Totnes Fringe Festival to Host Exciting Premieres of Bold New Works
Totnes, long known for its creativity, novelty, and experimentation, will shine this July as the Totnes Fringe Festival presents a wave of premieres and daring performances, giving audiences the chance to see many shows for the very first time.
Among the powerful premieres is Welcome to Gaza by the Hands Up Project, performing at the Civic Hall on Friday 11 July and Saturday 12 July. Directed by award-winning playwright Peter Oswald, this extraordinary piece weaves together 19 short plays written by children in Gaza and the West Bank before October 7, 2023. Performed by some of the original creators, the continuous 90-minute play mixes dancing, genies, animals, mother-in-laws, and ghosts with harrowing messages of bombed hospitals and schools, interrupted by real-time reports from the genocide. Nick Bilborough, who runs the Hands Up Project, brought this vital, urgent work to the Totnes Fringe.
Also on the opening night, Friday 11 July at the Royal Seven Stars, is a New Writing Double Bill. First up is Alexa Stole My Parents by Jody Fendick. This darkly funny cautionary tale explores what happens when a family outsources emotional connection to a smart speaker, blending awkward humour with unsettling questions about technology’s hold on our lives.
The second premiere in the double bill is The Bridge, a new collaboration between Exeter-based writer-actor Micha Colombo and Chilean director Cristina Gómez-Penna. This dark, funny, and provocative piece follows Sis, the last dream-keeper, as she rebels against ‘The Voice’—diving into systems change and the power of imagination in modern times.
Adding to the excitement is Grumpy Old Woman in the Attic, premiering at the Barrell House on Sunday 13 July. Written and performed by Devon actor and musician Louisa Beadel, it follows Lucy, who returns to her village only to find herself entangled in local mysteries—and wrestling with a simmering rage threatening to boil over. With dry wit and sharp observations, this one-woman show promises laughs and uncomfortable truths in equal measure.
Developing and sharing new work can be a daunting experience for artists- and theatres have been forced to cut the amount of new work they produce. We want the Totnes Fringe Festival to be a platform for artists to experiment and share new ideas and stories, and offer audiences the honour of being the first to see a new piece of theatre.
These exciting premieres are just a taste of what’s on offer at the Totnes Fringe Festival, which promises performances for all ages and tastes—from joyful outdoor theatre in Leechwell Gardens to daring new writing in intimate venues.
For the full programme, visit totnesfringe.uk/whats-on
To book tickets, go to totnespulse.co.uk/totnesfringe