Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen''s birthday at Chawton House Saturday 13th and Saturday 20th December
Members of the Fringe will be performing readings from the famous books, preceded by contemporary piano music, and including a song from Jane's own manuscript copy (which she may have used to accompany one of her sailor brothers).
The programme will be run from 12 noon and again from 2 pm on each of the two Saturdays bracketing the anniversary — the 13th and 20th December.
Admission will be covered by the Chawton House Day Ticket (£12.50) or by the Annual Ticket (£25). You can book via the Chawton House website or just turn up and pay on arrival.
Acclaimed November production THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE
Extremely powerful family story. Wonderful performances, including several Fringe debutantes.
Standing ovation on the Friday evening.
"I think I spent the whole night in your play. It ran through all my dreams, so I can't imagine how it must be for you. It was so good. You were all so good. Really memorable.'"
Things I Know to be True - more pictures and details
RECENT EVENT: Railway Readings - an informal evening to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the first railway
Goldfinch Bookshop proved to be the perfect venue for this highly successful evening. Gary and his family were incredible helpful in moving their book units and setting up the 40 chairs - in fact nothing was too much trouble. And with a drink thrown in for the £5 ticket fee it was a bargain too good to miss! We aim to return...
Organised with a single rehearsal by Lesley Willis the programme was lively, varied and often moving. Above all it was fun.
Audience feedback:
"Thank you and all at Alton Fringe for a wonderfully-delivered evening of poignant and moving readings, ranging widely across history, social transformation, tragedy and pleasure and much else besides. I loved it."
"Thank you so much for your extraordinary performance yesterday evening in the unique venue of Goldfinch book. It was a real treat to see faces we knew perform as themselves, whilst sharing with their audience a highly varied, entertaining and engaging selection of items creating a flavour of rail travel since its inception."
Looking back on November 2024's production
Breaking the Code by Hugh Whitemore,
We have been inundated with congratulations for a superbly successful production.
For example:
"This was a stunning and deeply moving company achievement, with performances capable of rivalling any professional production."
"Well, Tony and I would like to add our applause to the cast too, what a masterful performance! We were enthralled and so impressed by everyone but particularly with Chris Lang, he was incredible!"
From Jo Hopkins' review:
"...the audience was riveted by complex mathematical and philosophical ideas one minute, and moved to tears the next by the human need for love and to be understood ... This was down to the intelligent, sensitive direction of Steve Gerlach and the conviction and brilliance of the whole cast and creative team..."
Jo Hopkin's Review
This exceptional biographical drama about a man who broke too many codes: the eccentric genius Alan Turing who played a major role in winning the World War II, breaking the complex German code called Enigma, and enabling allied forces to foresee German manoeuvres.
Since his work was classified top secret for years after the war, no one knew how much was owed to him when he was put on trial for breaking another code the taboo against homosexuality. Turing, who was also the first to conceive of computers, was convicted under the 1885 Criminal Law Amendment Act which made all homosexual acts of "gross indecency" illegal, the same act used to convict Oscar Wilde, and sentenced to undergo hormone treatments which left him physically and mentally debilitated. He died a suicide, forgotten and alone.
This play is about who he was, what happened to him, and why.
Alton Fringe Theatre has brought together a very strong cast for this production. The powerful drama takes us on a journey through the all too short yet complex life of Alan Turing. There are of course, moments of triumph and disaster, laughter and tears. And at the heart of the story – a search for love. In a typical ‘Fringe’ stripped back production, it is the characters in Turing’s life as well as Turing himself who are the focus for attention.
With an original ‘soundscape’ by composer Julian Chou-Lambert, this production will be a must see.
This amateur production of “Breaking the Code” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. On behalf of Samuel French Ltd.
Alton Fringe at the Alton Arts Festival - July 2024
A celebration of 35 years of Fringe productions
As our contribution to this year's inaugural Alton Arts Festival we took the opportunity to celebrate 35 years of Fringe productions.
Although only a single evening event, this became a complex programme of extracts from no less than 14 productions, ranging from the first of all - 1988's Murder in the Cathedral - to ZigZag - the story of Gilbert White of Selborne staged in 2022. Almost everything was learned, and rehearsals took many weeks. But the audience reaction on the night made it clear that the effort had been abundantly worthwhile.
“Brilliant”, “superb” would be my headlines for last evening’s Fringe performances. What a glorious feast of drama, so well performed. Thank you all.
“Yet another superb evening of the most enjoyable pieces. Great to look back over so many years. Alton loves you.”'
"Excellent evening's entertainment, both funny and poignant in parts, showing the versatility and range of these accomplished actors."
A particular bonus was that Patrick Sandford, the professional director who had been engaged by the 1988 Alton May Arts Week to direct that seminal production of Murder in the Cathedral , accepted our invitation to join us.
Click for Details and more of Ian Dumelow's photos
The Cherry Orchard - Oct 2023
A triumph for Director Louise Biddiss with her bold and clear conception of how this play could be realised in the Fringe's characteristically intimate style. Through her skilful management of the rehearsal period she inspired exceptional early commitment from the cast and created a particularly happy and productive atmosphere throughout.
Michael Biddiss' special adaptation enabled the humour of Chekhov's 'comedy' to shine through in a way which delighted, and often surprised, the audiences.
Click here for information, photo-gallery, review, comments, etc
The Plague
30th March - 1st April 2023
A powerful and timely production
Audiences emerged from the three performances moved - sometimes to tears - and deeply impressed by the quality of the production. You will find a gallery of Ian Dumelow's superb dress-rehearsal photographs, and Peter Allwright's wonderfully insightful review on the dedicated page HERE
Conceived by Steve Gerlach and adopted as our next production by The Fringe three months before the COVID pandemic - that other plague - struck, this production, after three long and extraordinary years is at last accomplished.
About Us
Alton Fringe Theatre formed in 1988 when a diverse and talented group found themselves working together for an Alton Arts Week ‘all-comers-welcome’ production of Murder in the Cathedral, under the inspiring direction of Patrick Sandford.
Interested In Joining?
Alton Fringe Theatre is a local theatre group who take members from the age of seventeen upwards. There are no fees or subscriptions, just a willingness to get involved and contribute to whatever the group decides as the next project.