1 week Ago By [email protected] (Adam Maidment)
A free arts and culture festival near Greater Manchester could be set to rival the likes of the Edinburgh Fringe in terms of its rich and varied offering. Lancashire Fringe Festival will take over Preston for 15 consecutive nights from September 25 featuring free performances, comedy sets, and theatre shows at venues including churches, bars, pubs and even a bus station. Described as Preston’s ‘biggest performance festival’, the fringe event first began in 2019 and was held for a second time in 2022.
Organisers behind the festival say it intends to bring shows to a ‘city which is struggling to engage with arts and culture’. READ MORE: 'I frankly hate having my picture taken': Noel Gallagher 'honoured' as he is added to National Portrait Gallery “The festival’s main aim is to entertain the people of Preston,” Festival creator Garry Cook says. “The shows will be some of the most unforgettable, brilliant and funny performances.
I want people who don’t usually come and see live performances to come to the shows – if that’s you, come and join in.” The line-up for this year’s festival will include more than 20 shows and performances - including Louise Orwin’s five-star rated TikTok-inspired show Famehungry (October 9), Naomi Wood’s acrobatic spoken word show Gobbess (September 25) and Cheekykita’s word-of-mouth hit clowning show An Octopus, the Universe ’n’ Stuff (September 25). Cheekykita will perform comedy show An Octopus, the Universe ’n’ Stuff at The Ferret on September 25 (Image: Garry Cook) Legendary Preston-based radio presenter John Gillmore will host the exciting Short Story Slam (October 4), which will see audiences vote for their favourite short stories after being read out live by local writers.
There will also be a unique Poet’s Pub Tour which will take in several independent Preston pubs , including Lost Bar, Winedown and Winckley Street Real Ale House, on October 5. The festival will also feature Work-in-Progress performances by Nathan Birkinshaw and Blackpool’s Martha Pailing (September 30), as well as dance pieces from Aimee Williamson and Aline Costa (October 1). Specially commissioned pieces include new works by writer and actor Sarah Green and Lydia Baines (October 7), as well as the return of the Lancashire Briefs monologues by Lancashire People’s Theatre (September 29).
“Thanks to funding by Arts Council England, the shows are all free,” Garry explains. “This is very unusual but it means that the people of Preston have a unique opportunity to experience some of these stunning shows and be actively involved in the development of arts and culture within the city. The Lancashire Fringe Festival will take place in Preston later this month (Image: Garry Cook) “The audience feedback for the previous festival has been amazing.
The festival has delivered some hugely memorable nights – and it is that kind of once-in-a-lifetime unforgettable experience which we aim to deliver again.” Explaining the importance of the festival, Garry adds: “It is more important than ever that Preston gets a load of shows. Because the city has no arts centre and only one working theatre space – where most other towns and cities in the regions have at least four theatre spaces – audience numbers for live theatre and performances have crashed.
“This festival is specifically aimed to address that problem with two targets: to put on a load of brilliant free shows and persuade people to turn up and see them.” Poet Louise Fazackerley will host a unique Poet’s Pub Tour through Preston on October 5 (Image: Garry Cook) All shows will be free to attend, with an optional Pay What You Decide donation bucket available at the end of each performance. Following the festival, a series of shows will be put on to continue the conversation of the importance of the arts in the area and encourage more people in the area, and beyond, to 'experience live performance'.
"I’ve just been to Edinburgh Fringe where I was paying £17 minimum to see shows," Garry explains. "Most people in Preston won’t come out for a £12 show, never mind one which costs £30 or £35. These free shows are crucial for Preston’s arts future - to re-engage audiences and encourage people to come out and experience live performance.
"They will get to see something unforgettable. It’s the experience of being there and being entertained by something thought-provoking and unusual which makes this festival so special. Following on from the festival, there will also be one show a month put on with subsidised ticket prices.
"This is to ensure Preston audiences have an accessible and affordable opportunity to continue to see live performance and theatre in this city.” The full line-up of the Lancashire Fringe Festival can be found here. The festival runs from September 25 to October 9.
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