Terrific Guildford Fringe Festival Trebles In Size

Published on: 23 Aug, 2014
Updated on: 22 Aug, 2014

Edinburgh Fringe may well have be attracting some controversial headlines, but in Surrey organisers of Guildford’s Fringe Festival are celebrating after a terrific year, which has seen the event practically treble in size.

In just 12 months, Guildford Fringe Festival has grown from a programme of 30 shows all taking place in The Back Room at The Star Inn, to an expansive, multi-arts festival featuring 70 events held at nine diverse venues across the town including The Back Room, the Keystone, the Keep, the Bellerby Studio (G Live), the Electric Theatre, Clandon Wood Natural Burial Reserve, Boileroom, Bar Des Arts and Wintershall Estate.

Much Ado About Nothing was one of the plays performed at this year’s Guildford Fringe Festival.

Highlights of this year’s festival, which took place from July 1 to 27, included the Hundred Watt Club performing Burlesque and Cabaret at G Live, Gringo Bingo (comedy bingo) at The Back Room, Jack the Ripper: Facts No Fiction (historical talk) at the Keep and an open air performance of Much Ado About Nothing at Clandon Wood Natural Burial Reserve.

Not only has the festival expanded its repertoire but visitor numbers have also grown exponentially – up 191% on last year with a total of 2,980 visitors.

Artistic director Nick Wyschna said: “I am overwhelmed by how many people have got on board and shown their support for this year’s festival. What has been so encouraging is that this relatively new event is already attracting people from outside Guildford. Many audience members had travelled out from London to see the shows and some from even further afield, proving that it’s not just a festival solely for local residents.”

Nick, who set up Guildford Fringe Festival as a spin-off to Guildford Fringe Theatre Company, is already working on plans for next year’s event and hopes to double the number of audience members and the performers taking part.

If you are interested in performing at the festival in 2015, would like your venue to be involved or want to join the mailing list to be the first to hear all the Guildford Fringe Festival news call 01483 361101, emailinfo@guildfordfringe.com or visit http://guildfordfringe.com/