Q. What's Orange and Green and uses the Bus?

A. Buxton Fringe!

Yes, this year's traditional orange Fringe is going green in a big way!

I don't know about you but I love getting the bus - someone else does the driving, no need to fill up with petrol and best of all no need to worry about parking, and with the beautiful views on routes around Buxton I can sit back and enjoy the ride.

So imagine how excited I was to learn that the Fringe has teamed up with D&G and High Peak buses to promote travelling to the Fringe on public transport. Our lovely Fringe posters are going to be on display on 150 local buses and in bus stations at Derby, Hanley and Macclesfield.  

Keep your eyes peeled for the posters and if you spot one please post a pic and tag us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook (@BuxtonFringe) using the hashtag #FringeOnTheBus.

What's more we've signed up to the Plastic Free Pledge to help our friends at Transition Buxton reduce single-use plastic.  

And what perfect timing as our Fringe information desk is on the move - all of which has given Gaye, our lovely desk manager, the chance to have a sort out and reduce our single-use plastic.  

I predict it's going to be reusable cups and recycled bunting all the way!

We can't wait to see our live performers and welcome live audiences back so do pop in to say "Hi". 

But before you leave home, help us and the environment by remembering:

Bus pass/fare - Check! 

Reusable cup - Check!

Fringe app on phone - Check!

Let's make this the biggest Green Orange Fringe yet!

If you want to know more about our environmental policy go to https://buxtonfringe.org.uk/environment.html

Carole Garner

Buxton Fringe

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

Painting the Town Orange

Buxton's floral displays might have more than a hint of Fringe orange this year
(credit: Stephanie Billen)

Yes you read that right; I know it's more traditional to paint a town red but this is Buxton and we like to do things a bit differently here! 

I think everyone would agree that we can all do with a bit of cheering up this year and the Fringe has come up with a simple and fun way to do this - by encouraging shops, businesses, care homes, public spaces and residents to create “Orange Hot Spots” across the town throughout July.

The Fringe has joined forces with a number of local groups to organise displays of orange flowers, orange bunting, flower pot people with orange hair, orange-bottomed Bilberry bumble bees or even just orange Fringe posters. The Bilberry bee is a very special bee. It lives high on the moors surrounding Buxton and it helps to pollinate lots of plants but sadly it is in danger of extinction. So let’s give it a helping hand by planting lots of orange flowers to give it a feed and keep it going. You can also support the Buxton Garden Trail (24-25 July) at the same time by purchasing marigold and fuschia plants from them - contact buxtongardentrail@gmail.com.

Everyone can get involved including the kids. Good and easy orange flowers to grow include Nasturtiums, Marigolds and Calendula but there are lots of others. And what’s more, by planting flowers, even one or two on a small windowsill, we can help encourage butterflies, insects and especially bumble bees. 

Don’t have green fingers or any outside spaces?  Create your own display for your window with tissue paper, coloured pens and paints or Fringe posters, or have a go at drawing the Bilberry bee with its distinctive orange bottom! Contact fobs.buxton@gmail.com if you would like further information on making or displaying the bee!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your paintbrush or gardening gloves, get creative, have some fun and let's turn Buxton Orange!

Carole Garner

Buxton Fringe

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

Zi-Zi Taah Taah Taah - Who’s making a noise at this year’s Buxton Fringe?

Calling all wildlife lovers, poets and conservationists. You won't want to miss this!

Live at this year's Fringe, Yorkshire poet, writer and conservationist Steve Ely will be sharing his poems dedicated to two of the UK's fastest declining species, the Willow Tit and the European Eel.

Steve will read from his books Zi-Zi Taah Taah Taah (the words to the willow tit's song for the uninitiated) and The European Eel at the events, which are sponsored by Milners Law, who  have offices in Leeds, Harrogate and Pontefract.

Also a big Ted Hughes fan, proud Yorkshireman Steve will reveal how his home county shaped the work of the former Poet Laureate.

For full details of these events see the full press release below. With entries starting to build up, we hope to bring you the inside stories on a host of other shows in the coming months. In the meantime don't forget to check out the Fringe website.

Carol Garner

Press Release: 

Yorkshire poets and poetry at Buxton Festival  

Poet and writer Steve Ely will be sharing some of his passions with  audiences at this year’s Buxton Festival Fringe. 

The European Eel and the Willow Tit are two of the fastest declining species  in the UK. Their populations have crashed by 95% in 50 years. As it happens  Willow Tits do relatively well on some brownfield, former industrial sites and  Steve Ely lives close to a former coalfield in Yorkshire and is able to monitor  bird numbers locally. 

He published a small volume of poems Zi-Zi Taah Taah Taah: the song of the  Willow Tit three years ago. This year sees publication of his book-length  poem The European Eel. For the Buxton event Steve will read poems from  the books and talk about how autobiography and interests in conservation  and literature came together in their writing. 

Steve’s observations of the natural world sharply inform his writing and this  is evident in a further collection published this year, Lectio Violant - ‘profane  readings’ that were the result of contemplative study of parts of the New  Testament in the King James’ edition. 

Steve also teaches creative writing at University of Huddersfield where he is  Director of the Ted Hughes Network. Hughes - who was poet laureate from  1984 until his death in 1998 - was born in the Calder Valley village of  Mytholmroyd and the moorland landscapes where he was born are often  associated with his writing. Hughes moved to live in the South Yorkshire  industrial town of Mexborough between the ages of 8 and 21. 

Steve Ely published a study of this period of Hughes’ life and the place  where he wrote his first poems. Steve argues that it was Mexborough that  formed Hughes as a poet. It was the place where he encountered the  influences that shaped him as a poet, leaving a lasting impression on his  personality, sensibility and practice. For the Buxton Festival Steve will reveal  this still too little-known story. 

These two Buxton Festival Fringe events are sponsored by Milners Law, who  have offices in Leeds, Harrogate and Pontefract. 

   

Notes for editors

The Buxton Festival Fringe was established in 1980 and takes place every  July. This year’s Festival runs from 7-25 July when hundreds of events  embrace the visual and performing arts. 

Steve Ely will be at the United Reformed Church on Tuesday 13 July. His Eel  and the Willow Tit is from 3-4pm and Made in Mexborough: Ted Hughes’  South Yorkshire from 5-6pm.

Even the wrong shoes won't spoil my fun!

Does anyone else miss being jammed in a hot, dark, smoke-filled room, warm drink in hand waiting for the next act to start?

Most people in these Covid days shudder in horror at the idea of sharing indoor space with a group of strangers, and you can understand why.

But I have to admit I miss the days of being in a live audience, the excitement of waiting to see and hear a new show. Will the gags be good, will the band hit the right notes? How will the audience react - will they heckle or get behind the performer?  I even miss the discomfort of standing still for ages in the wrong shoes.

I know there isn't real smoke anymore.  But the idea of heading to a club, cafe, bar or theatre to see 'live' entertainment always makes me feel that I'm off to somewhere sophisticated and slightly edgy. Like the old days of black and white films; say Rick's bar in Casablanca or a jazz club in Harlem.

So I was really pleased to hear that a large number of Fringe venues in Buxton have announced their support for this year’s festival. Old favourites such as the Green Man Gallery,  Underground and the Rotunda are all wanting to be involved and a host of new cafes, church halls and sports facilities have also registered.

Of course there will be lots of safeguards in place. Fringe performers are working on contingency plans - marquees and tents are being mooted (a good idea for any British summer!) as well as online or mixed activities.

As entries start to arrive there are whispers of large open air venues also being interested which all adds to my excitement.

I only have one concern, where did I put my favourite heels?

Carole Garner

Buxton Fringe

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

Walking in an Orange Wonderland

Buxton - 4th December 2020

 

It's snowing outside and that can only mean one thing: Buxton Fringe is open for entries.

Usually to celebrate the launch there is a Christmas party with all the community invited to enjoy an evening of Derbyshire Carols, drinks, chat with local performers and the committee and lots of laughs.

Of course Covid-19 put paid to that as it has with so much in 2020. Undeterred and encouraged by the success of this year’s online Fringe, the committee decided to hold a Zoom party.

My experiences of Zoom have been mixed so I wasn't sure how this would work. But at the appointed hour I logged in wearing my homemade Christmas hat, a bit anxious in case no one else had dressed up.

I needn't have worried; I was greeted by Chair Stephen Walker in a full Santa suit complete with beard. Compere Ian Bowns was in reindeer horns and nose and Secretary Gaye was showing off her Zoom skills with a background of the Oxford Street lights. Other Christmas outfits were also on show and luckily with Zoom no one could see that I had my pyjama bottoms and fluffy slippers on!

Joining members of the committee were a number of Fringe friends, performers and supporters; it was great to meet them and see their commitment to the Fringe.

And so the fun commenced. We had two quiz rounds and a poem-writing challenge. Ian mixed us up and put us into breakout rooms so we could chat with different people as well as answer questions.

The teams were different for each round, and you would think this would've removed the competitive edge but oh no, there were lots of loud complaints about points being awarded.

Somehow Ian maintained control of the "fringey crowd" and moved us on to the finale of the evening; a sing-along to that all time favourite "Walking in an orange, sorry, winter wonderland". Luckily Ian muted everyone apart from himself and singing partner Carol. With the words on screen I could happily join in safe in the knowledge that no one could hear my terrible, out of tune voice.

Maybe Zoom’s not so bad after all!

Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year one and all!

Carole Garner
Buxton Fringe

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

The Fringe isn't just for Summer!

Screenshot from 2020 Zoom AGM featuring Top row left to right: Gaye Chorlton, Stephen Walker and Sandra Jowett, Bottom row: Viv Marriott and illustration of Entries co-ordinator Ian Bowns.

Buxton Fringe have announced the dates for next year's Fringe; the 7th to 25th July. "So what?", I hear you say ,"That's eight months away." 

Last week was the Fringe AGM and planning has already started for next year's event; there are an amazing amount of things to do and organise before July.

Like every meeting I've ever attended it was the most unassuming item on the committee  agenda that stimulated the hottest debate. Last year's artwork for the programme was much loved but never got to be fully appreciated as although it was used on flyers, we weren't able to print the programme. So we wanted to reuse the design for 2021 but with new colours to make it a bit different.

Crucial question, which colours should we use for 2021's programme and flyers?

Of the 10 shortlisted contenders, each one had a champion and each one a detractor. Some of the colour combinations were described as "too pale", others "too bright" or most dangerous of all "Marmite".  The debate raged on, clearly there was not going to be unanimous agreement - time to put it to the vote.

Want to know which colour scheme won? Check out the website when entries open on 1st December.

Last summer I wrote about being a new volunteer and not having found "my niche" with the team. I now feel like an old  hand and I've been ringing community groups, schools and care homes who without exception have been positive about being involved in 2020. I've also joined the committee as an honorary member and been signed up to help with communications. Luckily I dodged the role of treasurer which looks like a hot potato (just as well my grasp of Excel is basic to say the least).

As we all know, 2020 was a year like no other with theatres, arts venues and cinemas all forced to close. In response the Fringe moved on line.  At the meeting Chair Stephen Walker thanked the 100 plus performers who responded to this challenge with creative and innovative works. 

At this point in time we don't know what life will be like next July, the arts and entertainment sector are continuing to face difficult times with venues still closed.

We are all hoping for live events but the committee are making plans for a mix of live and online shows. One positive thing to come out of 2020 was our ability to reach new and more diverse audiences and performers, and that's a good platform to build on.

So the Fringe isn't just for summer, it's year round! If you'd like to get involved our next (Zoom) meeting is on 10th December.

Carole Garner

Buxton Fringe

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

Winner of The Trail of Smiles!

Fraser Unwin wins the Trail of Smiles!

8 year old Fraser Unwin Of Buxton Junior school is the winner of The Trail of Smiles - an Art Installation created by Artist Lindsey Piper in collaboration with Buxton Town Team and launched during this year’s Buxton Fringe. 

The Trail of Smiles was created for the people of Buxton to discover 25 Smiles throughout their town in venues that included houses, places of interest and businesses. When Artist Lindsey Piper was asked why she had put this installation together she said ‘I was very aware on my daily walks during lockdown that other people like myself were discovering parts of their own town they may never have seen and wanted to mirror that experience of discovery with a reward of a cheeky smile. To make it more fun I decided to make it a competition.’ 

Fraser was thrilled to be the winner of the Trail of Smiles and when his Mum, Katy told him she said he had the biggest smile on his face. 

Lindsey is looking forward to Buxton Fringe 2021 to create another installation for the people of Buxton and visitors to the town, and we can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Buxton Fringe

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