French Kora player Stranded Horse will be on the Isle of Wight for this year's Ventnor Fringe.
WITH more than 200 acts, artistes and assorted entertainers on offer at Ventnor Fringe, it is almost impossible to choose who to go and see, so we thought we’d ask the experts — the Ventnor Fringe team — for some of their tips on who to catch.
Becky — site manager
Some of my Vfringe favourites are pretty tucked away this year, like our secret bar.
The Spiritualist Church on Victoria Street is being transformed into Henry’s High Tea Society as well as being home to a wacky detective on the hunt for a missing guinea pig. Not to be missed in The Courtyard on Saturday are the free writing and producing workshops with London theatre company Paines Plough. Grab a Prufrock coffee from the box office on your way in.
•Henry’s High Tea Society: Thurs 16th-Fri 17th, 1pm-6pm, Ventnor Spiritualist Church, Donation on entry
•Paines Plough 'Come to Where I’m From’: Sat 18th, Performances & workshops from 1.30pm, Free!
•Prufrock Coffee, Open from Wed 15th - Sat 18th from 10am-5pm daily in our Box Office at 6 Church Street.
Mhairi — Free Fringe co-producer
I would highly recommend the Ventnor Pleasure Gardens event on Saturday, August 18, in Ventnor Park. It’s perfect for people of all ages, especially families, as we will be hosting the return of the Patchwork Picnic, with a great art fair, showcasing the work of many Island artists with music on the bandstand from The Quay Arts’ Acoustic Originals. It’s pay what you can on entry so just whatever you can afford.
•Ventnor Pleasure Gardens, Saturday 18th 10am – 6pm at Ventnor Park.
Nicola — accommodation manager
Thursday evening at the Isle of Wight Film Festival’s Sacred Cinema welcomes the premiere of Norwegian feature Vegas — check out the trailer at vfringe.co.uk
It looks amazing and it’s won awards all over the world.
Our box office is getting taken over by world-class company, Prufrock Coffee, recently voted the best coffee in London by Time Out. Its award-winning baristas will also be running a coffee master class every morning of the festival. Teaching you the basics in high-quality coffee making is not to be missed but space is limited so get your tickets fast.
•Isle of Wight Film Festival, Feature film 'Vegas’: Thurs 16th, 7.30pm, £5
•Prufrock Coffee School, Wed 15th- Sat 18th, The Vfringe Box Office, £45
Joe — box office manager
Lantern Light Theatre’s Our Place, incorporating live art and film, with shows running every 30 minutes from 3pm to 6pm is set to be an interesting use of multimedia within a theatre show.
The IW short films programme — the best of the Island’s home-grown talent from 2011/12 — runs from 10am to noon on the Saturday. It’s a really good chance to see some new talent in the world of film.
End your day in the beautifully panoramic Observatory bar, the perfect place to relax after a busy day at the Fringe.
•Lantern light Theatre’s 'Our Place’, Fri 17th, Every 30mins between 3-6pm- £5 at the Studio Theatre, St Francis’ School.
•Isle of Wight Film Festival: IOW short films programme, Sat 18th, 10am-12pm, The Sacred Cinema- £5
•The Observatory Bar – Open each day. Small fee on entry. Ventnor Harbour Bandstand.
Thea — art and marketing director
A must see at this year’s IWFF at the Fringe is Canadian feature The Year Dolly Parton was my Mom, a coming-of-age film about an 11 year old dealing with the realisation that everything she knows is a lie and how her imagination begins to run wild.
Flying all the way from Mantua, Italy, this year is the Mantova Eyes artists collective, who are occupying the Sea Cliff Studios for this year’s fringe with their fitting portrayal of serene, derelict spaces, exploring decay through light and colour, capturing ghostlike scenes of once inhabited rooms and buildings.
•Isle of Wight Film Festival: Feature "The year Dolly Parton was my mom", Sat 18th, 7pm, The Sacred Cinema- £5
•Mantova Eyes Exhibiton, Wed 15th – Sat 18th, 11am-6pm, Sea Cliff Studios- Free
Jack — festival director
I’m really excited about the increase in theatre this year, in particular the Paines Plough readings and Status Update, a new show by a group of talented graduates from the Central School of Speech and Drama.
"I’ve created a little event this year called Lounge Around Town, featuring some of my favourite acts from across the UK and abroad. You buy a day pass and are then led on a tour of Ventnor with intimate gigs in houses, gardens and churches across the town.
Also make sure you go for a spin in the 1920/30s-inspired Blind Tiger Club. I think this could be one of the little gems of this year’s fringe. And don’t forget to search for the Secret Bar; it will definitely be worth the effort.
•Status Update: Thursday & Friday at 9.15 at the Studio Theatre, St Francis’ School. - £7/£5
•Lounge Around Town: Thursday 16th and Friday 17th in various venues. Tickets £20. More information at www.loungearoundtown.co.uk
•Blind Tiger Club: Wednesday – Saturday from 8pm at The Rex Piano Bar - £5
Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk