We caught up with 5 acts with sold out shows at this year’s Fringe to hear their recommendations for what else to see at the festival. If anyone has good tips, it’s good to be these folks!
It can be annoying when shows sell out, but with so many different performances on offer there is always something to see at Ventnor Fringe, and sometimes it’s an act you’ve not heard of that becomes your favourite of the festival.
Benji Waterstones is an NHS psychiatrist and award-winning comedian who’s show ‘You Don’t Have To Be Mad To Work Here’ was one of the very first to sell out this year. His top pick? “I’d say Vittorio Angelone, and not just because he’s a good egg who I play football with. He’s like the Matt Le Tissier of comedy; bags of natural talent, no censor, and only ever moments away from controversy. ” Vittorio is an Italian-Irish comedian from Belfast. In 2022 he sold out his debut run at the Edinburgh Fringe and was nominated for Best Newcomer at the prestigious Dave Comedy Awards.
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Ahir Shah is a bit of a Ventnor veteran, performing at Ventnor Exchange and the Fringe many times over the years. He’s back with a full length solo show for the first time since 2019, which has predictably sold out ahead of the festival (although you can still get tickets see Pick of the Fringe which he curates and hosts)
Ahir told us “There are a bunch of fantastic comedians appearing at the Ventnor Fringe, and not enough space to recommend all of them, so I thought I’d recommend a show I won’t be able to see but wish I could: “Sara Barron: Why Am I Mean To My Mom?” Sara is a staggeringly funny and engaging comedian, as those who’ve seen her before or listened to her podcast Firecrotch & Normcore will know. Also we had a conversation a couple of years ago during which she described the process of falling in love with her husband, and it was so beautiful and perfect that I still think about it two or three times a week. That probably won’t be in the show though, I imagine she’ll just call him a dick and then describe a time she was mean – to her very own mom!”
Sally Perry is a local journalist from OnTheWight which last year teamed up with the Book Bus to bring together an expert panel of entrepreneurs, comedians and weirdos to crack ‘The Secret to Happiness’. This year’s follow up ‘How To Survive The Apocalypse’ sounds altogether darker, maybe that’s why ticket sold out so quick!
Sally explained “There is so much to choose from that it makes picking one act really hard, but I would have to say Bromance. Just from seeing Thorne perform previously on his cyr wheel is enough motivation to want to check out this five star circus about camaraderie and affection. The photos from the performance give you a flavour of how exhilarating a show it’s going to be.
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Jake Oldershaw grew up on the Island before moving away to run theatre collective Untied Artists. In ‘The Head Gardener’ he returns to the Island in a collaboration with his brother Warren, exploring personal tales of why gardening is so important for mental health; design, draught and bring to life a unique and beautiful garden. It’s fully booked but Jake’s top tip is ’The Aretha Franklin Story’ in the Big Top. “Despite doing VFringe a few times we’ve never got into that venue, and this promises to be a soulful delight. It’s fantastic that Ventnor is attracting tried and tested shows like this one.”
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Finally we caught up with Joe Plumb, who has hit the hat trick selling out his show for a third year in a row! Another original creation inspired by local idiosyncrasies ‘Bob – The Half A Sausage Musical’ explores a certain famous person on the Isle of Wight.
When we asked Joe Plumb who he’d recommend he replied instantly “The hardest working performer on the Island, Quivers is back at Ventnor Fringe with a hilarious new stand up show all about the struggles of adulting! I love how Quivers packs their shows with the silliest one-liners, side-splitting songs and then, when you’re not looking, tackles some big issues that can really hit home. Pop on your best leopard print top and sparkly shoes, grab a bottle of Prosecco with the gal pals and get some of this. I cannot recommend Eat, Slay, Love- a Quivers Stand Up Show enough- it’s so good, I might even go and watch!”
So there you have it, personal recommendations and top picks from a collection of this year’s most popular artists.
