Fringe Is Go!

Today is the first full day of the 35^th Buxton Festival Fringe and there are plenty of comedy and theatre shows tonight to shake you out of any mid-week lethargy.

Underground Venues at the Old Hall Hotel is the place to head to for laughs. Kicking-off at 6pm are His and Hers. Lovable diva Sharnema is joined by charming, but none-too-bright, sidekick Leo in a mixture of love songs, absurd comedy and vaudeville.

They are swiftly followed by a quartet enigmatically named Gein’s Family Giftshop. They are en-route to the Edinburgh Fringe in August and promise to bring a “warped world vision” as they “marry tragedy with hilarity.”

Hot on the quartet’s heels comes Joe Rowntree – from Sky 1’s Brainiac and Dave’s One Night Stand! In his show Morgan Berry Live we get an hour of character-based comedy.

Joe’s show clashes with Scott Bennett’s About A Roy – presumably they are playing in different spaces in Underground Venues. Scott has picked-up plenty of acclaim and notice in his career so far and in this show he draws on his childhood experiences growing up with Yorkshireman father Roy.

Quality drama is assured in an early evening show at The Old Clubhouse. Playwright Rob Johnston has won a hatful of awards and his new play An Extraordinary Light celebrates the achievements, and records the tragic life, of scientist Rosalind Franklin whose work on the structure of DNA helped Crick and Watson win a Nobel prize.

Starting a long Fringe run at the United Reformed Church is Dreamshed Theatre’s His Letters. This is a one-man play about the discoveries a son makes when he clears out his late mother’s possessions.

The Fringe website – www.buxtonfringe.org.uk – gives full details of every show and event and most shows will be reviewed and the reviews will be posted on-line within 24 hours of the first performance. Make sure to visit the Fringe desk at the entrance to the Conservatory next to the Opera House for all the latest news and chat about shows and performances.

The Fringe got off to a great start on Tuesday with the now traditional launch party at Underground Venues. We were royally entertained with music by Sideways Band and Darren Poyzer, comedian Joe Rowntree and stories from phone sex operator Cameryn Moore. You can hear more from her tonight at 10.30 - prepare to be challenged. She happily quotes one review: "Incredibly brutal, piercing and thought-provoking." You'll laugh as well.

Finally the 2014 Fringe beer mats are now around and about - though you'll have to enter licenced premises to find them. The Fringe beer goes on sale today - many thanks to Buxton Brewery for that. You should find it at all their usual outlets: Buxton Tap House, Old Hall Hotel, Underground Venues & The Queen's Head. Enjoy the Fringe to the limit and drink responsibly!

Buxton Fringe

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