Hold the front page 2… Musical voyages at Buxton Fringe

Lili la Scala 

Below follows extracts from the press releases of three more of our amazing Fringe entrants, cabaret star Lili la Scala, storytelling theatre duo David Head and Matt Glover, and genre-defying Jewish entertainer, Naomi Paul.  For full details of their shows see our listings on https://buxtonfringe.org.uk/descriptions2023.html. 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.

Lili la Scala: Siren

A journey, a ship, the shifting of time and sands. Found songs, like melodic flotsam, from the poetry of Masefield to the music of Tom Waits and Fauré. Haunting and mesmeric songs intertwining effortlessly with bewitching stories. Stories about journeys, songs about the sea and salt-sprayed music all combined to create a Siren’s songs. 

‘Siren’ blends Lili’s classical roots with dark eclectic songs and life stories in a fragile and theatrical musical voyage.

Having achieved international success, many five star reviews and award 

nominations with her previous shows, ‘War Notes’ and ‘Songs to Make You Smile’ (Best Vocal, Buxton Fringe 2012), Lili la Scala returns with her new solo show, ‘Siren’. Her most ambitious show yet, Lili has gathered some of the most haunting music from both the classical and cabaret worlds, as well as new music by Michael Roulston to create this mysterious, enigmatic musical experience.

Lili has been a stalwart of the cabaret scene for over a decade, having spent a few years taking things slowly as her family expanded, she now finds the time and the inspiration to return to taking her various shows around the country. Siren is her favourite show to date and sharing these beautiful songs with people is such a joy.

“Impeccable, Mesmerising, Perfect *****” Metro (UK)

David Head & Matt Glover: Unwanted Objects 

Old teddy bears, abandoned chess sets and ships-in-bottles... Every item in this mysterious and magical secondhand shop has its own history to share and tale to tell. Unwanted Objects is a new story and song show from acclaimed duo David Head and Matt Glover. 

Combining bittersweet short stories with folk-inspired musical melancholia, it is storytelling theatre full of wit, whimsy and warmth. Unwanted Objects is an exploration of sentimentality, our possessions and the meaning we attach to them. 

Following a successful debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2022, Unwanted Objects went through a period of development with director Laura Killeen (Godot is a Woman, The Pleasance).  The developed version debuted at the Brighton Fringe to great audiences and stellar reviews. David and Matt are excited to be reuniting with Rotunda Theatre and their beautiful and intimate venues for the Buxton Fringe. 

Unwanted Objects is David and Matt’s second collaboration following A Good Service on All Other Lines, which they debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018. Their intertwining tales of lovers, losers and locomotives was adapted into a five episode story and song podcast, released throughout March 2020. 

***** “Beautifully human and emotional… poetic and impactful” – Lost in Theatreland (Brighton)

Naomi Paul: They May Have Even Eaten Ham! 

Naomi’s new (mostly) Jewish show! What’s not to like? 

Naomi Paul returns to Buxton Festival Fringe with her new solo show They May Even Eaten Ham! The show travels from the Baltic to Birmingham, from shamash to shellfish, from Hendon and beyond. Naomi brings another funny and thought-provoking performance, combining original songs with her unique style and material. Through personal stories past and present, she explores the things that unite us and the things that divide. How we fit in and how we strike out! Crossing genre borders of theatre, cabaret and comedy, the show is written and performed by Naomi Paul and directed by Alison Belbin. 

Naomi premiered her first solo show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2012, and has since become a successful writer of comedy, theatre, cabaret and spoken word. performing her own work to enthusiastic audiences throughout the UK. She has been touring her current show Despite Everything, Price Still Includes Biscuits (previously performed at Buxton) to very appreciative audiences in rural venues with Live & Local. She is taking this new show to Edinburgh in August. 

Live & Local also commissioned her to deliver community arts projects in Meon Vale, Warwickshire (2020) and New Mills, Derbyshire (2023).The film from the first project, Snapshot Stories, was shown in Buxton in 2021. The second project, Stories of Home, culminated on May 1st in a script-in-hand performance with local residents in Rock Mill Centre, the smallest theatre in New Mills!

**** ‘Outstanding’  Edinburgh49.com 

Buxton Fringe

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

Hold the front page… Life lessons at Buxton Fringe

Tina Sederholm (credit: Neil Spokes)

Every day we are learning more about our exciting Fringe performers. Below follows extracts from their press releases giving a flavour of what’s in store from Spoken Word artist Tina Sederholm, Scouse comedian Henry Churniavsky and comic storyteller Mike Venables.  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!

Tina Sederholm: This is Not Therapy

What do you mean, you’re fifty-five and still don’t know the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything? 

Oxfordshire performance poet and theatre-maker Tina Sederholm makes her debut at Buxton Fringe with her fifth solo show, This Is Not Therapy.

In her twenties, when Tina wasn’t old, she became an International Event Rider. In her thirties, and still not old, she swapped one dodgy career, horses, for another, performance poet.  But as she hits her fifties, she’s perturbed to still be asking, ‘What am I doing with my life?’ 

Here Tina explores her favourite stories, and is horrified to discover that the heroes do not always end up with the prize. But if life is not about succeeding, then what is it for? Join her as she interrogates Indiana Jones, Douglas Adams and a Famous Poet to uncover the answer to life, the universe and basically everything in under 55 minutes.

Directed by Savage Heart’s Rachel Mae Brady, This is Not Therapy combines memoir, comedy and poetry in an intimate, funny and tender story of traversing your mid-life. Tina says,’When I entered my fifties, I experienced a sea-change in my attitude to career, work and purpose. I had a strong sense that I might be missing the point of it all. So I decided to stop and take stock, in an effort to live the last third of my life better than the first two-thirds.’

Tina Sederholm is the veteran of seven Edinburgh Fringes. She is host of a podcast also called This Is Not Therapy, which features stories that find the marvellous in the mundane.

‘Stunning… reduced myself and other audience members to the  sensitive and teary-eyed children we’re all hiding inside.’ ***** Three Weeks

Henry Churniavsky: Laughs for Life

Jewish/Scouse stand-up comedian Henry Churniavsky has two shows at the Fringe. Both shows are to raise awareness and funds for Mental Health Charities. He came up with the idea after his best friend’s son attempted suicide, and never recovered. He is now an Ambassador for The Mental Health Charity Jami UK and he also supports YoungMinds Mental Health Charity.

Henry’s first show: Henry Churniavsky is a Jewish Grandfather - Show Him Some Jew Respect,  is an afternoon solo show of his best Jewish humour. 2023 has seen this Scouse Jewish comedian go from a Jewrotic (Jewish and Neurotic) father to a Grandfather! Surely bringing a baby into the world has not changed that much?

In his second show, Laugh For Life Comedy: Compilation show for Mental Health: A team of award-winning comedians will be aiming to raise funds and awareness for the mental health charities.

Henry has nine years of Comedy Stand-up experience performing all over the UK, performing also in America and Amsterdam.

‘An enjoyable, quick-witted hour of stand-up comedy…Henry is a gold standard entertainer, the comedy is of a consistently high standard…’’ Edinburgh Fringe Review (2022)

Mike Venables: I Call the Shots

When Archie McKenzie, murderous Glasgow gangster of the fifties and sixties, is pursued by enemies, he flees his native Scotland and settles in the peaceful Peak District, thinking he is leaving his life of violence behind him.

He is. But years later it comes back to haunt his son. A tale of farce-like chaos ensues as the hapless chap, Richard, gets into heaps of serious scrapes to avoid a fearful fate. The story is told at a fast and furious pace by writer/actor Mike Venables.

Mike tells a story so vividly and with such comic flair, that time flies. He uses brilliant acting ability and comic timing to create a complex web of interactive drama. Despite all the fun, banter and laughter, there is a good thought provoking story at the heart of this one man show, featuring corruption, scandal and murder most Foul.

“Mike is a comedy genius, the story runs at break neck pace,” Euan Rose, Bromsgrove Standard.

 

Buxton Fringe

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

Fringe 23 Under Starter's Orders

From l-r, pianist and singer John McGrother, Sarah Gordon from Silver Pine’s Laudable Pus, I Call the Shots comic storyteller Mike Venables and Corinne Coward from Buxton Drama League’s production of Two.

Saturday was the Epsom Derby, but more importantly it was the Buxton Festival Fringe Programme Party.

Which means just one thing, we are in the home straight to this year's Fringe! In just 4 (yes 4) short weeks the curtain will lift on what promises to be a bumper year.

We were delighted at the huge crowd who turned out to celebrate with us and grab their copy of the programme still warm from the press. In fact so many of you joined us that we had to do not one but two emergency wine/beer runs to the shops!

Our performers who gave us sneak previews of their acts were brilliant if a bit gory in places! In fact chair Stephen Walker looked a bit worried as he arrived just in time to witness the live amputation on stage using just a bread knife and rusty garden saw!  

Feedback on the night revealed that this year's programme cover from High Peak Photography Club's Caroline Claye is a smash hit. But it's what's inside that makes it extra special - some 190 entries across 10 genres.

So if you missed out on Saturday's event, be sure to hunt down a copy of the programme from numerous locations across Buxton or download our app here: https://buxtonfringe.org.uk/fringeapp.html.

After the party our exhausted but happy Marketing Officer Steph Billen said: "It was a brilliant turn out and all our acts were fab. As always we are grateful to everyone who supports us and to the Green Man Gallery for hosting us." 

Buxton Fringe

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

Guess who is going to be 120?

credit: Ian J Parkes

Buxton Opera House that's who! And we may be biased but we think you're looking pretty good for your age.

But it was a different story when Fringe founder Malcolm Fraser visited Buxton in the late 1970s. The Opera House was in a sad and neglected state, closed and bricked up. 

Malcolm, who worked as a lecturer in music, could see the potential in the building. 

So he set about lauching a campaign to save the building and establish the Buxton Festival Fringe. OK, you're right you can't have a Fringe without a Festival so Malcolm founded the Buxton Festival (BIF) first in 1979. And a year later the Festival Fringe came into being making 2023 our 44th event.

In 1980 the Opera House reopened its doors playing host to BIF and it has been their main home ever since.

Although the Opera House isn't a Fringe venue they do help us immensely by acting as ticket agents for a range of our entries, for which we are very grateful. And without the Opera House there wouldn't be an International Festival nor would the Fringe exist.

So we'd just like to say a "Very Happy 120th Birthday for the 1st June, and here's to the next 120 from all your friends at Buxton Festival Fringe".

PS maybe have the fire brigade on stand by with all those candles on your cake  

To hear our interview with Malcolm or to find out more about our history click here https://buxtonfringe.org.uk/history.html

Buxton Fringe

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

Why helping out at the Fringe needn't be a biggie!

They don't blow up themselves... (credit: Sofia Huxford Rodriguez)

The King is encouraging community volunteering with The Big Help Out campaign but the beauty of volunteering at the Fringe is that every little helps and many hands make light work! We've been talking to one of our volunteers, Catherine, about how she likes to play her bit...

“I’m a ‘turn-up-on-the-day’ volunteer rather than a ‘lots-of-work-behind-the-scenes’ volunteer - that’s because I was looking for volunteering activities that were totally unlike my work-related tasks: so no screen-work and as few meetings as possible! Over the years, I’ve inflated countless orange balloons on Fringe Sundays, boiled numerous kettles to wash up after Fringe events at the Green Man Gallery, climbed many stepladders to hang Fringe bunting, improvised with buckets and brooms when storms threatened the Awards ceremony in the Serpentine marquee, and chatted with many a visitor to Buxton during stints on the Fringe Information desk.

Time-wise my commitment is a couple of evenings during the year to help with the spring/Christmas gatherings, and then a few days in July helping with Fringe Sunday, the Fringe information desk and the final Awards ceremony. There’s always plenty more that a volunteer could do but until I retire I'll stick with these few things!

Of course the Fringe wouldn’t happen without volunteers but the advantages work both ways: through volunteering you meet lots of people and get to know your town better, as well as being a small part in one of the best Fringe festivals in the country!”

We are so grateful to all our volunteers. If you think you might like to get involved, come and see us at our stand at the Volunteering Fair at The Pump Room, 10am-12noon, on Saturday 20th May, hosted by Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust. Or have a look at our website:

https://buxtonfringe.org.uk/volunteer.html

The whole town has lots of opportunities for helping out. For further inspiration see:

https://www.visionbuxton.co.uk/volunteer-in-buxton/

Buxton Fringe

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

Who’s Coming to Buxton Fringe 2023?

Floella welcomes early birds. With thanks to sculptor Andrea Lewis.

That’s the question we all ask on 1^st December when the Fringe opens for entries. 

Ian, our talented entries officer, is always on hand with helpful advice and support for performers and sorting out technical issues.  And with entries open till April 16th (to hit the printed programme) and our various deadlines with discounts, it’s a year round job.

So imagine our dismay (and let's be honest envy) when Ian announced that he was off on a world cruise in February and wouldn’t be back till the end of May!

Thankfully new committee member Damian stepped up and offered to fill Ian’s shoes. Damian just about had time to buy Ian a pint and make some hasty notes before Ian set sail.

So, how’s it going?  I caught up with Damian to find out how he’s getting on. “I’m really pleased to say that we have 74 entries to date” he told me, adding “so far so good but the crunch point will be on Februrary 28th when we hit our early bird discount deadline”. Why’s that I ask?  “Well, entrants who are quick off the mark get a 37.5% discount off the full entry price for early booking before the end of February; Ian warned me to expect a flood just before this deadline.”  

What’s the next best deal if you don’t get your skates on early enough, I wonder. “You only pay £77 up until March 31st” But he adds “If you're still not ready or decided, we accept entries for the printed programme right up until April 16th”. 

I ask if he’s enjoying the challenge so far? “It’s been great chatting to performers and seeing the entries coming in. Some are regulars, and some are new to Buxton. But ask me again in three months when Ian’s back!”

I ask what his top tip is for performers who have yet to enter? “Don’t hesitate to get in touch. There’s loads of information on our website, or you can email me at entries@buxtonfringe.org.uk.  I may not have Ian’s experience but there’s a great team behind the scenes ready to help. And fingers crossed Ian will be back in time for the Fringe, assuming he doesn’t get the sailing bug and signs up for another cruise!”

 

Contact Damian at entries@buxtonfringe.org.uk

More details on how to Take Part on our website at https://buxtonfringe.org.uk/entrants.html

Buxton Fringe

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

Laid up during the Fringe!

Having avoided it for so long, I have picked up Covid and am - shock horror - confined to barracks unable to continue my usual mad dash round Fringe shows.

This calls for creative thinking. Being a viral kind of thing - well a virus in fact - it seems to hit me in waves so that sometimes things feel quite possible and other times the darkened room beckons. At these times, watching TV is effort (tragic I know…) but listening to a podcast with your eyes shut is rather nice. I’ve now binge-listened all the Fringe podcasts - see https://www.buzzsprout.com/1969982/10398224 - and found them hugely warm, comforting and entertaining. And this afternoon I’m going to check out http://www.awhitershade.co.uk/, the spooky online drama from fringe favourites, The Buxton Drama League. 

Over the next few days I’m going to have a good old pour through our entertaining, informative Reviews - https://buxtonfringe.org.uk/reviews2022.html - the next best thing to being there for anything you may have missed. Even though I’m part of Chapel Arts Creative Writing Group, I’m also going to have a proper read of all our contributions for our Reconnecting Fringe shows; the scripts are all available here: https://tinyurl.com/mwwfkver. I also fancy a Shakespearean bedtime story courtesy of https://www.buxtondramaleague.co.uk/shakespeare-jukebox-2022

It’s all a way of staying in touch with what’s going on. Anyone else in the same situation? Any recommendations, besides stop writing this blog and rest up the way you are meant to?

Buxton Fringe

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