A THEATRE festival held in Salisbury at the weekend has been hailed an “overwhelming success”.

The first Salisbury Fringe saw “bite-sized” plays and writers’ workshops held at Urmson-Burnett Gallery, The Pheasant, Boston Tea Party and The Old Mill, Harnham.

Angela Street, a tutor and script editor who runs Scriptwriter’s Doo Dah, gave an adult beginners’ writing workshop, and Professor Fringenstein, performed by David Marrs, proved a big hit with both children and their parents.

The festival aimed to bring together local writers with professional actors and directors to celebrate new writing in the area.

Julian Demetriadi, who organised the event, said: “There was universal praise from audiences for the very high standard of all the new play writing, performed by a superb team of professional actors.

“On the strength of this year’s first Salisbury Fringe weekend, there are already plans afoot for making next year’s event even better. We will be looking to get more pubs, cafés and restaurants and other suitable venues involved.”