticket information can be found on the website: www.valley-arts.co.uk