Two days to go until Barnstaple Fringe Theatrefest!

With just two more sleeps until Barnstaple Fringe Theatrefest returns, the town is bracing for a deluge of fantastic and varied shows covering everything from music and dance to serious theatre, comedy and a mania about mushrooms!

Well-known venues around the town as well as open air locations such as Barnstaple Library Square and Castle Mound will be hosting some 180 performances from 55 individual productions, showcasing something for every taste during a four-day extravaganza.

It is all there with street theatre, comedy from Edinburgh Fringe performers, drama both serious and not-so-serious, music, magic, dance and children’s entertainment, to name just some of the genres and themes ready to delight audiences at the 19th instalment of the Fringe.

Venues include the Queen’s Theatre main stage and gallery@QT, the Baptist Hall in Boutport Street, the Guildhall, the Golden Lion Tap on the Square, upstairs@GLT and the Castle Centre.

There are also various ‘alt venues’ including Green Lanes, Castle Green and Mound, Room at the Top (QT boardroom), outside St Anne’s chapel, the Pannier Market, the museum, Castle Quay, The Feelgood Larder and more.

Above: Mia Borthwick brings her hilarious exploration of living with dyscalculia - I Don't Have A Maths GCSE

Reasonable pricing sees every ticketed show cost £8 for full price and £5 for concessions, available online or in person at the main venue box offices or the Fringe Central Box Office in the Queen’s Theatre foyer.

But… anyone who buys a Frequent Fringer ticket can see six shows, for the cost of £4 a show, available at the box offices or you can also buy an equivalent E-Fringer voucher via the festival website.

There are also numerous ‘pay-what-you-will’ shows where a collection will be taken at the end and people invited to show their appreciation accordingly.

One thing everyone needs to enter Fringe venues is a Fringe Badge, costing £2. These can be pre-ordered online and picked up from the eight Fringe venues or the central box office.

Above: Join Andy Linden of Harry Potter, Count Arthur Strong, The Business, Not Going Out fame in his one man play about the fluctuating fortunes of Baxter, an aging horse-racing tipster.

So what can you see? Over the next few days the Gazette will preview some individual shows online, but you can also find details on every show via the Fringe website.

For a very quick taster, what about From Essex To Barry by North Devon’s own Mrs Animation? This is a hilarious and toe tapping musical that brings together the best of British humour, heart-warming relationships and unforgettable tunes.

Above: From Essex to Barry is a hilarious and toe tapping musical from North Devon’s Mrs Animation.

Or what about I Don’t Have A Maths GCSE? This 60 minute one woman show by actor and musician Mia Borthwick sees her explores the insecurities and low self-esteem caused by her dyscalculia (that’s dyslexia for numbers), turning her personal struggles into relatable and hilarious anecdotes.

Or join Centre Stage School at the mosaic on The Strand for Magic of the Musicals, is a heartfelt contemporary piece, dancing to popular songs from the big shows.

Something Rotten or The Claudius Complex sees Hamlet’s uncle have his say as Robert Cohen re-tells the events of the world’s most famous play from another perspective.

Above: Hamlet's uncle has his say on events....

Go mad about mushrooms and learn to be ‘berry careful’ as Helen Wood brings her sell-out The Foraging Fan Club to the Baptist Hall in a quirky, feel-good comedy where all aspects of foraging are unearthed and celebrated.

Meanwhile, Whispers of Woden by Four of Swords sees a spectacular retelling of Anglo Saxon myths and legends, told with magical rituals, cryptic illustrations and captivating puppetry in pay-what-you-will shows at Castle Mound and Library Square.

Above: Foraging fun and informative craziness with Helen Wood and The Foraging Fan Club

Fringe Theatrefest is supported by Landmark Theatres, Barnstaple Town Council, North Devon Council, Barnstaple Town Centre Management, The Bridge Trust, The Plough Arts Centre, Barnstaple Library, Barnstaple Museum, Green Lanes Shopping Centre and Flourish Barnstaple.

For full details on every show and venue, where and how to buy tickets and any other Fringe question you might have, go to https://www.theatrefest.co.uk