Review: The Guildford Fringe – Always Presenting Interesting Choices

Published on: 17 Jul, 2018
Updated on: 17 Jul, 2018

An evening with Sinatra

By Alice Fowler

Guildford Fringe Festival always throws up interesting choices. On Thursday, audiences could choose between a Sinatra evening at the Guildhall, comedian Juliet Meyers’s stand-up show about her rescue dog at the Star Inn, or a retelling of the ancient Greek tragedy Medea at G-Live.

Now in its sixth year, the Fringe has expanded to include all manner of diverse entertainments, from cabaret and comedy to film, theatre, spoken word and music. Some shows are in development, en route to the Edinburgh Festival next month. Others, like Frank Cognoscenti (aka So Sinatra) are established artists, playing to smaller audiences across the town.

Playing at the Guildhall last night – a new venue for the Fringe – Cognoscenti played a superb set of Sinatra songs. Close your eyes and you could believe you were in the company of “Old Blue Eyes” himself as favourites such as Come Fly With Me and Old Man River resounded through the stately panelled building. Cognoscenti regularly performs the theatre show ‘That’s Life, The Sinatra Story’ and recently sold out at Ronnie Scott’s.

The Fringe continues until July 29, with many diverse highlights still to come. Some are free, including Music in the Meadows At Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground on Sunday, July 22, and Guildford and Godalming Jazz Choir performing in the High Street on Sunday, July 28. With plenty of other shows costing less than a tenner, this is a chance to experiment and try out something new.

To book, see GuildfordFringeFestival.com, tel. 01483 361101 or visit the Fringe box office in White Lion Walk shopping centre.