Ventnor Fringe

The Isle of Wight's multi award winning festival

I’m Just Here For The Boos

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I had a big old row with the girlfriend last night I’m afraid to inform. Plates were flying, doors were slammed, it was awful, it really was. Luckily in the end she finally admitted we’ve got a poltergeist.

The Royal National Hospital was located in the same place as our Botanical Gardens are situated now and was opened in 1867 to deal with tuberculosis and other chest diseases. The climate of the area was an important factor in its choice of location and the hospital continued its vital work rehabilitating patients for over a century, until advances in medicine and the decline in these diseases resulted in its closure and demolition in 1969. ~ INSERT MOON LANDING CONSPIRACY HERE~

There are several accounts of demolition men and contractors of the old building being left as trembling husks after being “badly affected” by a secret voyeur they could sense but never see.

The terrifying accounts of evil spirits terrorising the grounds became so extreme that an official report was written up. There were numerous pleads for either the Anglican or Roman Catholic Church to investigate the area and to expel any undesirables but the exorcism was supposedly never performed. Several further accounts came to light before the demolition was completed in July 1969.

If you happen to be in the area be extra cautious not to rile up any of our incarcerated native souls, we really can’t be held accountable for their actions.

Huh? A sceptic are you? Well it just so happens that this ruggedly attractive, devilishly charming writer just happened to see one only the other day.

It was just outside the Botanical Gardens en route to St Lawrence when I came across a dead baby ghost. Actually on reflection that very well could just have been the handkerchief I dropped, I guess we’ll never know. In the words of TV hunk and cult idol David Duchovny, THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE.

Free Fringe- Tuesday 11th August 2015

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The Ventnor Fringe officially starts today, which means it’s time to head on over to the Woodland Bar for the festival launch and welcome talk at 6pm this evening! There are a host of free events tonight at the Woodland Bar and The Observatory, as well as buskers located around the town during the day.

Following on from the welcome talk is local singer-songwriter (and the Review Paper’s very own fashionista) Poppy Cook with her first of four performances throughout the week. Her sweet acoustic sounds are enough to make anyone’s heart melt and is sure to have the audience in the palm of her hand tonight at 8pm. Closing the evening at 9pm in the Woodland Bar is Winter Springs, who will be performing songs from their debut EP ‘Summer Is Coming’. Hailing from Leeds, the band inspired by Bon Iver are looking forward to bringing their show to the Isle of Wight!

Opening proceedings in The Observatory at 6pm is Jazzabella, followed by German singer-songwriter Finke Bootsmann, with the first of two performances throughout the course of the week. Rounding off the evening in The Observatory is folk/blues artist Jack Pout who is performing on the back of a nomination at the BBC Folk Awards. His inspirations derive from music of the 70s, particularly artists such as The Faces, Captain Beefheart and John Martyn.

It’s safe to say that you won’t be stuck for anything to do today! So go on out there, you might even discover your new favourite artist… and the best thing is, it’s all free!

REVIEW TEAM TOP PICK!

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An interview with Joan Ellis

Last year you were here reading extracts from your book, I AM ELLA.BUY ME. you’ve done a lot since then. Do you want to tell us a bit more?

Yes I’ve written 3 more [books], two of which were psychological thrillers. I was quite happy writing chick-lit which is what ‘I AM ELLA. BUY ME’. is and then I met a murderer on a train from Waterloo to Portsmouth.

A murderer?

Yes, a murderer.

Legitimately, you’re telling the truth?

Well, yes. He told me that’s what he’d done and I had no reason to disbelieve him.

He scared the living daylights out of me and people said well why didn’t you get up and move seats and I thought well, I was quite scared of him and I didn’t want to antagonise him.

So I just thought I’d stay calm and keep him calm and pray, and having survived the 90 minutes he asked me to run away with him at the end of the journey.

Obviously I passed on that kind offer.

But I thought I need to write a book about this.

So that is the opening chapter to The Killing of Mummy’s Boy.

What kind of things was he saying to you?

He was telling me a lot of things that only he could have known having been in prison having done what he’d done and having then led the type of life that he had outside.

Is that not something you’d report to the police?

He’d served his time and was out on some kind of licence.

He could have been just fantasising but I wasn’t about to argue with him, he had a great big rucksack.

So in a way you did run away with him…

Yes perhaps I did.

You’ve also written two others. You’ve got GUILT and THE THINGS YOU MISSED WHILE YOU WERE AWAY which is quite convenient for this interview…

Yes.

Having written THE KILLING OF MUMMY’S BOY, which is set mainly here on the Island, I enjoyed writing the twists and turns that a psychological thriller needs and coming up with an ending that nobody could guess.

I wrote GUILT which is based on a true life tragic event and it’s about a little girl who’s left alone with her younger brother and he dies in her care. She has to discover the truth about what did happen and find out the truth about herself, her parents, and what really happened that afternoon.

It sounds like a very unhappy book but it’s got a really uplifting ending.

Then I wrote THE THINGS YOU MISSED WHILE YOU WERE AWAY which is based on a column I used to write about my little girl when she was so small she couldn’t stop me writing stuff about her. I was a single parent to my daughter, my mum was a single parent to me but it’s basically saying that everything is going to be fine, you don’t have to be a part of a traditional, nuclear, 2.4 children and a dog family to be happy because love, as you know, comes from lots of unexpected places to fill our hearts.”

If you want to hear the rest of this interview go to ventnorexchange.co.uk/vfringe/review

Joan will be giving a reading from four of her books, looking at the female characters and their natural development in each story tonight @ 7.30pm in The Scout Hut. 

Fringe’s Fashionista must see of the week

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Shakespearian men in Matrix jackets, blonde bombshells in swaggy shades and more tweed than you could shake a stick at! Today’s vintage fashion show had some rocking style combinations, merging classic vintage  with a modern day twist. Audience members enjoyed the show over cups of homemade lemonade, cream teas and boozy coffees from the fabulous Travelling Tea Rooms. The models were fabulously dressed by our local vintage shop ‘Oh So Vintage…’ and styled by Ventnor’s fashion finest – Laura Reid. 

If you were at all deterred from leaving your cosy homes by Friday’s grey skies, then fear no more! The fictitious forecast has predicted sizzling sunshine for Saturday morning, so get yourself down to Ventnor Winter Gardens at 1pm for The Vintage, Retro and Craft Fair’s final edition of the Vintage Fashion show. And remember fringers, this is a FREE FRINGE event, and of course my top pick of the week, so be there… or be square. 

p.s. all vintage garments seen on the catwalk will be available for sale after the show… oh you lucky things!

Barnageddon

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It’s that time of year folks, let’s get on down and have ourselves a good ole’ fashioned hoe down. The barn dance will be held tomorrow at Pier Street Playhouse from 3.30pm – no experience necessary! The wonderful Karen Tweed & The Dustbin Corner Ceilidh Band shall provide the music and get you up off your haunches for some no holds barred barnstompin’ mayhem. An optional, heartily encouraged fancy dress shall take place under the theme of Shipwrecks and Sailors – the world is your oyster! Prizes for under 8s, under 16s and over 16s.
 

I’m Hooked!

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Capitan Hook; our thoughts turn to the typical villain of a children’s story, like many others he is just the ‘big baddie’ who steps in the way of good ’cause he can. There’s no more to it. Is there?

Think again. In his show ‘I Hooky’, Olly Fry presents a whole new insight in to the mind of Hook, adding depth and seriousness (but not without humour!) to a character that is not so childish after all. And,not forgetting, his toy bear Smee!

Olly gives us the perfect one-man performance, captivating his audience entirely. He also gets the audience involved, adding spice to the soliloquy.

This is a truly great show; funny, dramatic and emotional – what more can you ask for?

By Evan Wragg

The Spirit Of Carnival

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What’s 126 years old, writhes along like a slug and closes more streets than Island Roads can shake a stick at? That’s right; it’s that time of year – VENTNOR CARNIVAL IS BACK!

The time of year the ashtray skies don’t get to us as much as they should do, the time of year the seasonal self-loathing lies dormant at the pit of our bloated, neglected stomachs. The time of year we turn a blind eye to all the austerity, injustice and cyborg Nazi warlords plaguing our existence. Come to arms brothers and celebrate like it’s 1999 – Mardi Gras style baby.

Now if you’re a carnival virgin this makes things a little tricky. It’s not exactly something some old hack can write about and expect you to understand, and as a self-certified old hack myself, I get this. Yeah sure it’s a procession, sure there are floats and costumes and pints of Fosters in plastics, but that is beside the point. It’s an other-worldly visceral experience man, it’s a helter skelter ride to the brightest star and back. You know the space vortex scene in 2001: A Space Odyssey? Mix that with Lord Summerisle burning a wicker man and you’re halfway there.

Open your eyes, open your minds and bring at least 10 quid for a Disney helium balloon. Catch you on the flipside.

The procession begins in the town at 7pm tomorrow.

Let’s Get Launch-y

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What’s the time, Mr Wolf? It’s bloody Ventnor Fringe time! A whole year has passed since we last saw you all. Did you miss us? Have you been keeping well? 

Fantastic.

The Ventnor Fringe team have been busy little bees this past year assembling the best Fringe to date. This year’s festival will be jam packed with EVEN MORE theatre and dance. 

    Even more than last year? You ask. Yes! Even more theatre and dance! Additionally there will be a side portion of local outdoor screenings and a healthy dollop of returning artists – all packed into one delectable, mouth-watering week.

    But wait, there’s more! The VFringe team even have a cheeky treat for you this year: The Ventnor International Festival. This whole section is dedicated to the International phenomenon’s of the Pokémon age; giving you peachy lot an even bigger and better experience. The Ventnor International Festival will play host to regular faces, Toby Thompson, Dizraeli and Bane (Probably not the notorious Batman villain but we don’t know how he spends his weekends). 

    Don’t they treat us so well?

Sadly the Woodland Bar won’t be returning to Fringe this year. It’s for the best, really. We wanted different things, we’re on two different paths and quite frankly we just need some space. I kid, I kid. The guys just thought it was time for a change. 

    Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom. There is a spectacular new venue; The Parkside & Outdoor Cinema located on Park Avenue.

Make sure you head on down to The Fringe Launch Party and welcome talk this evening at 7pm at the Observatory Bar. In previous years this event has commenced with a few words from festival director, Jack Whitewood followed by music and merriment.

    Various performances will be executed around Ventnor throughout the rest of the evening spanning from The Tempest at Ventnor Botanic Gardens to The Chalkpit Rubble Club at this year’s secret venue –pause for dramatic effect… 

    Last, but certainly not least, the evening will be drawn to a close by wonderful Parkside Comedy at, you guessed it folks, our brand spanking new Parkside venue. So much to do yet so little time! Don’t forget to pick up a copy of our free programme for you, your neighbour, your dog; whoever!

    P.s. The Observatory is a Poké-Gym

 

By Hollie Hayes

Lonely Hearts Club Saturday

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“What is love? Baby don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me no more”

Mr Hadaway was honest and direct in this lyric, wearing his heart on his proverbial shell suited sleeve. A sleeve that probably had a glow stick bracelet around it. Gosh, I miss the 90’s. Anyway! Today’s hard core house loving singleton is Mr L and he’s no Mister Vain. He has the key, if you have the secret?

Don’t leave him feeling blue (da ba dee). My good friend Mr L has a good eye for typefaces and an encyclopaedic knowledge of James Bond. Mr L is looking for a feisty little snowboarding raver to join him on the ski slopes of love. If you would like to meet Mr L for a cider, drop us an email – media@ vfringe.co.uk, or drop by the media room at the Ventnor Exchange and I’ll hook you up. Because I’m good to you like that.

My sweet darlings, remember, only love can set you free. 

 

Yours, Miss Reid xxx

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.

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Admittedly I am not what you call an avid theatre goer. For those theatre buffs that are quick to scruinise I say nay and be silent!

Only having a brief knowledge of Richard II’s persecution, I was wholeheartedly consumed by this play. Scena Mundi, BRAVO! The first half starts with some quite tense and somewhat aggressive scenes showing the dissolution of King Richard II’s crown. Though despair is a prominent tone for King Richard toward the end of the first half something even more terrible but upholding unravels in the second half.

I think the coronation of this show is definitely part two.

The mutiny unravelling in the beginning comes to light as Henry Bolingbroke and the King’s former followers plot against the throne and take his crown. By the end of part one I was drunk with worry for what were to happen, though I knew the outcome was inevitably death (come on, it is Shakespeare).

But who would die?  The second half shares some of the wittier remarks we have grown to love from Shakespeare. Despite the content of it being somewhat more shocking, the build of relationship within the communion and King Richard’s soliloquy is breath affirming.

This show will immerse you as a loyal or perhaps more to the point un-loyal subject to King Richard II’s court.

“God save the king” and no loyal subject to call amen.

I must admit I had to bite my tongue otherwise I was would most certainly have been alongside Richard II in his fall from grace.