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If you would like to take a look at previous years' Fringe
Web Sites, then you can find them <<here>>
Bath Fringe is Britain's second-biggest Fringe Festival
(there is that one in Scotland you might have heard of...)
and one of the longest-established, building on a local
cultural tradition that runs back to the experimental theatre,
happenings and classic pop festivals of the '60s & '70s
- in fact this year we've even commissioned an archive project
to look into some of that, there will be a link to it here
sometime soon.
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The festival does feature a core of the 'Fringe Theatre' and comedy you would expect - we always have a good mix of
Edinburgh preview shows and others we spotted there last year - but more, the festival as a whole reflects the full range of
what artists performers promoters and audiences in Bath and the surrounding area actually do. Though we have a part-time
administrator, a committee and a budget from our local
authority without which we'd be unable to do anything, most of the festival is not centrally planned in the way of some
events that dub themselves 'Fringe'. We try and make it easier for the immense mass of talent that there is around here to
do what they want, as well as to respond to audiences who don't get to see the things they like for the rest of the year
without leaving town.
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From this we have developed our strong emphasis on the visual arts, on street and outdoor performance, and on
participatory & carnivalesque events like our Childrens Arts Festival and Walcot Nation Day. We're not men in suits with
clipboards & focus groups giving you what we think is good for you. We're people who want to share our
enthusiasms in
arts and entertainments with our neighbours and anyone else who fancies visiting this unique city and its
idiosyncratically-talented population. We've got a lot to celebrate and you seem like the type we'd enjoy celebrating with.
Come along!
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The Bath Fringe has existed in its current shape for longer than anyone, even some of its founders, believed likely - we're saved from un-Fringing ourselves into established predictability by a constant influx of new ideas and energy, enabling us to create new events and re-shape old ones in tune with what both artists and audiences require. We hope you see that reflected in this year's
programme. If you don't see what you want, come and organise it yourself for next year!
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The festival is organised by local artists, promoters and (extra-) ordinary audience members. We're particularly grateful to B&NES Council for their continued support of this event, and for providing core funding. We must also thank all the businesses who sponsor events - and of course yourselves for buying tickets.
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