Applause All Round For Guildford Fringe Festival

Published on: 9 Aug, 2016
Updated on: 15 Aug, 2016

The curtain has come down on this year’s Guildford Fringe Festival that saw several sell-out events and many standing ovations.

The organisers say the month of July is fast becoming the headline month for the arts in the town, now that the Guildford Fringe Festival has its feet firmly under the table and is set to grow every year.

Nick Wyschna.

The festival’s managing director, Nick Wyschna, said: “When you think of a fringe festival your mind goes straight to Edinburgh Fringe, which was established back in 1947. But it seems you don’t need to travel up to Scotland to see some of the acts that regularly perform there. This year saw the highest number of Edinburgh preview shows that have ever come to Guildford to warm up for their big gigs.”

Guildford Fringe Festival 2016 saw over 7,500 people at its events, shows and exhibitions.

Nick added: “This last month has been completely amazing and far beyond my expectations. The talent that we have enjoyed has been top rate and I can’t thank all the performers and artists enough.

“One of my personal goals is to make the arts more accessible to everyone, not just the stereotypical theatregoers.

“Ticket prices were kept very low to make this goal achievable as high ticket prices do put some people off.

For The Love Of Chocolate, who performed at the festival.

“As tickets were generally in the region of £6 a number of people were able to come to more than just one event. In fact there were many people that came to 20 or more events.

“We were also over the moon to welcome back our lovely German friends, Rita and Klaus Hardenbicker, who now travel over to everything that we produce. I thank them for their support.”

As well as ticketed shows the festival massively grew its ‘Free Fringe’ events and regularly took to the streets and pubs of Guildford to entertain shoppers and patrons.

Festival performers Jonny and Baptists.

A few highlights were Rock Choir Day, UkeJam, Charley Farley Sunday Four, and the Pub-Sing-A-Long.

Nick said that the biggest change this year was the partnership with White Lion Walk Shopping Centre, that hosted the festival box office and exhibition, and was open seven days a week.

This was a hub of activity with live music events taking place, children’s story time with Elsa (Frozen Princess) and all the art on the walls exhibited by local artists.

Charlotte Bateup.

Charlotte Bateup, general manager of the Guildford Fringe Festival, said: “I joined the Guildford Fringe team back in January and for my first festival I really couldn’t have asked for more.

“I have been shocked and touched by the support that we have received from all of our sponsors, partners and friends. I want to say a special thank you to Steve Cotney and his team at White Lion Walk who have been more than accommodating to us and made the growth of Guildford Fringe Festival possible this year.”

Plans are already well under way for next year’s festival and if you want to be involved, either as a performer or volunteer, contact the team via its website www.GuildfordFringeFestival.com

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