Salisbury Fringe returns with a line-up of comedy, slapstick musical theatre and short plays

Salisbury Fringe Festival returns this month with a weekend of exciting events.

Running from Friday 15th October – Sunday 17th October, the festival will be a packed programme of comedy, slapstick musical theatre, short plays, dramatic pieces inspired by fashion, poetry, a scratch show where writers can try out work in progress, and a monologue contest in which the audience vote for their favourite.

This year, The Fringe will take place at The Chapel. The festival has also teamed up with The Salisbury Museum, focusing on the museum’s new Fashion Gallery which was opened this year by Dame Zandra Rhodes.

Fringe 2021 kicks off on Friday night at the Chapel with Fever Birds’ comedy Campers, a story about two women and a tent – what could possibly go wrong? This is followed by Spit Me Out, a sparkly ‘n’ saucy slapstick musical theatre experience from the award-winning Slap ‘N’ Tickle.

On Saturday, the Test Valley group of South West playwrights present their latest work, then The Salisbury Museum hosts performances of short pieces inspired by the museum’s intriguing new Fashion Gallery. In the evening the Fringe’s flagship event, Short Cuts, features half-a-dozen punchy, entertaining mini-dramas which will take place at The Pheasant Inn at 6pm and 8pm.

Sunday’s events are all at The Chapel. First, Fringe favourites Poetika return with another eclectic mix of poetry and spoken word. Then the popular monthly Scratch Night – where writers can try out work-in-progress – moves from its regular Friday night slot to Sunday afternoon for a special Fringe edition.

Following that, the hugely popular Monologue Mash provides the traditional finale to the Fringe. In this light-hearted and fast-moving knockout competition, audience members vote for their favourite monologues with a prize for the winner.

“Salisbury Fringe has become a firm fixture in the city’s cultural calendar,” said Brian MacReamoinn, one of the organisers, “and, after going virtual last year, the Fringe is back where it belongs – live on stage!

“Audiences too are thrilled to be back seeing live performances again, and there’s a great line-up of events taking place over the weekend“.

Salisbury Fringe 2021 is a not-for-profit organisation that celebrates theatre and is dedicated to making it accessible to the whole community. All Fringe events and performances are free. You can find out more on the festival website here.