Buxton Festival Fringe is to go ahead largely as expected, with many entrants factoring social distancing into their plans for the 2021 event.
At the last count, there were 107 Fringe entries, with organisers expecting a few more before the start of the annual festival. It will run from Tuesday 7 until Sunday 25 July.
Three of the Fringe’s most popular venues, Underground, the Green Man Gallery and the United Reformed Church, will as usual be hosting events.
Underground, above The Old Clubhouse opposite the town’s Opera House, will be presenting its 15th season, with 38 acts staging 110 live performances in its custom-built theatre.
The line-up at Underground will feature premières delayed by COVID-19, touring artists returning to the stage and new work created during lockdown.
Highlights include Just Like That: The Tommy Cooper Show by Lincolnshire-based Hambledon Productions which returns after two sell-out Buxton Fringe runs, on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 July; Buttercup, a “heart-breaking” play about growing up in 1970s Northern Ireland written by playwright and community campaigner Patricia Downey, from Monday 19 until Saturday 24 July; and a new comedy show Rob Rouse: No Refunds featuring Rouse who was last seen as Bottom in Ben Elton’s sitcom Upstart Crow, from Saturday 17 until Wednesday 21 July.
The full Underground programme is available at the Underground web site.