Fringe for Free 2021

We have plenty of free stuff to do at the Fringe, and it's all listed here. For Online events just click in the links within the event description.

All of the shows are listed here.

Note the events below are listed in good faith but will be subject to the government's coronavirus guidelines as they stand in July.

Events marked Family Friendly have been suggested by the entrant as generally suitable for family viewing. Events in the Children's Events category are specifically aimed at young people.

Please note that details of performances, including times and dates, may be subject to Late Changes. Numbers in brackets refer to venue numbers (see map). How to make a Comment.

Fringe Children's Events Comedy Dance Film Music Spoken Word Street Theatre Theatre Visual Arts And More...

Diary Venue Map

Fringe

FRINGE SUNDAY - Buxton Fringe Family Friendly
Join us for the welcome return of our free showcase of Fringe entertainment featuring music, dance, street theatre, comedy, children’s fun and more. Enjoy a picnic and some Derbyshire ice cream, mingle with the stars and tweet away - #FringeSunday. Note this event will be subject to Covid regulations in July.
Pavilion Gardens – Bandstand (33a) OpenStreetMap 11 Jul 2pm to 4:30pm Free Comments

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Children's Events

TINY!: MOUSE QUEENS AND MOLE KINGS - Stone and Water Family Friendly
Join us in the Gardens for some gentle, laughful creativity. Making Mouse Queens, Mole Kings, Ladybird Princesses or Beetle Knights and the miniature castles they call home, we'll create worlds of fabulous characters and send you off to tell your own wondertales. Materials provided. Please bring a smile.
Pavilion Gardens – Playground (33m) OpenStreetMap 11 Jul 11am to 3pm Free, Ages 3+ Comments

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Comedy

THE POETRY TEACHER - Andy Gilbert
The self-proclaimed No 1 poetry teacher in the UK returns with a mini masterclass, before performing a new genre combining poetry, storytelling and theatre. Annus Horribilis, Anus Horribilis (Horrible Year, Horrible Bottom) is considered to be vulgar and deluded but the sincerity of Gilbert cannot be doubted. (New Writing)
Green Man Gallery – Workshop Room (86b) OpenStreetMap 8, 9 Jul 6pm to 7pm, 10, 11 Jul noon to 1pm Free, Stong language and adult themes, Ages 16+
Further information: the Gallery, 01298 937375 or thegreenmangallery.com Comments

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Dance

REGENCY MUSIC & DANCE - Regency ReJigged Family Friendly
Costume dances and music at the Assembly Rooms as part of Buxton International Festival, then we perform around the town demonstrating musical styles and dance sets from the Regency period - think Pride and Prejudice. We take questions and share our enthusiasm for these uniquely English aspects of social life. (New Writing)
Around the Town 15 Jul noon to 5pm Free Gallery
Further information: info@regency-rejigged.org.uk or www.regencyrejigged.wordpress.com Comments

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Film

SNAPSHOT STORIES - Naomi Paul Family Friendly
Join Naomi Paul and Meon Vale residents in their collaborative film Snapshot Stories. This was part of Live & Local’s LivingRoom project, launched in summer 2020 in response to the pandemic. The film is a celebration of community and nature and played a part in the community’s environmental success story.
Online: Youtube link to be provided nearer the time 7-25 Jul all day Free, Donations: Meon Vale Residents Association Comments

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Music

ALWAYS FIND A SONG - Kaleidoscope Choir Family Friendly
Kaleidoscope Choir - a joint Buxton International Festival and Opera House project - have continued singing online through recent difficult times. Now celebrating singing together in person, they show how you can always find a song to lift your spirits.
Buxton Methodist Church – Church (06a) OpenStreetMap 13 Jul 1pm to 2pm Free, Donations: buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/support-us/individual-giving or cafdonate.cafon Comments

GUY STEWART SMOOTH & MELLOW SAXOPHONE - Guy Stewart Family Friendly
Smooth Saxophone played by Guy Stewart, with songs from his latest album Heart To My Soul. A true combination of the sound of a subtle sensual saxophone and a creative mind imbuing musical works with a quiet energy. (New Writing)
Green Man Gallery (86) OpenStreetMap 9 & 24 Jul 9pm to 10pm Free Gallery
Further information: the Gallery, thegreenmangallery.com Comments

MIX IT UP - Serpentine Community Garden Family Friendly
Outdoor early afternoon acoustic double bill amongst Serpentine Community Garden’s raised beds. The Good Ole Boys are getting the band back together; Susie and the Bad Habits sing acappella. They may mix it up. Come early for mocktails and hot drinks. Stay later to see what's growing. Booking required.
Serpentine Community Garden (107) OpenStreetMap 11 Jul noon to 4pm Free
Further information: eventbrite.co.uk/e/mix-it-up-with-the-good-ole-boys-and-susie-and-the-bad-habits-tickets-154595861383 or info@serpentinecommunitygarden.org Comments

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Spoken Word

BUXTON SPOKEN WORDS LIVE! - Buxton Spoken Words Family Friendly
Buxton Spoken Words are proud to offer a reading of Christina Rossetti’s epic poem: Goblin Market. There will also be original poetry performed by local writers from Buxton and the High Peak. This event will take place live and in person if at all possible. If not it will take place online. Further details to be announced. (New Writing)
Green Man Gallery – Ground Floor Gallery (86a) OpenStreetMap 8 Jul 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Online: www.facebook.com/Buxton-Spoken-Words-105382554732032 or www.youtube.com/channel/UC7fsKtnsRrXtllrLSpykD-g 9-25 Jul all day Free, Donations: Donations towards our Fringe Festival costs will be gratefully received.
Further information: the Gallery, 01298 937375 or thegreenmangallery.com Comments

COLLECTION OF SPOKEN WORD FILMS by Claire Finn - Claire Finn Family Friendly
Spoken word films performed and written by Claire Finn. Living Ghost & Voice of the seasons were chosen for the BBC upload festival and aired on BBC Radio Nottingham. Rippled waters is a new piece of writing. (New Writing)
Online: youtu.be/f8-z53OqDWw 7-25 Jul all day Free, Six mins 48 secs Gallery
Further information: Clairefinnactor@gmail.com Comments

A CORNUCOPIA OF WRITINGS WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE - Writers in the Peak
Once again Writers in the Peak are returning to the Fringe. Step into the world of twitching curtains, ponderings and the meanderings of others. Peer inside their heads and join us as we explore their thoughts through monologues, poetry and music. (New Writing)
Online: writersinthepeak.wordpress.com/ 7-25 Jul all day Free, Strong language, Ages 14+ Gallery
Further information: 07497 910930 Comments

THE SECRET GARDENS - Chapel Arts Creative Writing Group Family Friendly
Enjoy video performances of stories, prose and poetry written to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Buxton's Pavilion Gardens. Love stories, ghosts, magical fantasies, curious histories, Beatlemania and the further adventures of Fred, Doris and Ethel all feature. See www.chapelarts.org.uk for a downloadable PDF of the works. (New Writing)
Online: bit.ly/3eQLjNj 7-25 Jul all day Free Gallery Comments

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Street Theatre

THE SHAKESPEARE JUKEBOX - Buxton Drama League Family Friendly
The award-winning Shakespeare Jukebox goes hybrid! Following last year’s online success, a new selection of filmed performances will be posted during the Fringe for you to watch anytime, anywhere. We’ll also be returning for a handful of live performances where you can select your favourite scenes and watch in person.
Pavilion Gardens (33) OpenStreetMap 10, 16, 17 & 23, 24 Jul 6pm to 7pm Free Comments

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Theatre

CROOKED SPIRE MURDER MYSTERY MUSICAL (WINDLASS EDITION) - Ashgate Heritage Arts Family Friendly
In 1360, John Carpenter arrives in Chesterfield to build a windlass and erect a new church spire. But the master carpenter is murdered. More death and intrigue follow and John becomes the suspect. Will John find young Walter who has disappeared? And will he be able to clear his name? (New Writing)
Online: www.ashgateheritagearts.co.uk 18 Jul from 7:30pm, 19-25 Jul all day Free, BSL Interpreter Gallery
Further information: hennesm8@aol.co.uk or 07497 910930 Comments

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE - Buxton Drama League
An original comedy audioplay by Buxton Drama League. Ghostly uninvited guests in the ancestral home of the Wellhavalin family have stories to tell. A visiting Paranormal Investigation Team seems more bitter and twisted than the spirits. For some this won't end well. For others there will be valuable life lessons. (New Writing)
Online: www.awhitershade.co.uk 7-25 Jul all day Free, Strong language, Violence, Adult themes. Approx one hour, Donations: A donation link is available via website Comments

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Visual Arts

ART ON THE RAILINGS - Buxton Art Trail
Buxton Art Trail takes to the boulevard! An art exhibition à la Montmartre on Buxton’s beautiful Broad Walk alongside Pavilion Gardens. Come and join local artists showing a wide variety of work.
Pavilion Gardens – Broad Walk (33g) OpenStreetMap 10 Jul 10am to 4:30pm Free, Donations: Please contact info@buxtonarttrail.com if you would like to donate Comments

BUXTON PHOTO CHALLENGE 2021 - Chapel Camera Club Family Friendly
Just for fun again this year! Take six photos on six themes in six hours - in the right order. You can use your camera or phone and take them anywhere you like. No judging or prizes this year, but an enjoyable challenge which will sharpen your observation/photography skills.
Online: www.facebook.com/Buxton-Photo-Challenge-234599926595191 10 Jul 10am to 4pm Free Comments

THE BUXTON SPA PRIZE EXHIBITION 2021 - The Buxton Spa Prize Family Friendly
An exhibition celebrating Buxton and its breathtaking backdrops. View artwork created during the spring and summer of 2021 by over 100 plein air artists from across the United Kingdom. See all the prize-winning entries and vote for your favourite painting in the Buxton Spa Art Prize People’s Choice Award.
Green Man Gallery – Ground Floor Gallery (86a) OpenStreetMap 7 Jul 10:30am to 8pm, 8-25 Jul 10:30am to 5:30pm Free
Further information: the Gallery, 01298 937375 or thegreenmangallery.com Comments

CONSIDERED CONSOLIDATION - The Louise Jannetta Gallery & Studio Family Friendly
Contemplation permits a plentiful emptiness where anything can appear without obstructions. And synaesthetic stimulus, haptic, optic, spatial and temporal, without defined parameters, evokes this void with its own profusion. The climate is warm and the time is ripe to take a moment to acknowledge these apparently empty powers.
Louise Jannetta Art Studio (rear of 24 Dale Rd) (14) OpenStreetMap 9, 10, 16, 17 & 23, 24 Jul 10am to 4pm Free Gallery
Further information: enquiries@louisejannetta.co.uk or 07931 821191 Comments

KEEP IT UNDER YOUR HAT - Mary Gwen Family Friendly
Installation suspended from the ceiling consisting of a modern interpretation of Welsh hats, depicting cultural secrets and identity, sense of place, purpose and belonging in Wales today. Explores themes of dichotomy, fear, heritage, shared knowledge and diversity with an environmentally-aware backdrop.
Pavilion Gardens – Foyer (33c) OpenStreetMap 7-25 Jul 9:30am to 5pm Free
Further information: Info@marygwen.com Comments

TAKE THE WATER - Nick Charnley Family Friendly
Based in a former nail salon this new art and design space celebrates the Fringe with a tribute to the local mineral water. Carried daily from the well nearby the water literally takes centre stage where, in addition to performing a functional role, it acts as a focus for contemplation. See nailboudoir.uk/
The Nail Boudoir (126) OpenStreetMap 7-25 Jul 10am to 4:30pm Free Comments(1)

UP HERE SCULPTURE TRAIL - Art Up Close Family Friendly
A discovery of intriguing sculptures and art installations in the trees of Buxton Pavilion Gardens and The Serpentine.
Pavilion Gardens (33) OpenStreetMap 7-25 Jul all day Free, Donations: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lindsey-piper Comments

WHERE WE ARE NOW - The Green Man Gallery Artists Family Friendly
The Green Man Gallery's resident artists present a celebration of their art and inspirations. A vibrant exhibition of paintings, drawings, print-making, mixed media, photography, mosaics, ceramics and textiles which also explores the stories, journeys, processes and techniques behind the art. Open every day in the first floor galleries.
Green Man Gallery (86) OpenStreetMap 7 Jul 10:30am to 8pm, 8-25 Jul 10:30am to 5:30pm Free
Further information: the Gallery, 01298 937375 or thegreenmangallery.com Comments

WINTER WOODS AND OTHER LANDSCAPES - Geoff Shoults Family Friendly
The story of winter told through evocative and atmospheric photographs of woodlands, mostly within walking distance of Buxton photographer Geoff Shoults' home. Geoff has won several international awards including Mountain Photo of The Year and The Art of Travel. Other mountain and landscape images on display too.
Jo Royle Outdoor (113) OpenStreetMap 7-17 & 19-24 Jul 10am to 3pm Free Gallery Comments

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And More...

BUXTON LETTERBOX TRAIL - South West Peak Landscape Partnership Family Friendly
Can you tell a Penfold from an Anonymous? Follow our family-friendly trail around the town centre and identify six different letterboxes. Complete the trail and get a souvenir badge and postcard. Pick up a trail map from the Fringe Desk, the Visitor Centre in The Pumproom or The Green Man Gallery.
Around the Town 7-25 Jul all day Free, Some busy roads to cross , Ages 3+ Gallery Comments

BUXTON PRIDE PICNIC - Stone and Water Family Friendly
A summer afternoon, fancy hats, wonderful cakes, fabulous people: Buxton’s Pride Picnic is back for its fourth summer feast, a celebration of the town’s LGBTQ+ community. Join us for laughter, conversation, new friends, old tarts… bring your own picnic and maybe bake a cake for our Big Gay Bake Off.
Pavilion Gardens – Swimming Pool Lawns (33n) OpenStreetMap 17 Jul 2pm to 5pm Free Comments

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