Ventnor Fringe

Wednesday at the Fringe brings all the fun of the carnival! Caroline is our girl on the town, she’s been to meet some of the people walking in the procession as well as free fringe performer Tilly Twist, Yoga with Maitri and Karen Tweed from the Sailors and Shipwrecks fancy dress ceilidh.

Click the link to listen: 

WEDNESDAY at the Ventnor Fringe! (Yoga with Maitri / Tilly Twist / Ceilidh / Carnival) by The Ventnor Fringe on Mixcloud

Shady Margaret & her wardrobe malfunctions is exactly what it says on the tin. The evening is a cabaret consisting of a band of misfits and talented performers all mixed together to create on spectacular and peculiar evening. 

    If you have already seen the performance, or are planning on seeing it this week, expect to see eleven theatrical performances of singing, dance, spoken word, theatre and even burlesque. The show for me was entertaining from start to finish, beginning with a disgruntled magician known by the name of “Boris” performing an array of magical mishaps and comical blitz, and ending with a captivating live burlesque strip *wolf whistle*. A personal favourite from the evening was what can only be described as a backwards strip tease from the wonderful Alison, who executed the sauciest segment of the evening. 

    What can the audience expect to see? Who better to answer that question than the producer of Shady Margaret himself!

    Lewis Wheeler said: “Something bizarre. It depends on where you draw your lines of your bizarre. For some people it’ll be very bizarre for some people it’s not. A lot of dancing, a lot of clowning, funny stuff, and something hopefully to take away and think about as well.”

    Whether you’re a fan of theatre or open to something new, this will be right up your alley. The cabaret implores audience participation and encouragement, which is wholeheartedly received by the performers. I would strongly recommend the occasional whistle and cheer!

    This peculiar performance will be shown again this evening at the Victoria Street Studio, 9pm. Be sure to pick up a ticket from the Exchange! 

By Hollie Hayes

Today’s the day – it’s carnival time! In its 127th year, Ventnor has the second oldest carnival in the country and I have witnessed thirty five of them having spent my childhood being dressed as a clown, a pirate and a little Dutch boy to name but a few, and paraded round the streets of Ventnor. This may sound like some twisted punishment but it’s all part of healthy development as a

Ventnorian child.

    These rites of passage us townsfolk go through can be a grueling physical and psychological test. I still pity my mother as I remember her dragging my brother and me around the streets in some sort of handcart, the sweltering heat causing the grease paint to run down her face as she pulled on. Or the psychological anguish of going to the costume shop only to find they had just hired out the Boo-Boo costume, and being made to parade as a frankly odd pairing of Yogi Bear and a parrot. All these things make us strong.

    I’ll be steering away from the red noses and clogs this year and taking a somewhat more restrained approach, but I’ll still be in the crowd waving and cheering as the multi-coloured pageant goes by. The Carnival still holds a special place in my heart.

    In the lead up to the carnival you’ll find me hanging out at Parkside, where there’s going to be chance to see some great music and poetry and maybe a spot of yoga too. Come join me.

    The day is a special one in the hearts of many of us here in the ‘nor. I’ve rarely seen a town that embraces the strangeness, and throws itself full force to celebrate summer. So baring these things in mind, I want you to clap and cheer and throw your tuppences with a smile as the cavalcade go by.

    In essence the carnival hasn’t changed much over the years, you’ll still experience frankly bizarre sights and sounds as the town gets its party on and takes to the streets. However, with the introduction of the Fringe this most ‘Ventnor’ of days has been extended with even more excitement.

    After the main procession has passed and you’ve waved your light saber or fairy wand to the point of arm ache, make your way down to the Observatory bar for our Fringe Carnival Party and find refreshment – the sea breeze will no doubt give you the second wind to carry you through the evening.

    So grab a drink, and be dazzled by fireworks glittering over the sea to the sounds of our resident DJs. Welcome to Ventnor.

    The children’s procession is scheduled to start at Midday and the main procession starting at 7pm.

By Matt Hitt

That’s right, Holy Grail stuff baby, the one and only Isle of Wight Film Festival is back and better than ever. Founded in 2007 as a local competition, it has now expanded into an international festival showcasing an extremely high standard of work from across the world. Drama and Documentary Feature films compete for the coveted On The Wight Best Feature Film Award, whilst shorts contest for the Rapanui Best Short Environmental Award, Whatever Pictures Best Drama Award and the Amnesty International Best Human Rights Award. Films are being shown daily on an HD pop up screen in the Sacred Cinema.

Rain deterred not one bystander among the many Fringe friends yesterday evening.

A short but sweet rundown of VFRINGE so far and hello and how are all from Festival director, Jack Whitewood. This was then followed by a surprise performance. If you missed it here’s the lowdown…

Artist and organiser of the Undecided Art Collective, Rachael Berry, along with Ventnor’s own Laura Reid (of The Ventnor Darlings) performed a new release. Kindly created for yours truly, we are very grateful for that spontaneous set as we now have our 2015 podcast and review show jingle! Better yet we have all your lovely voices cheering away too.

The evening was filled with the warm fringe-tastic feeling this festival seems to curiously create. 

Then a stunning set by our own Poppy Janella; a writer, performer, radio interviewer and fashion guru. #poppydoeseverything #PFRINGE

The week has flown by at a dizzying speed and the weekend is already upon us. Have you enjoyed the week thus far darlings? I thought you might have. 

    That can only mean one thing, it’s time to shake off those aches from the dreadful Ventnor hills and get grooving on the dance floor. With that Friday feeling it’s time to swear your allegiance to all that is theatre as the day is chock-a-block with theatre and dance all around the “ghetto” (OFSTED approved). 

So let’s get started!

    The first performance to kick us off this joyous day of theatre is Good Night, Little Bear (3pm, Victoria Street Studio). If you missed them yesterday then fear not, the amazing story of one little girl and her polar bear will be with us for the entire weekend. Though with the increase in global warming and greenhouse gas emissions it would be a wise idea to head down sooner rather than later.

    Next up we have Nothing To Wear (4pm, Parkside) and The Austerity Games (6pm, Pier Street Playhouse). If you want to be star of the show and get yourself involved I would strongly recommend for the ultimate audience participation experience.

    He’s a gangster, a loveable rogue and isn’t the manic recurring nemesis of Batman. Bane, come on down! This four-part performance tells the story of a hitman, Bruce Bane, as he tries to find out who’s after him. Though the show is split into four parts it can be enjoyed both as a journey or a stand-alone performance, so make sure you pick up copy of the Fringe programme for more details. 

    Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others buy tickets to Twelfth Night at Holy Trinity Church, 8pm. After their successful Richard II and Edward II last year, Scena Mundi Theatre Company have prepared yet another weekend special for all you Shakespeare fanatics out there in a condensed format of 1 hour. 

    Lastly, if you’re a fan of something a little different, a dark and funny drama awaits at Pier Street Playhouse, 8pm, entitled “Hidden Mother”. The award winning Off-Off-Off-Broadway Company’s latest piece depicts the disastrous tale of two patients in a British mental asylum convinced of a glamorous lifestyle.  

    There’s an awfully busy day ahead of you, fellow Fringers. The early bird catches the worm, so make sure you pick up your tickets from the Exchange!

By Hollie Hayes

Stealing Sheep are bringing colour into a sometimes magnolia musical scene. 

Hailing from far away, across the Solent. The band are making the hopefully not too arduous trek to the Isle of Wight from Liverpool to play what promises to be an electrifying gig at the Fringe’s Secret Venue. 

    The release of their second album last year has seen a definite development in the band’s style and confidence, moving into more experimental pop territory, but keeping the Wicker Man undertones of their psyche-folk debut, Into The Diamond Sun (2012). 

    The trio is made up of Rebecca, Emily and Lucy, who all cite disparate influences such as krautrock, folk, and electronica among them. These wide ranging influences go towards creating a dreamlike feel, but not always a nice dream – like one of those lucid dreams that you don’t want to wake up from because you’re having far too much fun solving the Lovecraftian monster mystery (or am I the only one who has those dreams?)        The sound is beautiful yet somehow sinister at times.  Expect lush and cunning harmonies, unusual sounds, and unexpected musical twists all happening in a unique and exciting secret venue.

    Support will come from the excellent Ever; beguiling, as she is brilliant!

Find them in the Secret Venue on Thursday  at 8pm.

Douglas Richards? From the Plastic Mermaids?! Yes, you heard correctly. He’s here, don’t fear, offer him a beer. He will be gracing the Fringe this year with a solo piano concert. The singer and pianist of this Isle of Wight band will be performing an instrumental concert of a collection of pieces he’s written over the last couple of years.

Douglas said, “I’ve had a few instrumental tunes knocking around for a while now and thought this seemed like a good opportunity to give them an airing. It’ll mostly be just me but I expect I’ll get a couple of other musicians involved too.”

The Plastic Mermaids have gigged at various festivals across the county, including Boardmasters, Liverpool Psych Fest, Blissfields and the Island’s very own Bestival and Isle of Wight Festival. 

With their own very unique style described as “folkedelic dream pop”, many a music magazine have described their style as a crescendo of strings and piano. Their set is something you rarely see, or not at all for that matter. The Plastic Mermaids take trees and wind chimes to their shows and set up the entire stage to perform something theatrical and atmospheric, which is not something you’d expect from a start-up band on the Isle of Wight. They’re also known for using a bow to play a guitar, quite a spectacle indeed. 

Douglas’ performance is something of a different spectrum, a more laid back manner in comparison to their lively shows. However this contrast in genre highlights what an excellent musician he really is. He’s able to jump from something experimental and eccentric to an instrumental performance. With this background information, it’s definitely something I’d recommend.

Douglas Richards is playing at St. Catherine’s Church at 7:30pm. His set is called Piano Pieces etc. etc. and tickets are £4. 

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The Austerity Games is an elaborately comical spin on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The performance is set in 1940s Britain after the spoils of war and the implementation of the NHS, following a pessimistic Mrs Britt (played by Emma Sian Cooper, writer) during the 1948 London Olympic games, who perfectly depicts the reluctance to change into a post-wartime widower. 

    A resentful Mrs B is beckoned by her nephew to celebrate the Olympic games to which she bitterly declines. Between re-enactments of governmental propaganda, Mrs Britt is visited by three influential spirits –the spirits of Olympic past, present and future (Taresh Solanki, Director) – who attempt to install enthusiasm back into the sceptic widow by means of favourable memories and Olympic highlights. 

    This award winning comedy drama is expressive, extrovert and downright entertaining. Throughout the show is persistent audience participation and witticism which accentuates the underlying themes of austerity in a country that has felt the strains of war. 

    Though this is Tell Tale’s first play from 2012, the act presents many similarities to a scrouge-like Margaret Thatcher. Having said this, I don’t know that she was ever met with three ghosts, nor do I believe she ever truely repented her polital wrongdoings. Hey-Ho!

    I can only describe the show as mockingly brilliant, this is a definite must see at Ventnor Fringe. 

The Austerity Games will be shown at Pier Street Playhouse Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6pm. 

By Hollie Hayes