Festivities have just finished at the Edinburgh version, but up the road in Dundee they’re just getting started as the city prepares to host the very first Dundee Fringe between 17 and 26 September.
Founded by Dundee-based JD Henshaw, who also runs the popular Sweet Venues at the Edinburgh Fringe, the festival will bring together talent from across the city and beyond in a packed programme includes award-nominated theatre, comedy, and live music. People can also listen in on rehearsed readings, take part in workshops, and get all the family involved at children’s shows. A pop-up venue at Dock Street Studios will be the festival hub.
Speaking about the launch Henshaw said, “It is simply the most exciting thing to be bringing the first Dundee Fringe to the city. Having run venues and presented work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Brighton Fringe, and internationally it’s brilliant to get the chance to work with Dundee’s finest in my home city.”
“It’s important for me to help create a network and opportunities for local creatives year-round. After the experiences of the last year and a half, being together and sharing work with audiences feels even more essential.”
“I’m excited to work with others in Dundee to create a more sustainable fringe festival experience for everyone involved. With the city’s commitment to culture and creativity, I think Dundee is the perfect place to do this.”
Shows to look out for include Jekyll & Hyde: A One-Woman Show put together by Henshaw himself and performer Heather-Rose Andrews, Carnoustie-based Poppy Bubbles putting the whole family in a giant bubble at More Bubble Trouble and Arbroath’s Michael Brandie premiering his new show Magic In Progress. There’s comedy cabaret from Jamie Mykaela from Perth (the Australian one!), a reminder of the brilliant Victoria Wood in Julia Knight’s I Am Not Victoria Wood, transferring from the Pleasance (reviewed here) and the gripping real-life political story 3000 Trees: The Death of Mr William McRae (reviewed here).
For a full list of shows and to find out more, see www.dundeefringe.com