Stage 2: Thursday 10 July - Buxton, via Massachusetts and Edinburgh

Well, Day 1 was a cracker and I've squeezed in 8 events so far. If nothing else do  go and hear the Clouds Harp Quartet - they are playing for free at the Buxton Museum next Thursday (July 17th) at 2pm. While you're at the Museum you'll also be able to enjoy three splendid art exhibitions. All for precisely no money!

But what of Day 2? 

It’s Stage 2 of the 35^th Buxton Fringe and there are some cracking shows opening today.

Bern Budd has visited the Fringe twice before from his beautiful home in Massachusetts. He charmed and delighted audiences then with his telling of stories by Mark Twain - “the first great American writer”. So it is exciting to see him back in Buxton. Bern and Betsy Budd are in town until 22^nd July with Mark Twain’s Diaries of Adam & Eve. It will be a warm and witty account – but not necessarily 100% true.

One of the plays that won many friends at Fringe 2013 was Spoonface Steinberg. Beautifully performed and directed the play presents the thoughts of an 8-year-old girl. She is autistic, has cancer, lives with a dysfunctional family and loves opera. It will make you smile and quite likely cry. Rebecca Fenwick delivers a bravura performance as Spoonface and there are just two performances – today and tomorrow at the Old Clubhouse.

There is the usual mix of comedy at Underground Venues. Russell Brand isn’t appearing – but Alastair Clark is. Brand provoked some controversy earlier in the year by suggesting that not voting would lead to a political revolution. Alastair takes issue with Brand – and promises to be funny at the same time. His show starts at 7pm.

Be at Underground at 6pm to hear Simon Feilder. You may have seen Simon on Channel 4’s ‘The Big Breakfast’. He is en-route to Edinburgh but will doing four performances of his new show All the things I’m not in Buxton.

One of the important things about the Fringe is the opportunity it provides for new and young artists and performers. Spotlight Theatre is a company of school students and they will be tackling Arthur Miller’s play All My Sons tonight and tomorrow. This was Miller’s breakthrough play and is based on a true story of how during World War Two an engineering company conspired with army inspectors to get defective aircraft engines approved for military use.

Late-night entertainment is offered by another American guest - Cameryn Moore - as she continues her run. Her show Phone Whore is not for the faint-hearted but is a frank (and sometimes funny) account of her life as a telephone sex worker.

Buxton Fringe

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