Chichester Free Fringe will make its debut this June, showcasing creative talent in a series of live broadcasts.
The 3-day online event will be hosted as part of this year’s Festival of Chichester from 16th - 18th June and will see a number of performers and creatives take to the stage, including comedians, musicians and puppeteers.
The broadcast will be hosted by two Chichester High School Alumni; Katie Bennett, one of the founding producers and presenter Josh Bowness, live from the historic Vicars' Hall at Chichester Cathedral.
Katie said:
“During a period when people have not been able to perform, Chichester Free Fringe will give performers a safe place to explore, develop and share their acts with the world. We hope that the Fringe will be a sustainable event, and will continue to give a platform to creatives on the fringe of our amazing area."
The Cathedral's Canon Chancellor, the Reverend Dr Dan Inman, said:
"It is hugely exciting to be part of this new development within this year’s Festival of Chichester. Offering a platform for new voices and talent to be seen and heard is so important for the creative arts at the moment and corresponds well with our development of the Cathedral Quarter as a hub for culture and art, particularly for new generations of Cicestrians, in the years to come."
Festival of Chichester Co-ordinator, Barry Smith, said:
“We are delighted that Chichester Free Fringe will form part of this year’s programme of events. It’s an exciting development showcasing new and different performers on a digital platform accessible to many more people than can attend live events. In a way, the free fringe returns the Festival of Chichester to its roots, but also looks ahead in an innovative manner, welcoming performers who might return to the city to perform live in future years. For this first festival year after lockdown, the virtual free fringe fits perfectly into the main festival as it means that the first week eases us in with a programme of largely outdoor and virtual events as a taster for our audiences for the main body of the festival to follow.”
On each day, performances will take place from 6.00pm - 10.00pm and will be streamed via the Chichester Free Fringe website.
The Chichester Free Fringe line-up will be announced on 1st June 2021. To find out more, see the Fringe website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: www.chichesterfringe.co.uk