An exciting and eclectic clutch of shows

By [rrothery]

SCINTILLATING sounds of Southern Africa, a diva in drag, roller coaster rock and roll dance-theatre — no one can accuse the third Fringe TheatreFest of not providing eclectic and exciting entertainment.

This is the strand of the North Devon Festival that hopes to lure you away from your remotes to experience a whole string of stimulating side shows. This year, according to organiser Bill Buffery, there's plenty to look forward to. We're talking: confessions from the bedroom, cracking comedy, intense experimentation and several multi-media extravaganzas. Basically, loads of excitement packed into four days of non-stop action and fun at the end of June.

"Fringe embraces everything, which is the glory of it," said Bill, also an actor with Multi Story theatre company. "It reaches out and makes contact. It doesn't just sit in a space by itself but makes a very direct impact."

Unlike watching TV, a film or even a play at the local theatre, when you go to see a TheatreFest show there's no artificial barrier between the action and the audience.

"I happen to know that puts some people off," said Bill. "They like to be sitting in a big theatre anonymously but they are obviously not for fringe. This isn't like that. It's not anonymous in that way. You are part of the experience, the celebration, the party.

It's a live event and it's really exciting — it's the social thing that makes it fun."

Comedian Madame Galina — forces sweetheart — will be one of the acts going for the laughs. It's not the first time Madame Galina has performed in the region and she's got a big fan base in North Devon. Her outrageous entertainment is also said to be a firm favourite with Marines, having headlined for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"If you want to share her charms at the Inn on the Square then you'd be well advised to book early," added Bill.

This year there are three Barnstaple venues where you can see the shows, all very close to each other.

"What that means is that you can hurry from one to another and be absolutely bombarded by a host of different experiences," said Bill.

"Two of the venues are at the Inn on The Square where there is an opportunity for people to sit and talk about what they've seen. You're likely to meet fellow audience members who are also going through this extraordinary experience."

A handful of shows, including the magic shows and a performance by Forches Finest, are suitable for the whole family, however, the TheatreFest brochure and website contains suitability guides for each performance.

"People ought to be aware that some of the shows will be quite in your face and challenging," said Bill. "That's the nature of fringe so we make sure we signpost people so they are not overly surprised by what they see."

Madame Galina isn't the only performer of national and international repute to be appearing at Fringe TheatreFest. Alison Goldie, one half of The Weird Sisters, has an enthusiastic following in Canada, the USA and Australia and now brings Lady in Bed to Barnstaple — a show packed with witty and uncompromising revelations about her quest for love and adventure.

Janice Connolly, known as Holy May in Phoenix Nights, becomes Barbara Nice — her housewife-superstar comedy alter-ego. There's also songs and dances from South Africa with U'Zambezi Arts.

"What is exciting about this particular festival is the huge variety," said Bill. "From the drag cabaret of Madame Galina and the stand-up of Barbara Nice through to student companies coming up with really exciting new ways of telling stories with technology."

Companies from Northern Ireland, Tyneside, London, Reading, Bristol, Exeter, Dartington and Cornwall are heading for Barnstaple with a whole variety of new work to share. Michael and Wendy Dacre, tellers of tales around the UK, Europe and beyond, have a different traditional story to relate at each of their three performances. Pretty Good Girl Dance Theatre bring Elvis Still My Heart to the Baptist Hall as part of an extensive UK-wide tour that includes a run in a prestigious venue at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

And, of course, North Devon itself is showing what it has to offer. Four founder-companies of Fringe TheatreFest — Multi Story, YoYo Triptych, the White Hippos and the Great Surmo — are back with their latest offerings.

Forches Finest, a huge hit at last year's TheatreFest, mark their return with Forcharama, a ramayanan tale of teenage angst, love and war. And two new companies, inspired by the opportunities that Fringe TheatreFest creates, have sprung into being — Mish Mash, presenting Performance Poetry and more, and New Depths Company from North Devon College with an original play.

● Fringe TheatreFest runs from Thursday June 25 – Sunday June 28. There are three venues: The Baptist Hall in Boutport Street and two stages in the Inn On The Square. Tickets are £4, (£2 concessions) and are available from the Queen's Theatre and Landmark box offices. A Frequent Fringer, price £15, gains admission to five performances. Every audience member aged over 13 will need to be wearing a Fringe Button, price £1. Full details of productions and the schedule are on the website: www.theatrefest.co.uk