The complete guide to the Fringe Festival 2015

Opening tomorrow with Christopher Biggins, the event runs until October 11.

The Fringe Theatre events – bite-size plays in pubs, galleries and cafes – are concentrated over the first weekend while for the first time live music events will be held throughout the city for the entire festival.

This year’s festival will be supporting Salisbury over its Purple Flag weekend, and helping to promote the city’s status as a lively, safe and accommodating environment to have a good night out.

Biggins, festival patron will be opening the ten-day festival at 7.30pm at the Fringe’s Launch Pad event at The Chapel Nightclub in Milford Street.

The evening will include a new sitcom called Amateur Dramatics, performed by professional actors and created and written by local writers Dan Page and Pete Talman.

There will also be music from Shakespeare Rattle and Roll – a band that resets the Bard’s songs in the more familiar styles of the likes of Elvis, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and The Beatles; and Lump – a band that performs tales, in spoken word and songs, about people, places and events in the Salisbury area.

On Saturday, at 10.30am at Cross Keys Shopping Centre, the Cranborne Youth Theatre will perform in a production called Burnt Toast.

Salisbury Fringe Chairman Julian Demetriadi said: “The Salisbury Fringe Festival is the best free entertainment in Salisbury and is all about showcasing new talent and original work by the city’s and surrounding regions’ writers, performers and musicians.

“In this respect, we are delighted that Juno – the new Salisbury-based female theatre company, formed to produce and promote women’s writing and to provide a vehicle for women to be proactive in all aspects of theatre production – will be staging short plays under the heading of Body Talk at the Castle Street Social Club on Sunday, October 4 at 5.30pm.

“In addition, at 4.30pm on the same afternoon, Veronica Dewan will be performing her one woman show ‘The Half Daughter’ at the Five Bells pub.”

Other highlights to watch out for are:

Saturday 3 October

The Salisbury Museum, The Close – ‘Objects Come to Life’: monologues performed by professional actors and inspired by objects in the museum. 3–4pm

Sarum College Refectory, The Close – ‘Fringe Fiction’ – Story-telling Workshop: led by local author and tutor Tom Bromley – 4.30–5.30pm

Cloisters Pub, Catherine Street – Short Cuts: a Fringe showcase event featuring six short plays by Salisbury and surrounding regions’ writers and performed by professional actors – TWO Performances at 6pm and 8pm

Sunday 4 October

Fisherton Mill, Fisherton Street – ‘Tracks, Pathways and Routes’ - a joint event with Salisbury Art Trail featuring monologues, performed by professional actors and inspired by works by The Elementals group of Wessex painters – 1.30 to 2.30pm

The Cosy Club, New Street – Fringe Fiction: The First Page – works by local author Tom Bromley’s Salisbury Writing Circle, read by professional actors – 3-4pm

The Cosy Club, New Street – the Fringe’s traditional opening weekend finale: a night of bite-sized plays in an informal setting, performed by actors script-in-hand – from 7.30pm

Live music comes to Salisbury Fringe 2015!

Friday October 2

Launch Pad event at The Chapel Nightclub, Milford Street – Music from Lump and Shakespeare Rattle N Roll – 7.30pm

The Old Ale House, Crane Street – local music showcase including: Mighty Magic Animal and Slowtalk – 9pm

Saturday October 3

Salisbury Guildhall Square – Salisbury Fringe and Salisbury Purple Flag Music Event: featuring The Zucchinis, Dirty Skanking Love Hornets, Dead Royalties, Faux, Carpet, McGuinness and many more acts – 10am-10pm

Sunday October 4

The Old Ale House, Crane Street – Salisbury Fringe All Dayer featuring Johannasberg, Passenger Club, The I’s, Modern Honesty, Citizen Perez, Slowtalk and many more! From 3pm

Monday October 5

Qudos, Castle Street – Salisbury Fringe Blues Jam: A jam session for all abilities based around the 12-bar format of blues, rock & roll – 7.30pm

Tuesday October 6

The Old George Mall – Youth Showcase: Gifted local performers perform in Old George Mall, including many young performers from Wiltshire College and youth groups – 11am

Qudos, Castle Street – Open Mic – an open stage where performers new and experienced can play a short set in a relaxed and warm atmosphere – 7.30pm

Wednesday October 7 – Please check website (www.salisburyfringe.co.uk)

Thursday October 8

The Music Box, Catherine Street – Open Mic – an open stage where performers new and experienced can play a short set in a relaxed and warm atmosphere – 7.30pm

Friday October 9

The Winchester Gate, Rampart Road – SN Dubstation – 9pm

Saturday October 10

The Winchester Gate, Rampart Road – Salisbury Fringe Cider Festival All Dayer: featuring Newcombe and Roach, A Way With Words, Lump, Pugwall, Peter Leonard and many more! From 3pm

Sunday October 11

The Music Box, Catherine Street – Salisbury Fringe Closing Party featuring Release The Monkey, Might Magic Animal, Not Like Moses, Slowtalk and many more – from 4pm

The Winchester Gate, Rampart Road – Acoustic Showcase: 4pm

For full details visit salisburyfringe.co.uk