Matchmaking in the Community with Buxton Fringe

Julia Knight from Pepita Productions (credit: Keith Oxley)

One of the key aims of the Buxton Festival Fringe is to help make the arts available for everyone - "Arts for All" is our slogan! I chatted with Linda Rolland, Community Links lead for the Fringe about how we did in 2024.

"We've always encouraged our entrants to offer activities to a range of community groups", Linda tells me. "We have a network of groups from schools to care homes, to the local food bank and more. Some of these groups have entertainment budgets but many don't have funds available. Likewise our performers may need to be paid or at least have their expenses covered.  This can make matching up performers and groups tricky.  But I'm pleased to say that this year was very successful with two of our entrants providing entertainment for three local groups. And that's just the ones we know about, there are often more!", Linda adds. I ask for the details of what happened in 2024.  "Performer Julia Knight performed excerpts from her shows Zeit-Heist More than a Feeling and I am not Victoria Wood for residents at Haddon Hall Care Home and Blythe House Hospice, and Chris Milner, singer, songwriter and guitarist, gave a lunchtime performance at Zink."  Linda, who attended the performance at Blythe House, says: "The clients were keen to tell me how much they enjoyed Julia's show and appreciated what we were doing in taking events to them. They very much enjoyed Julia's own comedic compositions such as the Hang-gliding song and the Gin song! They were also delighted to hear Julia sing songs written by much-missed Victoria Wood. Julia really enjoyed herself also and said it was useful to acclimatise herself to the area, try out some of  her material and to publicise her show to clients and their families." 

Julie Forrest, Volunteer Manager at Blythe House wrote to the Fringe later to add: "I just wanted to say a huge thank you on behalf of our patients, volunteers and staff for supporting us and performing here on Friday 12th July. The feedback has been fantastic and your time was very much appreciated."  

Another community activity is the floral Orange Hot Spots, brainchild of much-missed Vice Chair Viv Marriott. The colourful flowers are intended to brighten up the town over the summer as well as let people know its Fringe time. First planted in 2021, the Orange Hot Spots have gradually grown with a number of local business and community groups now taking part. "This year we were thrilled to be invited to help residents at Haddon Hall Care Home sow and pot up orange flowers", says Linda. The Fringe also wanted to encourage local people to get involved too, so came up with the idea of giving away packs of seeds. "We gave out over 150 packets of seeds at our Springboard party and at the May Day fair. It was very popular with people and a great way to get chatting with them about the Fringe and what's on offer", reports Fringe Secretary Carole. Despite the poor weather earlier this year, there have been lots of sightings of orange flowers across the town. 

Knowing the Fringe never rests on its laurels, I ask Linda what's on the agenda for Fringe 2025? "We'll be getting feedback on what worked well and where we can make improvements; we'll definitely be giving out seeds again and planting Orange Hot Spots. If if the council responds to pleas for a community hub as part of the Revitalising Buxton plans we will be keen to develop ideas for using it for community engagement either with our performers or promoting the Fringe."  Well that ought to keep us busy!

If any of our other performers took part in community activity over the Fringe, we would love to hear about it and add it to our website. Please send a few details to Linda at the email below. 

Likewise if you are a community group who would like to join our community links network or if you are interested in volunteering with the community links group please email Linda at links@buxtonfringe.org.uk.

Buxton Fringe

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

Hold the Front Page 7 - Bizarre things at Buxton Fringe

The Serpentine Community Garden is a fantastic Fringe venue and it is offering free family fun with its Summer Bizarre on Sunday afternoon. See their press release below. By the way, the Serpentine is also the venue for our prestigious Awards Ceremony following on from the Bizarre at 5pm open to performers, Fringe Friends, committee members and reviewers.

For full details of all Fringe shows and events see our listings on the website.

Previous winners of the Spirit of the Fringe award and long-standing entrants Serpentine Community Garden invite you to come and enjoy a fun afternoon of Bizarre things at the Serpentine Community Garden on Sunday 21st July from noon to 4pm.

There will be music throughout the afternoon from the Monstrous Regiment of Women, while you enjoy mocktails and tea and cake. Hot dogs (both meat and veg) will be served up by Zink Employability. Join in a tour of the garden or try your hand at Splat the Rat, enter our miniature garden competition (everyones a winner with a lucky dip from Buxton Civic Association) or show off your wonky veg!

Younger visitors can have a go at mask making with Creeping Toad to "Become Your Own Beast" or have their faces painted. If that isn't enough we will also have crafts, mini golf, a plant stall and flower show and community stalls including Blythe House Hospice.

With so much on offer there's bound to be something to appeal to everyone so bring the whole family.

This event is free but we welcome donations and we will also be holding a raffle.

For further information see: www.serpentinecommunitygarden.org

Thanks to all our Fringe entrants who have provided press releases for this fun blog series.

Buxton Fringe

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

Hold the Front Page 6 - Life's Mysteries... and Murders

Hangovers, murders and the meaning of life itself feature in two not-to-be missed shows at this year’s Fringe. Read extracts from their press releases below.

For venues, times, ticketing and further information about all our Fringe shows, see our What's On listings here.

Stephen Bathurst as King Solomon 

In Life Under The Sun – Part 1, Actor and dramatist, Stephen Bathurst asks the biggest question of all: What’s the Point?

Strangers & Exiles: Life Under the Sun - Part 1

'What good is it to gain the whole world but lose your soul?'

Described as Blackadder meets the Bible, Life Under The Sun - Part 1 is a one man show based on the book of Ecclesiastes, asking the biggest question of all - What's the point?

Imagine King Charles delivering his big royal speech, all the pomp and majesty, the trumpets and fanfare, but he's in his pants, with a massive hangover, and it's not old Charlie-Boy, it's King Solomon, supposedly the wisest man who ever lived, he's got 700 wives to deal with (and their mothers) and he can't get it up anymore...

Stephen Bathurst, brings this one-man show back to his native Derbyshire. Previous performances have taken place in Britain (Bedford Fringe, Guildford Fringe), Sweden (Gothenburg Fringe), Finland (OFF Tampere), Norway, Germany, Australia and Canada.

http://www.strangersandexiles.net/tickets

'4**** - Startling & Ambitious' Get Your Coats On


Meanwhile over in Chapel-en-le-Frith, a group of writers aim to entertain you with their gripping tales of murder...

Chapel Arts Creative Writing Group: Murder Foretold

Prompted by the opening line ‘Someone here will soon commit a murder’, the Chapel Arts Creative Writing Group presents its own ‘stories to die for’.

The thriving group of writers will be presenting two shows entitled Murder Foretold, an evening performance on July 11th at 7.30pm and a matinee on July 14th at 2pm, both at Rems Cafe Bar and Restaurant in Chapel-en-le-Frith. Different material is likely to feature at each and the group is expecting to perform stories, poetry, mini-plays and even some music, all with a different slant on this year’s murderous theme.

Led by author Mark Henderson, the group is open to all but includes published writers among its ranks. A booklet of short stories, Murder Foretold, will be on sale at the Fringe events. The group has also had its monologues performed by Glossop’s Partington Players and three writers from the group have had monologues selected by Strajanka Productions for another Buxton Fringe event, The Monologue Project 2024.

Says Mark: "It’s a pleasure and a privilege to work with this talented group of writers. They’ve produced a wide variety of pieces around this year’s theme. Having heard what they’re offering, I’m glad I don’t have to walk home along a dark alley!"


Buxton Fringe

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

Hold the Front Page 5 - Time for a Rethink at Buxton Fringe

Canadian storyteller Nancy Edwards offers online audiences an insight into her challenging work as a community nurse in Sierra Leone. Read an extract from her press release below. The Fringe is pleased to include online performances with this year's programme also featuring Strajanka Productions' The Monologue Project in Spoken Word.

For further information about all our Fringe shows see our What's On listings here.

Nancy Edwards in the final scene of Rethinking Good Intentions

Nancy Edwards: Rethinking Good Intentions

Rethinking Good Intentions is a solo show, written and performed by Nancy Edwards, an Ottawa-based, Canadian story-teller.  Nancy is participating virtually at the 2024 Buxton Festival Fringe. This compelling play transports audiences to the rural villages of Sierra Leone, West Africa in the late 1970s and 1980s where Nancy worked as a community health nurse for five years.  

The play chronicles a journey that is both poignant and humorous. With the patience of local mentors, Nancy adjusted to life and the field-work realities of delivering preventive maternal and child health services as a cultural outsider. The play is filled with stories about Nancy’s initially blundered and then inspired encounters with village chiefs, traditional birth attendants, and subsistence farmers. Village experiences rattled Nancy’s cultural preconceptions, provoked her notions of social privilege, and forever deepened her global connections. 

Nancy’s heart-warming and heart-breaking stories about public health work in the villages make audiences laugh and cry. This new play is full of humanity. 

Live virtual performances of the play take place on July 6 and 20, 2024 @ 5 PM GMT. Performances are free. Pre-registration on Zoom is required. Donations are encouraged to the Friends of Nixon Memorial Hospital Fund (details on last page of playbill).   

The play lasts about an hour. Performances will be followed by a live chat with Nancy on Zoom.  

A recording of the first performance will be available to view on Nancy’s YouTube channel between July 7 and July 21, 2024.

See a trailer here. 

See www.nancyedwards.ca (“Play” page) for schedule of performances, registration links for live performances on Zoom, YouTube link for taped performance, and copy of playbill.

The play is based on Nancy’s book “Not One, Not Even One: A Memoir of Life-altering Experiences in Sierra Leone, West Africa”, which was released by Friesen Press in 2022.  

It contains brief references to civil war violence, female initiation rituals, and newborn deaths in Sierra Leone. Age guidance 18+

Buxton Fringe

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

Thinking outside the box at Buxton Fringe

Our Fringe entrants take their responsibility towards the audience very seriously. We always love to learn more about their creative processes. Barbara Diesel wrote to us about the thinking behind her play, Dear Eliza, which is being staged at Underground at Spring Gardens. Read her words below. We hope her message sparks a conversation.

For further information about all our Fringe shows see our What's On listings here.

Writer/performer Barbara Diesel in Dear Eliza

Next month, I’m looking forward to performing my debut one-woman play, Dear Eliza, at the Buxton Festival Fringe. It’s been quite the journey creating and sharing this story. It dives into mental health in a completely unapologetic and raw way, with an added blend of dark comedy. I made a pointed effort to ensure my protagonist would be as morally grey, authentic, and real as possible.

I feel strongly about the power of Fringe theatre, particularly in the case of representing mental health issues. A few months ago, I summarised it like this:

 “The problem with depictions of mentally ill characters in fiction is that they are either nothing like a real mentally ill person, or they fit perfectly inside of a box. Often, when a film/book/series/play decides it wants to depict a specific illness, they build the characters around that diagnosis. They seem to tick off the symptoms and only then add in family/occupation/a handful of hobbies… afterwards. Creating what is a nice, neat, symptomatically perfect character.

The problem is that humans don’t tend to tick all the boxes. Humans are hard to diagnose. Humans have comorbid symptoms with other illnesses. Humans don’t fit into neat boxes. Only characters do.

So, most depictions of mental illness are, inherently, fictional. There’s little consideration of the symptomatic murkiness that can exist between different disorders. And the spectrum of experience is disregarded.

That’s why representation of mental health disorders is so different if you go to see Fringe theatre. A lot of the time, it’s been written by someone who really knows what they are talking about. Just as importantly, it hasn’t been surrendered to the industry – an industry that relies on being sensational or romantic or shocking in order to be commodified.

These ‘alternative’ depictions might blur the lines or leave you wondering what was actually ‘wrong’ with the character. They might confuse you because they haven’t been neatly packaged for you. But that is the reality of human beings with mental illnesses, as opposed to characters with mental illnesses. Human beings don’t fit into boxes. Only characters do.”

The best compliments I have received have been from audience members either telling me that they found Dear Eliza to be cathartic, because it genuinely resonated with them, or that they now better understood a family member/friend/colleague thanks to watching the play. That kind of experience is so difficult to have through mainstream media. So, for me, this is what makes Fringe theatre so valuable.

Buxton Fringe

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

Hold the Front Page 4 - Take a Trip Back in Time with Buxton Festival Fringe

Three more of our Fringe performers share a snapshot of their entries this year. Although they are all completely different, they all have a historic slant to transport you back in time. Below follow extracts from their press releases giving a flavour of what’s in store from Spoken Word author Shirley Mann, Theatre entrant Pendleton Sixth Form College School of Theatre and in Film, silent screen musicians, Brief Encounter Duo. For full details of their show times, venues etc, see our listings on our website.

If you are a Fringe performer who would like to be featured in our blog, please send

your press release to marketing@buxtonfringe.org.uk. Thanks to all those who have

already done so - watch this space!

Shirley Mann : How WWII Changed Women’s Lives Forever 

Wirksworth award-winning author, Shirley Mann, is doing a talk at the Buxton Fringe

entitled ‘World War II- How It Changed Women’s Lives Forever.’

Her four novels, one of which won the Romantic Saga Novel Award in 2021 and

another which was nominated for this year’s Popular Romantic Fiction Award, are all

inspired by former World War II servicewomen.

A former BBC journalist, Shirley’s first book, ‘Lily’s War’ was prompted by the

wartime romance of her mother who was a WAAF in Bomber Command and her

father, who was in the Eighth Army. With the offer of a publishing contract, her plans

for retirement were put on hold while she raced around the country to talk to as many

ex-servicewomen as possible and the result was three more books about the roles of

women during wartime.

‘I was lucky enough to meet ATA pilot, Mary Ellis in my research for ‘Bobby’s War,’

Shirley commented, ‘and then I went on to meet Land Army girls, plotters and the

families of policewomen in the Isle of Man for my other books. I feel so incredibly

privileged to have met them and to have heard their stories, especially as they are

now all gone- which means I’m desperate to make sure their legacy is preserved.’

Shirley’s latest book, ‘Bridget’s War’ is about a policewoman in the Isle of Man

internment camp. It’s a little-known fact that when Churchill rounded up anyone living

in Britain, they didn’t know what to do with, German Jews were forced to rub

shoulders with German Nazi supporters behind barbed wire on the south of the

island.

Further information at https://shirleymannauthor.home.blog/ Twitter – shirleymann07

Instagram – shirleymannauthor

The Pendleton Codebreakers: Breaking the Code

By Hugh Whitemore (performed by arrangement with Concord Theatricals).

Directed by Ben Ventress, a superbly talented cast of young actors from the

Pendleton School of Theatre will perform this moving and powerful biopic of the

great Alan Turing for two nights only. The production was first performed to great

public acclaim last November.

 

Audiences will be treated to a night of exceptional theatre, which was described as

being ‘worthy of a West End production’ at its last outing.

Brief Encounter Duo: Silent Film Piccadilly (1929) With Live Music

Step back to the 1920s and experience the magic of cinema as it used to be! Brief

Encounter Duo are delighted to present the silent film ‘Piccadilly’ with live music in

Buxton Festival Fringe. Screen goddess Anna May Wong sizzles as Shosho, a

scullery maid who rises to stardom in the glitzy Piccadilly nightclub in London.

This leads to a strange tale of jealousy, betrayal, forbidden love and a mysterious

murder. This classic British film was a rare success on both sides of the Atlantic

despite the advent of ‘Talkies’ two years earlier.

Chris and Veronica Perrin are following in the footsteps of Chris’s grandparents who

accompanied silent films in the 1920s. Using nine different instruments, the duo play

vintage jazz and silent film music complementing the unfolding drama. Expect to

hear at least one instrument you’ve never heard before!

This unique show has received wonderful reviews which can be viewed along with

other information about the film on the website briefencounterduosilentfilms.co.uk

“An absolute gem of a show. Don’t miss it.”

Carole Garner

Buxton Fringe

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

Hold the Front Page 3 - Feeling it at Buxton Fringe

Pepita Productions/ Sweet Productions: Zeit-Heist: More than a Feeling 

Press releases from our performers offer fascinating extra details about their shows. Here two very different shows, both at Underground at Spring Gardens, share an interest in psychology and why we feel the way we do. Read these press release extracts to find out more about Julia Knight's Zeit-Heist in the Comedy category and Barbara Diesel's and Helen Parry's Dear Eliza in Theatre.

For full details of their shows' times, venues etc see our listings on our website.

If you are a Fringe performer who would like to be featured in our blog, please send your press release to marketing@buxtonfringe.org.uk. Thanks to all those who have already done so - watch this space!

Pepita Productions/ Sweet Productions: Zeit-Heist: More than a Feeling 

After a premiere at Brighton Fringe Festival last year and 3 award nominations and 1 award win at Liverpool Fringe festival, comedy performer, musician and psychologist, Julia Knight brings her second solo show to Underground venues as part of Buxton Festival Fringe.

“Zeit-heist” is the feeling you get when something that you really enjoy – your hobby, interest, favourite singer or food – suddenly becomes extremely popular and it seems as if everyone else is into it. What previously felt like your niche interest is now a mainstream fad. Julia started exploring this concept when she realized that there was no word to explain the mixed feelings involved. She says, “I knew that I should be happy that other people liked what I liked, but I wasn’t – it felt as if they had stolen my joy somehow”.

The show uses songs to delve into the concept of Zeit-heist through Julia’s personal experiences involving gin, avocados and Kate Bush. There is also an explanation of the psychology of Zeit-heist via Julia’s alter-ego, the academic Dr. Yulia Ridder. The audience is encouraged to join in at various points as part of the workshop to sing along and discuss their own Zeit-Heists (totally voluntary). Previous audiences have described the show as “Funny and original”, “Engaging and fun” and “Amazeballs!”

Praise for Julia’s previous work:
“Impressively evocative” Chortle

Barbara Diesel & Helen Parry: Dear Eliza

Bold, raw, and cynical: Dear Eliza is a one-woman short play interrogating the deterioration of a friendship under the strain of mental illness and the fear of being a burden. In a media culture that either villainises or victimises the mentally ill, Dear Eliza navigates the grey area with guts and defiance. Utilising a masterful blend between heartbreak and humour, this not-to-miss performance strives to redefine our perceptions on what it ‘looks like’ to be mentally ill, whilst showing us the power in saying out loud what we’d all rather keep inside of our heads.

Following a short tour of the UK in February and a successful run at the Brighton Fringe Festival, Dear Eliza comes to the Buxton Fringe Festival this July. Shortlisted for the Best Newcomer award at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival (2023) and celebrated as a ‘must-watch performance’ (***** - Better Than Words) that is ‘captivating from start to finish’ (****1/2 – A Youngish Perspective). ‘It is a difficult task to capture the audience as beautifully as Diesel does’ (**** - Adventures In Theatreland). Due to strong language, and discussions of mental illness and suicide, this show is recommended for ages 16+.

Writer and performer Barbara Diesel brings her debut play to life in collaboration with director Helen Parry, best known for her work on On Me by Caroline Lamb (Off West End Award winner) and The Day the World Came to Huddersfield by Stephen Hornby (Best Drama Award winner; QueerLit Best LGBTQ+ Production winner). Diesel and Parry are thrilled to be bringing Dear Eliza to the Buxton Fringe Festival, with Diesel stating: “This is a story that doesn’t end when the audience leaves the theatre. We’ve had audiences sharing their own stories back, or returning the night after with family and friends, telling them ‘you need to watch this’ – that is a truly special feeling. We can’t wait to get to share Dear Eliza at the Buxton Fringe Festival.”

The production is also proud to be raising money for the mental health charity, Mind, alongside performances.

Buxton Fringe

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