PLANS are afoot to bring a brand new ‘Bromsgrove Fringe Festival’ to the town from next year.
The idea is the brainchild of town comedian Anthony Theophanous, better known by his stage name, Fat Theo, and he has been liaising with Bromsgrove District Council’s events team, Artrix and many local organisations.
For this dream to become a reality, though, an organising committee will need to be set up, and so a rallying call has been made for people to help make something for ‘Bromsgrove to be proud of.’
Fat Theo wants the festival to be a smaller version of Edinburgh Fringe and wants it to encompass all of the arts, including comedy, music, art, dance, poetry and drama.
He has pencilled May 2027 as the start date for the mooted month-long festival.
He has already contacted those behind the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival in Droitwich, which he performed in several times, to help him organise his own event.
Theo told the Standard: “We want to give new and up-and-coming performers a space to perform, as well as attract more experienced acts to the town.
“The Rik Mayall Comedy Festival was a big success in Droitwich, and it proved these things can work, so we are trying to replicate what they did but push it further to incorporate all the arts.”
“We want to show a diverse range of acts to the people of Bromsgrove and have shows celebrating all kinds of different cultures.
“Now it is about finding the right organising committee. I know a lot of people in the industry, and a lot of key people in Bromsgrove are keen to get involved.”
As well as major theatres and event halls such as Artrix, it is hoped local businesses, such as bars and clubs, will host many different events to help bring footfall to the town and boost trade.
Theo has already worked out an initial plan outlining the structure of the festival, and he has started work on getting a website made for it.
He is keen to make a lot of events free to enter, with people being encouraged to pay what they can afford to support the festival rather than charging high prices for tickets.
And he said he wanted to end the festival with a bang by bringing a huge act to Artrix.
Theo added: “We want it to be an affordable and fun event, so people can attend five or six events and watch a range of art forms rather than only being able to afford one show.
“We want this to be something to be proud of in Bromsgrove, something to create jobs in the town and something that will benefit all those involved.”
Those who want to be part of the festival organising committee should email [email protected] with ‘Festival’ as their subject.
