Castle Galleries, Bards Walk

Come and join us on Saturday 2nd June for the opening night of the art trail, which features over 40 artists visiting Stratford during the Fringe including members of Platforma.

We are really pleased with the connection we have made with he Seventh Layer Collective in London and The Refugee Council and Platforma, and this opening party is our way of welcoming artists who are living in the UK as refugees and adding to the rich creative culture in the UK – and more specifically in Stratford during Fringe week.

6pm

Free entry

FREE entry to all – performers and friends of the fringe and

friends old and new!

Friday 1st June

Stratford Picturehouse

From 6pm

FREE

Live music from Andrew James and Paul Johnston and also local young singer songwriter Sophie with Paul Morgan.

On Friday 1st June the lovely Carina and her team will be hosting the pre-fringe party for all the performers and supporters of the Fringe. During the evening a special showing of the film ‘This is not a movie’ will take place, reflecting the Fringe’s work with the Refugee Council and Platforma, which is a key part of our development this year and something we have been proud to do.

Entry is totally free and it would be great to see as many ‘friends of the fringe’ there to start the festival off with a bang – or a really bad hangover!!

Marstons EPA will be there as lead sponsors of the festival, so expect some lovely beer!!!

Hope to see you there!

More details to follow, but we’ve seen the beautiful goods on offer and it’s going to be really fab!

Please follow the links below for information about other events and venues we’d like to support:

The Royal Shakespeare Company – hosting a huge range of theatrical productions as well as their own productions as part of the World Shakespeare Festival

Cox’s Yard - one of the town’s main gig venues (and home of fringe venue The Attic Theatre) which hosts music and comedy

The Civic Hall - the largest venue in the town (apart from the RSC) and run by Stratford Town Trust. Hosts a huge variety of events throughout the year from tea dances to performances by the resident Orchestra of the Swan – one of the country’s leading chamber orchestras and partner to the Fringe

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust - cares for the 5 Shakespeare properties in and around the town and holds a huge archive of Shakespeare related material and lots more!!

Stratford Town Walks - award winning tours of Stratford given by experts on the history of Stratford

Entries are now closed for all you budding playwrites out there! The challenge was: 5 characters – 15 minutes – props you can fit in a bag. Could you do it???

The resounding answer was YES!

Over 120 entries from all over the world – we have been stunned by the creativity and energy with which the challenge has been met by so many people. It has been a wonderful experience reading them all – and very hard to narrow them down.

Entries will be judged by a panel of writers and directors, and finalists will be selected for a rehearsed read through on 6th June at The Attic Theatre. The winner will be announced later that day and will be rehearsed and performed in The Dell theatre space later in the summer.

We have been so inspired by the entries that we are considering producing a book of those entrants who would like their work to be included. We’ll be in touch about this soon.

Information is downloadable here and an entry form is available for download here.

Thanks so very much to all of you who took the time to send in your entries. This part of the festival promises to grow…..

Calendar of Events for the Visual Arts events as part of the

Stratford upon Avon Fringe Festival.

Event partners:

Refugee Council: Main charity sponsors where each free event will provide a bucket provided by the refugee council with a suggested donation of £1, this is due to it taking a £1 to feed a refugee in the UK at the Brixton HQ of the refugee council.

Platforma: Arts based website with links to a host of artists from overseas based in the UK working as arts practitioners.

Castle Galleries: Main hosting venue for the opening evening of the Arts Trail (Sat 2^nd 6-8pm) and host to a working arts studio(discussions for this very much in its infancy) within Stratford during Fringe Week.

Waterstones: Providing a book prize to learners who have taken part in the Fringe arts trail. (Need to meet with Manager at waterstones to discuss further)

The Times: Michael Binyon being the main contact with this covering a variety of Fringe events, including the preview event below.

Preview events

May 10^th- 16^th at the Curious Duke gallery, Whitecross St. (Nearest tube Old St Stn) showcasing the following visual artists. AzIz Anzabi, Susan Balzer, Scot Bradbury, Panos Dimitripolous,, Chris King, Amang Marokhy,  Froso Papadimitriou, Sam Peacock, Faith Pearson, Emad Al Taay.

Fringe Events

Sat 2^nd June

Fang Gleizes presents “This is my home now” an interactive retrospective of the lives of people living in the UK who have come to our shores as refugees. Fang presents 25 case studies of people of all ages and backgrounds. All week (STILL NEED FINAL CONFIRMATION)

A-Z of the arts trail beginning from 10-6 everyday throughout the Fringe week at the following venues.  Picturehouse Theatre (Carina) Castle Galleries (Ellie Wardle) Box Brownie (Ben/photography only) Four Teas (Rachel Barber/Artist only, nothing on walls) Café Rouge plus 2 others to be confirmed Opening night of show at Castle Galleries 6-8pm. Free.

Faith Pearson creating Bigatures and Miniature’s. An  interactive set of activities for young people to engage in involving the creation of toys from recycled objects. (venue TBC) 10-6 Free. TBC

Aziz Anzabi; Aziz’s work at the fringe will centralise on creating sculpture from recycled materials. The work will be on public display for the week. 10-6 in the courtyard at MAD.

Hereward College post 16 department. Photographic Display from learners with Autism. Daily 10-6 (space to be confirmed)

Lee Burrows painting live in the window at Castle Galleries 10-5.

Sunday 3^rd June

Cholo Apolo Graffiti Artist creating an interactive mural for people of all ages to get involved in and create a piece designed by Cholo. Peruvian graffiti artist living in London creating murals the world over. 10-6 Free Town Square (TBC)

Faith Pearson creating a cave dwelling from recycled materials, interactive activity for young people to get involved in. (Outside the Picturehouse) 10-6 Free

£5 Art Race at Cox’s Yard. A unique chance to purchase some excellent art for a fiver. Viewings for the event begin at 7. Bell goes at 9.

Aziz Anzabi; Aziz’s work at the fringe will centralise on creating sculpture from recycled materials. The work will be on public display for the week. 10-6 outside the Fringe office.

Monday 4^th June

Cholo Apolo Graffiti Artist creating an interactive mural for people of all ages to get involved in and create a piece designed by Cholo. Peruvian graffiti artist living in London creating murals the world over. 10-6 Free Town Square. TBC

Julia Sterland Portraits at the Four Teas, UK based artist Julia Sterland will be doing portraits of customers in this popular tea room in the heart of Stratford, also able to give tips and hints of painting portraiture. 10-4

Tuesday 5^th June

Cholo Apolo Graffiti Artist creating an interactive mural for people of all ages to get involved in and create a piece designed by Cholo. Peruvian graffiti artist living in London creating murals the world over. 10-6 Free Town Square TBC

Julia Sterland Portraits at the Four Teas, UK based artist Julia Sterland will be doing portraits of customers in this popular tea room in the heart of Stratford, also able to give tips and hints of painting portraiture. 10-4

Wednesday 6^th June

Chris King and the Photographic Tour of Stratford. Chris will give 3 daily tours of Stratfords most historical sights. Catering for enthusiasts with a snap and shoot camera, SLR cameras and a Kodak mini camera class for the younger photographer. 10-6 £5 per tour (Box Brownie as starting point)

A2 photography student exhibition/ Arts Trail Photography Exhibition. Students from Stratford upon Avon College will be displaying their work at Box Brownie throughout the week, opening night from 6-8.

Thursday 7^th June

Chris King and the Photographic Tour of Stratford. Chris will give 3 daily tours of Stratfords most historical sights. Catering for enthusiasts with a snap and shoot camera, SLR cameras and a Kodak mini camera class for the younger photographer. 10-6 £5 per tour

Beth Walls painting Live in Castle Galleries window. 10-5pm

Friday 8^th June

Still Life classes: 2 sessions of still life drawing using a range of materials with artist Sam Peacock. Available to all. £5 per session. Venue Maisons 11am-2pm. 3pm-5pm

Call 07981196961 to book

Collaborative Arts: Creating an interactive piece at the Buzz coffee shop space 12-6

Saturday 9^th June

Life Drawing class: 2 sessions.  A chance to explore the human body through the mode of art. Sessions conducted by artist Sam Peacock. £7 per 1.5 hr session. A variety of poses during the event. Venue Maisons 12.30pm-2pm. 3pm-4.30pm

Call 07981196961 to book.

Collaborative Arts: Creating an interactive piece at the Buzz coffee shop space 12-6

Overview of participants

Julia Sterland:

Portraiture and artist tips and hints at the Four Teas. Participants can have their portrait painted in the venue by this stunning artist. 4^th /5^th June 10-4.

Faith Pearson:

Birmingham based artist creating Bigatures and Minatures. Young person’s art activity taking place outside the picturehouse using recycled materials. Emphasis and focus on play, creativity and interaction. 2^nd/3^rd June 10-6

Fang Gleizes:

“This is my home now” tour. Artist, Fang from France showing 25 case studies of people who have come to these shores as refugees.  Post Office 10-6 Throughout the week.

Cholo Apolo:

Peruvian graffiti artist creating Olympic themed pieces of interactive, child friendly art for all ages to come and get involved in. Stencil art, spraycan art and installation work on a grand scale.

Chris King:

Belfast Born documentary photographer who focuses on all aspects of photography. Giving tours from Box Brownie, giving advice and tips on SLR, black and white imagery as well as perspective and advice. 6^th/7^th From Box Brownie 10.30, 13.30, 15.30 £5 per tour.

Aziz Anzabi

Iranian born artist focusing on creating sculpture from recycled materials, namely 1000 coke cans. Outside the Fringe Office 2^nd/3^rd June 10-6.

Lee Burrows:

Fine artist specialising in landscapes and social commentary.

Beth Walls:

Painter using mixed media to create stunning paintings.

Click here to see a great video from OOTS – the Fringe will be going to London in May so keep your eyes peeled at Marylebone station for us – courtesy of Chiltern Railways!

Milton Jones, Andy Kershaw, Hamana, Little Howard’s Big Show, the Brothers McLeod, Sing-a-long-a Mamma Mia, Short Film competition, Short play competition, visiting artists from all over the world – it’s all happening in Stratford 2-10 June. We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the town for what promises to be a really exciting Fringe Festival this year!

With the Refugee Council and Platforma

All week

Castle Galleries, Picturehouse Cinema, Box Brownie, The Four Teas, The One Elm and Maison

Opening hours vary – please contact venues

FREE

The Fringe has worked with artist Sam Peacock to bring you a fantastic art trail through the town, featuring work from artists from Stratford, the UK and beyond. Working together with Platforma and the Refugee Council, exploring the issues of exile, home and belonging, the Fringe hopes to celebrate creativity by people from any background, bringing artists together through their work and supporting the incredible work of the Refugee Council and Platforma – two of the many many organisations whose work is under threat because of the current financial climate.

The trail will open at Castle Galleries on Saturday 2nd June, and will be a chance for you to meet some of the exhibiting artists.

When you sit down to your meal tonight, can you think of this – it costs £1 to feed a refugee in the UK for a day.

Refugees have fled war, torture and persecution. Refugees must always be treated with dignity and respect, and properly supported to rebuild their lives.

The Refugee Council writes:

Asylum seekers receive just 70% of income support (£40 per week). They are not allowed work so are forced to live in poverty. In 2002, a joint Refugee Council/Oxfam report found that 85% of organisations working with asylum seekers said their clients experienced hunger while 95% said they could not afford clothes or shoes

The Arts Trail is free, but if you would like to make a donation, there will be collection tins at various points throughout the trail and in the Fringe Office (Town Square – open throughout the festival).

www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

We’re ready for your films now! Follow the link here to all the information you need and an entry form. Films can be a max of 15 minutes long and can be entered into one of 4 categories – see the info sheet for more details.

Closing date is 25th May!

Awards evening will be on 7th June at The Chapel, Shakespeare No 1, Stratford upon Avon, and all submissions will be screened at venues throughout the town during the festival.

Look forward to receiving your films soon!

On April 1st, the website will be going live with everything you need to plan your visit to the fringe, box office links, info about all the artists performing and much much more.

In the meantime, we’ve got a couple of pre-Fringe events we’d love to see you at, the first being a gig at Cox’s Yard on May 27th with Goskino.

£3 on the door

8pm start

PS – they’re loud.

Pride of Stratford Awards

We were thrilled to have been put through to the final of these prestigious awards – and many congratulations to the RSC for winning Arts Organisation of the year! They have been supporters of the Fringe since it started in 2010 and will be involved again this year. Photos of the awards ceremony will be up on the Touch FM website very soon!

Congratulations also to the Orchestra of the Swan, who have taken part in the Fringe every year too. A wonderful organisation to work with!

Following the success of his debut year as Official Fringe poet, the unmistakable Steve Steinhaus is back in 2012! Not only is he taking on the role of Fringe Poet again, but he’s bringing a unique show to the Fringe! The charismatic singer with a big personality who fronts Dr Teeth Big Band and The Steve Steinhaus Swing Band, Steve has created a brand new show which is a departure from the usual and in ‘Steiny’s Blues – Such Sweet Thunder’ he is supported by talented jazz musicians, Tasha Buxton on drums and Jay Moody on keys and saxes, as he tells tales from his life story.

The show features Harlem-style jazz poetry, a cappella gospel songs, call and response singalongs and entertaining stories about the myths and legends of American jazz and blues and Steve’s musical idols. It is interwoven with anecdotes from Steve’s childhood in Chicago and his life as a bouncer, musician, poet, school teacher, and as an American living in England.

The show is bursting with energy and audience interaction; Steve will get you clapping and stamping your feet, teach you simple harmonies to join in with and shout back replies to the rousing choruses. You’ll go home buzzing with his infectious enthusiasm, having been taken on a fascinating journey!

“Hey that guy’s great, what a showman…The atmosphere the band created was brilliant and the music they provided – rhythm and blues and jazz – was sizzlingly executed. Brilliant!!” – Previous audience comments on Steve and his bands

Watch this space for more information!