A call to performers to take part in a major new open-access performing arts and music festival launching in Shaftesbury in July has been put out this week by the organisers.
And audiences get a sneak preview of what’s to come with a special Fringe variety show this month at Shaftesbury Arts Centre as part of Shaftesbury’s annual Snowdrop Festival.
Shaftesbury Fringe Variety Show takes place on Saturday 20 February compered by comedienne Adrienne Coles and featuring international singer Samantha, comedy with Improv With Us, Equity Dorset’s Shakespeare tribute theatre troupe, dancers, a circus act and more.
Shaftesbury Fringe, based on the same model as the Edinburgh Fringe, runs from 1-3 July to coincide with the town’s annual Gold Hill Fair and chief organiser Andy Tebbutt-Russell is confident the event will attract a wide range of performers to take part.
“It doesn’t matter where in the country – or abroad – you’re from, if you can sing, dance, recite, mime, act, conjure, juggle, fire-eat, stilt-walk, fly or do anything else you think an audience will be interested in, Shaftesbury Fringe 2016 welcomes you,” he said.
Andy, a veteran of Edinburgh Fringe with his singer partner Samantha, added: “We have some four hundred performance slots at more than fifty venues in the town, both inside and in the open air, so we’re confident there’s a venue for everyone.”
Venues include official event supporters Shaftesbury Arts Centre, Swans Yard Crafts Centre and The Grosvenor Arms hotel as well as a number of the town’s many halls, churches, pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Many of the venues offer free performance space, where performers keep all the door or ‘hat’ money.
“Shaftesbury is a relatively small and compact town so all the performance venues are within easy walking distance of each other, allowing visitors to see many shows in one day,” he adds.
He said his role is to put performers in touch with the venues and when performers have decided what they want to do, and where, they tell the organising team and the team promote it.
“Performers make their own arrangements with their chosen venue or venues and when they tell us about it we then put them in the free programme and tell everyone else about it.
“In other words, we do all the marketing and promotion leaving the performers to concentrate on doing what they do best – perform.”
Would-be performers are invited to contact him at acts@shaftesburyfringe.org.uk . General information on the festival is on www.shaftesburyfringe.org.uk and details of all the venues are at https://shaftesburyfringe.org.uk/for-performers/venue-list .
There is also a special performers pack on how to get a show organised at https://shaftesburyfringe.org.uk/for-performers/artiste-information-pack/
Tickets for many performances, including Shaftesbury Fringe Variety Show, are available from Shaftesbury Arts Centre, Shaftesbury Tourist Information Centre or direct from the performance venues.
Andy Tebbutt-Russell
