Theatre News

2013 starts early for the biggest Brighton Fringe Festival

The Brighton Fringe Festival is opening
for event registration, inviting everyone to come forward and take
part in England’s largest arts festival which will, for the first
time in its history, be four weeks long in 2013.

Online registration opens at noon on 23
October and is available until 4 February. It is ready to take
applications from anyone who wants to showcase their talent in front
of a live audience as part of a festival that provides a completely
open-access platform to both established and emerging artists, with
Brighton Fringe venues ranging from something as small as a taxicab
to a large theatre space.

The extra week in 2013 will extend the
Brighton Fringe sufficiently to incorporate the May half-term and
both of the May bank holidays. Julian Caddy managing director of
Brighton Fringe said: “Brighton Fringe should appeal to all ages
and backgrounds, so it seems a logical step in its development to
also include the half-term break, giving performers, producers and
artists the platform to offer even more to the family and youth
audience whilst also reaching, and further contributing to, the
influx of visitors to the city in that period”.

Registration opening will also be
marked by the first one of the Take Part 2013 series of events; a
question and answer session with the Brighton Fringe team and
Brighton & Hove venue managers at the Clarendon Centre between 5
and 8pm on 24 October – a free event and open to everyone. These
special events, free workshops and surgeries on how to participate,
will be held in Brighton and London to support the arts community
leading right up to, and during, May.

Now in its fourth year, the Legal &
General Bursaries will also be supporting home-grown talent in Music,
Kids & Youth, Comedy and Theatre’ categories. The 12 individual
Brighton-based participants will qualify to enjoy free registration
for their event.

Frances Borrer SCR manager for Legal & General
said: “Legal & General is committed to making a positive
difference in the local community where we have our business and
where our employees live and work. Continuing to support these
bursaries is a way in which we can support and encourage local
artists to take part in a great local festival.”

Interested artists and promoters should
contact Brighton Fringe directly by e-mailing
participantservices@brightonfringe.org or by calling 01273 764900 to
find out more about how to take part in Brighton Fringe or any of the
special events and opportunities.

The Brighton Fringe programme for 2013
will be launched online mid-February and the printed brochure will
hit the streets mid-March.