Call out for performers and venues to be part of The Bay Fringe

Thursday, 13 March 2025 12:46

By Beyond Radio News

Organisers of The Bay Fringe have opened registrations for local and touring shows to register to be part of the 2025 line-up.

Last year there were 96 performances of music, poetry, spoken word and theatre around the Morecambe Bay area, from 56 shows, in venues across Morecambe, Carnforth and Barrow.

Applications to perform or host an event close on April 1, with slots for the event in July awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Performers who already have a venue for their show, who wish to now perform under the fringe banner, can get a free listing in the event brochure, which will go all around the area.

This year’s venues will include the Kings Arms, The Bath and the Playhouse in Morecambe, The Royal Station Hotel in Carnforth, with more to be added.

This year founder Matt Panesh is hoping for more engagement with venues and villages to take part.

"We can put comedy shows on in a back room of a pub,’’ said Matt.

‘’Through my years of working at Edinburgh Fringe, I'm used to turning any space into a venue.

‘’What started as the Morecambe Fringe Festival has developed, with festivals in Carnforth and Barrow being added over the past couple of years, to make The Bay Fringe possibly the largest fringe festival in the world, in terms of square mileage!

"The idea has always been for the Fringe to be around the Bay. The Edinburgh Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world and has a pool of over 3,800 shows with over 30,000 performers.

‘’As we continue to attract Edinburgh Performers here, they fall in love with the Bay. We have about an 80% retention rate of artists, so they're happy with what we're doing. We are very much a performers festival. We also need to develop the audiences, but I believe we're doing that.

‘’We also want to offer a platform for local artists to hone and show off their skills.’

‘’I’m also running workshops to develop other shows, both in Morecambe and Carnforth. Last year the workshops produced eight shows.’’

Above: Danbert Nobacon from Chumbawamba performed at the 2024 Fringe

Carnforth Councillor Chris Smith said: "This will be the third year that Carnforth has hosted the fringe, and the event has gone from strength to strength.

‘’Our vision is to provide our community, surrounding communities, and visitors, with an opportunity to experience live performances and see and hear things that they may otherwise not.

‘’With events covering theatre, comedy, poetry and music, there is something for everyone and as our local business have offered free performance spaces we are able to operate on a 'free fringe' basis with voluntary donations to artists.

‘’Shows will consist of local artists as well as players on their way to the Edinburgh Fringe , making this an opportunity not to be missed.

‘’Longer term we hope to establish this as a major annual event which will benefit businesses and residents alike."

Matt says the boost for the local economy will be significant.

‘’If we have shows during the Summer from here to Barrow and even at stops such as Arnside and Silverdale, following the train stops, then we're building something special, a regional fringe,’’ he adds.

‘’The train journey around The Bay is one of the most beautiful in the country. If we could add a deal with the train operators for a festival train pass, acts could tour their show around the Bay and audiences could travel sustainably.

‘’We could even put acts on the trains and call it the Festival Express! But that's for tomorrow. Today, we're opening for business!"

Supporters of The Bay Fringe include Arts Council England and Lancashire County Council.

To contact Matt email contactmattpanesh@gmail.com or call 07858031303.

Ex-Chumbawamba singer to perform at closing night of Morecambe Fringe