Buxton Festival Fringe runs from 9th to 27th July 2025.
Buxton Festival Fringe could rightly lay claim to being the Uk’s third largest fringe festival. Or indeed, festival fringe. Yes, Buxton Festival Fringe is the fringe festival for Buxton International Festival but, like Brighton and Edinburgh has grown to a scale where it is really the senior partner.
What we at FringeReview rather like about the fringe is that it features theatre, something not listed as a genre in the International Festival listings. Buxton Festival Fringe is really now a fringe-in-itself, not really sitting on the fringe of anything, though still very much laying righftul claim to hosting and being a platform for plenty of “fringe” theatre, comedy and many other genres.
I want to see at Buxton Festival Fringe
Here is our handy guide to choosing shows to see at Buxton Fringe…
I want to see …
… a captivating one-woman show delving into the joys and complexities of female friendship. Then see Flat 4 from Isabel Songer
… some acclaimed family-friendly comedy. Then see Dr Jones Funny Bones. Or see Comics Vs Kids
… some stand-up spoken word comedy and music from the Beat Generation. Then see
The Beat Goes On
… a show about Utopia, an interdisciplinary journey, weaving history and philosophy with storytelling, film, and original live music. Then see A Utopia Story
… close-up magic. Then see Caspar Thomas: The Art Of Close-Up Magic (Volume 2)
… some new writing theatre. Then see There Is A Light And A Whistle For Attracting Attention
… some award-winning theatre about the Supernatural. Then see Almost Haunted
… some live music – jazz, pop and blues classics. Then see L’Heure Bleue
… a magic and illusion show, a blend of mind-reading, magic, and impossible illusions. Then see The Telepath and The Conjuror
… a cabaret focusing on the medical world. Then see This Isn’t Going To Hurt – Take Two
… some film. Then see Buxton Shorts 2025. Or see BURBAGE WORKS – HEART OF BRASS. Burbage Institute, Nursery Lane, Buxton SK17 6UL (53) Map 13 Jul 7pm to 9pm Free, Ages 7+, Donations: If desired to Burbage Band
… some unique stanf-up. Then see Sunday Service
… storytelling for grown-up, an award-winning collection of darker tales from the Grimm Brothers. Then see Buckets Of Blood – Fairy Tales Not For Kids
SOLO THEATRE PREVIEW – Grandmas’s Shop
“Clothes, cats and counter-culture. Sheffield, 1989. Loveable, eccentric septuagenarian, Hilda, has run a second-hand clothes shop for decades. She does it to make money to feed 30 stray cats. One day, a journalist from The Guardian walks in… Edinburgh Fringe 5-star hit! A solo play about family history subverting expectations.” Julie Flower brings her hit Edinburgh solo theatre show about Sheffield to Buxton Fringe
Grandma’s Shop is set to appear at the Buxton Fringe 2025, bringing Julie Flower’s engaging solo performance to new audiences. The show revolves around Hilda, a lively and unconventional grandmother who runs a second-hand clothes shop in Sheffield. Through a series of character sketches, Flower explores the stories and personalities that pass through the shop, weaving together humour, nostalgia and gentle observations on family life.
Flower’s portrayal of Hilda and the various customers and relatives who visit the shop offers a thoughtful look at generational connections and the small moments that shape our memories. The setting of a second-hand shop provides a rich backdrop for exploring themes of belonging, change and the value of everyday objects.
Venue and booking details:
Underground at the Working Men’s Club (51b) Map 17 Jul 8:30pm to 9:30pm, 18 Jul 5:30pm to 6:30pm, 19 Jul 1pm to 2pm £10 (Conc £9) Gallery
Bookings via underthefringe.com. Info: 020 8144 0070.
THEATRE PREVIEW: Lunchbox
Lunchbox is aworld premiere, the the final part of Lubna Kerr’s trilogy, following Tickbox and Chatterbox. Drawing on her own experiences, Kerr sets this solo play in a Glasgow secondary school. The story focuses on two teenagers from the same street: Steven, a Scottish boy facing his own difficulties, and Lubna, a Pakistani girl searching for belonging. Kerr performs all the roles, using the setting of the school and its lunchtime drama club to explore issues of identity, race, bullying and fitting in.
The play looks at how childhood environments and backgrounds shape people’s lives. Lubna finds some relief from the pressures of adolescence in the drama club, while Steven’s path seems more troubled. Lunchbox raises questions about whether people are shaped more by their upbringing or by their own choices, and whether change is possible for those who have caused harm.
Kerr’s script examines the long-term effects of bullying and prejudice, as well as the possibility of second chances. The play asks if a lunchtime club can alter the course of a young person’s life and whether someone can move beyond their past actions. Lunchbox offers a personal look at cultural identity and the impact of early experiences.
Venue and booking details:
Underground at Spring Gardens (10) Map 13 Jul 8:30pm to 9:25pm, 14 Jul 7pm to 7:55pm £10 (Conc £9), Ages 10+ Gallery Bookings via underthefringe.com. Info: 020 8144 0070
SOLO COMEDY FOCUS: MOVING ON… REALLY REALLY SLOWLY
“How do you recover from heartbreak or loss when you are an autistic depressed little slug? Award-winning comedian (Keep It Fringe 2023), Stephen Catling reflects on this conundrum and, as a Malcom Hardee award nominee for originality, who knows what he has in store (probably an exorcism)?”
Shortlisted for The Neurodiverse review awards 2023, Stephen Catling’s new show explores how to cope with heartbreak and loss from the perspective of someone experiencing deep depression, described humorously as a “demonically depressed slug.” The performance introduces a variety of quirky characters and sketches, including Flashlight Gordon and Mr Owls-for-Hands Man, alongside a slow-moving slug doing stand-up comedy in its own unique style.
While the show may seem chaotic and eccentric on the surface, it continues Catling’s thoughtful approach to mental health, following his previous work on autism. Themes such as inferiority complexes, depression and the experience of ghosting are examined with honesty and nuance. The show draws heavily on Catling’s personal experiences, particularly the end of a toxic relationship in 2022 and the ongoing challenges of recovering from depression.
This is not a traditional stand-up comedy show. Instead, it combines music, audio effects, costumes, props and clowning to create an immersive and emotionally resonant experience. It aims to connect with audiences who have faced depression and anxiety, whether neurodiverse or not, by showing rather than just talking about these issues.
Catling’s earlier show, Beehavioural Problems, was well received at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023, earning critical praise and several award nominations. This new performance seeks to build on that success with a distinctive and thoughtful exploration of difficult emotional themes.
Venue info and booking:
The Vault (141) Map 19 Jul 7pm to 8pm £7.50 (Conc £5), Strong language, mental health and suicide, Ages 18+ Gallery Bookings via Opera House 01298 72190 Direct Opera House Online Booking
CABARET FOCUS: Magic, Mind Reading and Opera in a New Fringe Performance
Prepare to be captivated by The Telepath and The Conjuror – a spellbinding blend of mind-reading, magic, and impossible illusions that will leave you amazed, astounded, and questioning the boundaries of reality. An unforgettable experience full of intrigue, and edge-of-your-seat excitement as the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary before your eyes.”
Award-winning magician Marc Oberon and internationally recognised soprano Emily Yarrow present their new show The Telepath & The Conjurer at the Buxton Festival Fringe 2025. It will be performed at The Working Mens Club on 12 and 13 July at 5.30pm, and on 17 July at 7.00pm.
This two-person show combines classical stage magic, mentalism, and live operatic performance in a striking and original theatrical experience.
Marc, a world champion magician known for his illusions and psychological effects, performs alongside Emily, whose vocal range and intuitive flair create moments of genuine surprise. The show explores the illusion of thought-reading, accurate predictions, and music appearing from nowhere.
The idea was developed after the pair met on a cruise ship in 2023, where they were both performing separate solo shows. Since then, it has become a tightly structured and highly interactive performance where magic and music come together to challenge the audience’s sense of reality.
Emily’s voice brings atmosphere and drama at key points in the show—sometimes ghostly, sometimes tender, and sometimes forceful—as Marc performs levitations and remarkable sleight of hand. Audience involvement runs through the piece, as Emily describes their possessions, predicts their actions, and appears to read their minds. Laughter, shock and amazement happen live and close-up.
The Telepath & The Conjurer offers a mix of magic, opera and psychological illusion that goes beyond traditional magic shows or musical cabaret. It is a carefully crafted production that invites the audience into a shared moment of mystery and delight. This is a Fringe debut that promises something truly different.
Show details and booking:
Underground at the Working Men’s Club (51b) Map 12, 13 Jul 5:30pm to 6:15pm, 17 Jul 7pm to 7:45pm £10 (Child £5, Conc £9)
COMEDY IMPROV FOCUS: The Totally Improvised Company Presents Every Night is Opening Night with The Totally Improvised Musical
“Every night is opening night as these top improvisers compose brand-new comedy musicals from your title suggestions. If you like musicals and you like comedy, then you’ll love The Totally Improvised Musical!”
What do snowmen, beekeepers, zombie politicians and sandwiches have in common? They have all featured in The Totally Improvised Musical. With live musical accompaniment, the award-winning Totally Improvised Company creates a brand new comedy musical each night, based entirely on a title suggested by the audience. Songs, scenes and characters are made up live on stage, and there may even be some dancing.
The cast invents characters, composes the music and performs it all with no script and no rehearsal. “We have no idea what the characters, choruses, choreography or even the key will be until we get the title from the audience,” says performer Sean Mason. “It is your own bespoke musical, every night.”
The show has played to enthusiastic audiences at festivals across the UK. There are even prizes for the best audience-suggested titles, so everyone is encouraged to bring their strangest and most imaginative ideas. Previous show titles have included The Town Where Everyone Is Called Jeffrey, Lawnmowers! The Musical, Sweeney Toddlers, My Grandma Is a Parasite, The Book of More Men, and Miserable Les.
“Some nights we end up singing a deeply emotional love song and other nights we are doing a full routine about ham,” says Bron Edge, who founded The Totally Improvised Company in 2001. “We go with whatever title the audience votes for, and Buxton audiences never disappoint.”
The show will take place at the Buxton Working Men’s Club, hosted by Underground Venues in their new space. Underground is committed to making live performance accessible and welcoming for everyone, supporting artists and audiences alike.
The Totally Improvised Musical was nominated for Best Variety Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival in 2024 and returns to the Buxton Fringe for two performances in July. Tickets can be booked through the Underground website or in person at the festival box office. The show sold out in both 2023 and 2024, so booking early is strongly recommended.
Book here
SOLO SHOW PREVIEW: 3 Minutes Inside My Brain is a whistle-stop tour through the fascinating, exuberant and surprising world of Jennifer Jordan’s brain.
The show will appeal to fans of alternative comedy, those who can connect with the themes of neuroscience, neurodiversity and mental health, and anyone who has ever wondered what is going on inside someone else’s head.
3 Minutes Inside My Brain was written and devised by Jennifer Jordan, in collaboration with Audra Goffeney. Jennifer Jordan is a multidisciplinary performance artist, with a background in improvised theatre and comedy. Audra Goffeney is designer, performer and ceramic artist specialising in collaborative storytelling.
Statement from Jennifer: “It’s an honest portrayal of my own anxiety and also an invitation for audiences to feel less alone in their own experiences. I adore creating a real relationship with the people who come to see my shows and bringing them with me on some kind of madcap introspective voyage.”
The show was shortlisted for the Outstanding Neurodiverse Performance award at Brighton Fringe 2025
The show plays at Underground at Spring Gardens, 17, 18, 19 July, 4pm, 65 mins, £7 – £10. Book here
PREVIEW: A Magical Fringe Debut
Magic, Mind Reading and Opera Meet at Buxton Festival Fringe 2025
Magician Marc Oberon and soprano Emily Yarrow present their new show, The Telepath & The Conjurer, at the Buxton Festival Fringe 2025. The performances take place at The Working Mens’ Club on 12th and 13th July at 5:30pm, and 17th July at 7:00pm. The production blends classical magic, mentalism, and operatic singing.
Marc Oberon, a world champion magician recognised for his illusions and mentalist techniques, performs alongside Emily Yarrow, an accomplished soprano known for her vocal ability and intuitive performance style. The duo first collaborated after meeting on a cruise ship in 2023, subsequently developing their show into an interactive performance where illusion intersects with music.
Emily’s vocal performances punctuate the show, complementing Marc’s magic and illusions, which include levitation and close-up sleight of hand. Audience interaction plays a significant role, with Emily often predicting audience choices and identifying personal items, creating a dynamic, real-time experience.
The Telepath & The Conjurer offers a distinctive combination of magic, mind reading, and operatic music, marking its debut at the Fringe with what promises to be an engaging and unusual theatrical experience.
Visit their web site here.
Booking and info here.
The Bard at Buxton – some recommendations from the FringeReview editor
Buxton Fringe 2025’s theatre programme is especially rich in reinterpretations of classic works, with several productions offering new perspectives on Shakespeare’s plays. The festival’s open-access ethos encourages experimentation and diversity, resulting in a mix of traditional, contemporary, and devised theatre across a variety of venues and styles
1 King, 2 Princes, and Shakespeare’s Lie
A play revisiting Richard III, challenging myths and the Bard’s portrayal with a fresh, critical perspective. It offers a compelling re-examination of Shakespeare’s history. Book here
Fiction Romance
A queer reimagining of Twelfth Night focusing on Antonio’s unrequited love for Sebastian, exploring themes of identity and longing through a modern lens. Book here.
Liv: Sapphic Shakespeare
This production centers on Olivia and Viola from Twelfth Night, portraying their love and dealing with grief in a poignant, contemporary way. Book here
Bard Education
A dynamic show where students take a whirlwind tour of Shakespeare’s greatest hits, questioning why his plays remain relevant today, mixing education with entertainment. Booking and venue:
St Anne’s Community Centre – Main Hall (39a) Map 12 Jul 3pm to 4:30pm £10 (Child and Conc £5). Tickets on the door
The Shakespeare Jukebox
Celebrating its 20th year, this street theatre act combines Shakespearean themes with lively performance and fundraising spirit, a Fringe favourite. The Shakespeare Jukebox celebrates its 20th anniversary, performing scenes and speeches from the Bard’s most famous plays in its own unique style – all chosen by you for a charity donation! Whether this is your first time, or you’ve seen them before, join in the fun with this Buxton legend!
Pavilion Gardens – Promenade (33q) Map 13, 18-20 & 25, 26 Jul 6:15pm to 7pm Fre
More to come.
