First Night Excitement!

Reviews displayed at the Fringe Information Desk

It's late May already and all things Fringe are really hotting up. Our bumper 64-page programme is with the printers and will be available at our Programme Party on 6th June, then at outlets around the town.

The next challenge is finding reviewers for all of our 230 or so entries!

I love doing reviews, but that's too many for one woman, or indeed all of the committee and our existing reviewers, so that's why we are asking for extra people to get involved this year.

The things I love about reviews are looking at the list of first nights with anticipation; will any of my favourite performers be back this year? What new shows will tempt me?  Then turning up on the first night, the excitement of sitting in the audience waiting for the show to start or of being one of the first to look round an exhibition. Getting caught up in the performance, then remembering I'm there to work, hastily counting audience numbers (as requested by Fringe organisers), unobtrusively getting out my note book, then of course forgetting to make notes as the performance begins...

For me writing reviews is one of the most rewarding bits of the Fringe; the committee has been beavering away since last September to get this year's Fringe up and running and being there on the first night is so satisfying and rewarding, experiencing the fruits of all our labours and seeing other people enjoy themselves as well. 

I've seen some truly wonderful performances as a reviewer, every thing from laugh-till-I cry comedy and powerful and thought-provoking theatre to classical piano, folk, jazz and art. There really is a vast choice.

I talk to Reviews supremo Stephen Walker about why people should volunteer for reviews and what they should expect.  "The majority of our entrants request first night reviews" he tells me, "These really help potential audience members decide if the show is for them, it helps with ticket sales and gives performers feedback as well as quotes for future events' publicity".

So I know why I volunteer to review but what's in it for other people? "Reviewers receive a free ticket to the show they have selected. It will be the event's first night at Buxton Fringe and sometimes we have premieres of new work not seen anywhere else. Reviewers can chose from all of our categories; comedy, theatre and music tend to be the biggest, but there's lots of choice. Reviewing can be really exciting. We get some really high quality shows!"

Sounds like a bit of a balancing act; is there any support for new reviewers?  "Yes there's lots of guidance and tips on our website and as the Reviews Co-ordinator I'm there to offer support", says Stephen.

"The main aim is to capture the flavour of the show, its standout moments, its mood or helpful ideas for improvements.  We want to be supportive to our entrants while giving audiences enough information to decide if it's for them or not."

Would you advise new reviewers to stick to what they know or go off piste with a new genre? "I'd say for your first time, chose something you like the sound of and think you'll enjoy, whether its new to you or more familiar.  Then once you've experienced the process and got some confidence you can be more adventurous if you want."

Any one interested in joining our group of reviewers please contact Stephen at 

reviews@buxtonfringe.org.uk 

Carole Garner

Buxton Fringe

Website: www.buxtonfringe.org.uk
Facebook: @buxtonfestivalfringe
Bluesky: @buxtonfringe
Instagram: @buxtonfringe

Spring Showers Bring Fringe Flowers

Create your own Fringe Hot Spot!

Earlier this week the clocks went forward and since then we have had sun, rain, wind and hail! So, its official, British Summer Time has arrived.

This can only mean one thing, the countdown to the Buxton Festival Fringe 2026 has started in earnest and it won't be long till our annual Springboard Party. So I'm sitting in my kitchen filling small envelopes with orange flower seeds ready to give away at the party to all our green-fingered supporters.  

We will also be out and about at the Spring Fair promoting the Fringe - if you see us do say hello. It's hard to miss us as we will be wearing our Tango orange tee-shirts and sporting our new rather smart caps and bucket hats, which, for the stylish amongst you, will be available to purchase at our Springboard event and during the Fringe itself.

Plans are underway to fill the Opera House Planter with over 130 orange flowers again this year. Members of the team are filling our greenhouses and windowsills with seed trays and planning trips to the local plant nurseries. 

We would really love it if members of the public, community groups and local businesses would help us paint the town orange by planting your own orange floral displays. Marigolds, calendulas and nasturtiums are all easy to grow.  If you do plant some flowers, post a photo on the socials and don't forget to tag us in on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky @buxtonfringe.

Our Springboard event is on Saturday 11th April, at The Pump Room, from 7 pm to 9 pm (free entry) offering a chance to see some mini tasters from a few of this year's nearly 200 entrants.

If you would like to know more about our Orange Hot Spots or want to get involved in the Fringe, email Carole, our vice chair, on vicechair@buxtonfringe.org.uk.

Buxton Fringe

Website: www.buxtonfringe.org.uk
Facebook: @buxtonfringe
Bluesky: @buxtonfringe
Instagram: @buxtonfringe

BAFA Conference, Birmingham

Fringe Events co-ordinator, Rob Harrison, reports on an exciting networking opportunity for the Fringe…






I have just got back from two days in Birmingham at the British Arts Festivals Association conference.


BAFA is an umbrella organisation representing over 70 members covering a broad swathe of the festivals’ industry, including individual, single art-form and multi-arts festivals, festival groupings, individuals, universities and associated organisations.


Over 100 people attended over two days in the STEAMhouse in Birmingham where we were well looked after by the University of Birmingham.


A variety of festival industry people gave talks and chaired roundtables on a range of subjects from fundraising to accessibility and activism in festivals


What was really great was the opportunity to network with other festivals.


At the end of the first day we went down the road to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for a welcome from Stephen Maddock OBE and the launch of a BAFA exhibition curated by Naomi Taylor, Festival Footprints, which looked back at the long history and development of festivals in the UK.


In the evening over 50 of us took over the upstairs of Browns restaurant for a chance to catch up and socialise. It was great to meet Holly from World Fringe, which represents over 300 fringe festivals around the world.


We then had another day where we again took on a range of subjects from fundraising to the year of reading and ending on a great recap on Bradford's City of Culture last year.


The whole experience offered a chance to catch up and to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities.


It also offered a chance to realise there are people around the country with great enthusiasm and passion for the arts who are using that to help curate so many great festivals for people to enjoy.


Long may this continue!


Rob Harrison

Fringe Events Co-ordinator



Buxton Fringe

Website: www.buxtonfringe.org.uk
Facebook: buxtonfringe
Twitter: @buxtonfringe
Instagram: @buxtonfringe