A Festival Phenomenon

The flaming July weekend of the Fringe Festival will be remembered not just for the endless sunshine but also as the moment all those who were there will look back on and say – I was in at the beginning of something special – something big.

Because the organisers have already decided to do it all again in 2026 – for four days, not three.

an insanely positive experience

As a volunteer I was in the lucky position to see behind the scenes. All 50 of us who proudly wore the orange t-shirts were hi-fived in the streets, stopped in shops, waved at and collared by curious tourists wondering what on earth this festival thing was all about. As Danielle, Shelley, Suzy, Ceni, Susie, Lucy, Tim, Guy, Julie and everyone who brought the festival together will say, it was about
community, celebration, conversation, and taking a chance on something new.

The Fringe had a damp start one January night , when around 20 people got together on a filthy rainy night to talk about an embryonic idea – a theatre festival for performers from here, there and everywhere, as Shelley told me in the blessed cool of the Seven Stars ballroom between shows. “We first came together in early January and it was hooning down outside, unrelenting rain and I just thought it would be me and Danielle – yet there were 20 people around the table all utterly excited by this idea. And here we are. Amazing.”
“The town is buzzing so I think economically as well as culturally it’s huge.”

Yet it came together with no money in the bank – zero pounds in pockets, as Shelley puts it. “Then we just built it up over time using crowd funding and sponsorship from local businesses; all the venues were given to us for nothing. The council gave us some money which was lovely. It just’s been an insanely positive experience.”

When the fringe was, in human terms, a foetus, expectations about how many people might come were modest. In the event, it turned into a fine bouncing baby. Most shows were sold out and there were people waiting hopefully for any returned tickets. The Bay Horse Inn singalong – one of several free events – had 70 people singing their hearts out.

The Leechwell Garden, where puppeteer Tony Gee performed with Matt Harvey and others, saw around 600 people over the weekend.

Totnes Castle and Museum, the Civic Hall, Bogan House , the United Reform Church – all overflowed with audiences. The Seven Stars needs to renamed the Seventy Stars. Even the launderette staged a show – which didn’t stop a customer carrying on with his washing in the midst of it!

The town took the infant festival to its heart. We held hands, we hugged, we dashed for shade and we laughed and cried.

Roll on 2026. The orange t-shirts are ready.