Drama Music Comedy and more - A performance festival with something for all ages and tastes - Watford Fringe
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Drama •Music •Comedy
and more…
A performance festival with
something for all ages and tastes
Welcome to the Watford Fringe Thursday 1st – Sunday 4th October 2020 As part of the spirit of #WatfordTogether, the Pump House is proud, with amazing help from its brilliant community of volunteers, to find a way to reopen and continue the Watford Fringe for all to enjoy live art again. Four years ago, the Pump House, the quirky local theatre and hub for emerging talent, thought “Lets do a Watford Fringe!”. Four years later it is going from strength to strength, and this year there will be over 50 acts in The Pump House Theatre and Watford Museum. The team have been working really hard to prepare a safe environment for all to enjoy. Measures are in place to make sure this Festival is as safe as possible, including fogging and UV light zapping! We have learned so much and safety will come first for this Festival. We will have industrial strength cleaning of indoor facilities including anti-viral soft furnishing treatments, specialised environmentally friendly UV space disinfectant machines, hand sanitiser everywhere. We have been working with local and public health authorities to ensure everything meets the latest guidelines. We have extended the Festival to four days to help space out acts and allow for additional safety. There will be small, socially distanced audiences, outside performance space options with partial covering, but the exciting part is we will also be streaming most of the performances … live! Therefore, if you are at home and still want to join in you can! There are several award winning 5 star plays that could not perform this year at other Fringes such as Edinburgh/Camden; comedians; music; musical theatre; poetry & the spoken word; plays for the younger audience; magicians; choirs and much, much more. We would like to thank our partners for their support for the Festival including Watford Borough Council, Watford Museum, Watford and West Herts Chamber of Commerce and the Arts Council. The information in this guide is subject to change. We also have contingency plans to cope with any last minute changes to government health advice. For the very latest information and to book tickets go to: WatFringe.co.uk. Further information available at office@pumphouse.info or on 01923 225671 – please note, with very limited resources, this phone number is only staffed part time, so please leave a message and someone will try any respond with a couple of working days. It would help us if you can try the website or email to answer your question before trying to call.
DRAMA
A Slice of Saturday Night
MUSICAL THEATRE
Set in a nightclub, young love, teenage dreams, fashion and music are the
order of the day. Watch and cringe as ten teenagers navigate their way
through the night under the experienced eye of the club’s owner.
This Heather Brothers classic began its life in Brighton
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Thur 1st & Fri 2nd @6.15pm (70 mins) £9
#txtshow
INTERACTIVE THEATRE
“An experience unlike anything in live theater.” – DC Metro Theater Arts.
The best show you’ll write all year, this completely immersive multiscreen
performance features a script written anonymously in real-time by a live
audience (on the internet). Created and performed by Brian Feldman, this
live, interactive performance takes place exclusively online.
LIVE STREAMING
Fri 2nd & Sat 3rd @7pm (45 mins) FREE
Audacious Mr Astley
Edinburgh Fringe 5 act, the audacious Sergeant-Major Philip Astley is
saddling up to tell first-hand how he and his wife Patty founded the world's
5
first modern circus. Written and performed by modern-day professional
ringmaster Chris Barltrop, whose unique 'insider' view reveals the
THEATRE
character of the 'father of the circus' as well as his story. Stubborn,
cocksure, proud, jealous... Barltrop has met a few circus proprietors in his
time, and Astley may well have been their archetype.
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Sat 3rd @10.30am & 8.15pm (45mins)
Sun 4th @10.30am & 5.30pm (45mins) £11.50
Vinyl Encore
COMEDY DRAMA
Bruised egos and broke, two forgotten rock stars try and record the album
that makes sense of their lives. This four star (Broadway Baby) critically-
acclaimed comic drama featuring live music stars Paul Vitty and AW King as
two naughty boys who still refuse to join the real world.
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sun 4th @2.45 (60 mins) £10/£8
Rough Sleeper
A homeless man is rough sleeping in the doorway of a closed down high
street store. He tells the story of his rise from rags to riches, and his
subsequent fall from grace into homelessness. A new play written in
response to the homeless crisis, "Rough Sleeper" premiered in January 2020
PLAY
to great acclaim. It highlights the brutal harshness of life on the streets in an
affluent South-Eastern City. Contains some strong language and references
to social issues relating to homelessness.
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd @6.30pm (80 mins)
Sun 4th @4.30pm (80 mins) £10/£8
MCUsical: The Unofficial Parody Marvel Musical
A hilarious brand new nerdy comedy show, which retells the last 10 years of
MUSICAL DRAMA
your favourite superhero cinematic films through your favourite Broadway
show tunes! This work-in-progress show comes from a highly reviewed,
successful company.
You'll love it 3000!
BEST MUSICAL COMEDY AWARD NOMINEE - LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd @2.30pm (75 mins)
Sun 4th @12.30pm (75 mins) £7/£5
Drama King
A compelling, humorous and emotion-filled one-man show about one of
the greatest actor-managers of the 19th Century, William Charles
Macready.
PLAY
The story of Macready, the man to whom Charles Dickens dedicated
'Nicholas Nickleby', is one of the most remarkable ever to come out of the
theatre.
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Sun 4th @1.45pm (80 mins) £9/£6
Don’t Worry…Bee Happy
PLAY FOR CHILDREN
Join Beatrice Bee and her woodland friends in this lively, multi-sensory,
interactive musical tale and learn about how we can all help save the busy
little bees! This relaxed theatre show is suitable for all ages and welcomes a
younger audience and those with additional sensory processing needs. Have
an 'It's okay to be me' and ‘You can do it, too’ attitude? Then this is a show
you will enjoy.
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd @10.15 (60 mins) £6/£4
Kabaret for Kids
THEATRE FOR CHILDREN
The fun and thrill of cabaret, made especially for kids! Interactive, exciting
and filled with fun. With hilarious comedy by John Oakes, rapping to your
suggestions and messing around with the funniest comedy. Plus a flying visit
from the fabulous Mary Poppins, singing and bringing her own brand of
sugar. All held together by our resident hostess the gorgeous Gloria.
Afternoons have never been such fun!
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd @4.45pm (60 mins) £9/£6
Cone Boy
ConeBoy is a music, spoken-word and drama show from writer and musician
COMEDY THEATRE
Clive Parker-Sharp. Clive was at the forefront in the punk movement, with
such bands as Spizz Energi and The Members, and a founder of 80's rockers
Big Country. As an author he brings his second book alive, with collaborator,
actor/singer Marshall Star in a funny, poignant and cutting take on the media
from the 70's to now, via the lens of a boy made famous because of his
appearance. A book event like no other!
PUMP HOUSE: CHARLES ROOM
Sat 3rd & Sun 4th @7pm (70 mins) £8.50/£7.50
Mr Dusty Rose’s Ghost Show
VICTORIANY THEATRE
Turn off the lights, light a candle, and let us begin... What happens when
you tell ghost stories in the dark? When you call out do you get a response?
We have always been obsessed with these questions. Mister Dusty Rose
whisks the audience away on an evening of history, mystery and the
supernatural in this modern recreation of a Victorian Ghost Show.
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd & Sun 4th @10.15pm (60 mins) £20/£15
The Show Must Go Online
Herts Inclusive Theatre presents a short film, The Show Must Go Online,
a fully inclusive production filmed by participants of all abilities and all
FILM
ages during the Covid19 lockdown.
LIVE ONLINE STREAMING
Sat 3rd @1.34 pm (40 mins) FREE
P.S Theatre Showcase
P.S Theatre is proud to present a collection of work written and produced by
YOUTH THEATRE
its performers. Over the summer term, we worked together virtually to
produce 6 original performances to show over Zoom. However, P.S Theatre
are extremely excited to put that work back on stage where it belongs.
From 'teen sitcom' drama to outer space experiences we have something for
everyone. P.S Theatre's performers start at 4, all the way up to 16.
Come and see the magic!
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Sat 3rd @3pm (55 mins) £5/£4
I want My Foreskin Back
When your ancestry catches up with your Grindr prospects, sometimes the
COMEDY THEATRE
only way to reckon with the past is to have a sense of humour about it. I
Want My Foreskin Back is an entertaining (and surprisingly informative)
show that journeys through Jewish ritual, gay culture and the effect on men
that inherit these delightful burdens in the present day.
Joseph Winer is a theatre-maker from Hertfordshire. He is delighted to be
presenting this work-in-progress show (that he probably won't invite his
grandparents to).
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Sun 4th @3.45pm (45 mins) £10/£8
SafeHaven – a place to call home
The middle of nowhere. A building with no doors. 9 women and a Doctor. All
the women are here for different reasons. Escape? Prison? A dream? Their
new normal, their new home. SafeHaven looks at what happens when we
DRAMA
expose characters to a new surrounding, will they form friendships or
enemies. Will they reenter society or be locked away forever? A play about
trust, friendship and adapting. This play was both devised and written during
lockdown, now back in the studio we are adapting what we have created to
fit in with ‘the new normal’ of performance.
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd @4.45pm (40 mins) £5/£3
Oedipus The King
Thebes is suffering. A disease is plaguing the land. The people of Thebes
want help and demand answers but are caught between squabbling leaders
DRAMA
of the community, who are full of their own self-importance and are blind to
the truth. Despite being first performed over 2 millennia ago, Sophocles'
Oedipus the King can still engage with contemporary audiences, probably
never more so than right now!
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sun 4th @ 6.30pm (75 mins) £5/£4
Paved with Gold and Ashes
New York City, 1911. Immigrants are arriving in floods from all over Europe
and for many, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory is one of the most coveted
places to work. Based on a true event, Paved with Gold and Ashes follows
DRAMA
Rose, Ida, Rosaria, Lucia and Annie; five teenage factory workers, as they
fight for their promise of the American dream.
Threedumb Theatre was due to take 'Paved with Gold and Ashes' to the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year and now have created a special 'Zoom
Edition' for the 2020 Watford Fringe.
ONLINE SCREENING
Thur - Sun 24 hour streaming throughout the Festival £FREE/donations
How to Space
TO BE CONFIRMED: SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS
A young girl is obsessed with the night sky, with what lies beyond and longs
to travel into the unknown. Will she defy the odds like her heroines - the
astronauts Valentina Tereshkova and Mae Jemison and achieve her dreams?
THEATRE
'How To Space' is the 4th piece of theatre on film in Pursued By A Bear's
'Nothing On Earth: Shorts' series. The films are all written by St Albans based
Anna Reynolds and are inspired by the world of her play ‘Nothing on Earth’.
Using Zoom, the filming is under the creative leadership of Artistic Director
Rosamunde Hutt, directed by Grant Watson, features actress Chanel
Glasgow and was filmed under lock-down restrictions in her home of
Trinidad and Tobago.
ONLINE SCREENING
Day/time tbc
COMEDY
SKANK
Meet Kate. She’s a skank.
Clementine Bogg-Hargroves "delivers a tour-de-force performance"
5
(Number9) in SKANK, a comedy drama...but it’s also got some postmodern
bits in it, so it's a bit clever you know, a bit like 'Fleabag' clever so if you like
COMEDY
'Fleabag' and are a fan of comedians like Luisa 'What would Beyoncé do?'
Omielan, then 'SKANK' is 4 U.
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Fri 2nd @9pm (55 mins)
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd & Sun 4th @8.30pm (55 mins) £10/£8
Sam Carlyle: My Life and Other Jokes
You may be asking "Who even is Sam Carlyle?", but after this cabaret
you'll certainly know her name (along with many other intimate details).
COMEDY
From dating disasters to toilet complications, Sam shares it all! So come
on down for an intimate evening of mortifying stories. You are sure to
leave comforted that these things happen to everyone or beaming away
because at least these things haven't happened to you!
WATFORD MUSEUM
Sat 3rd @7.45 (60 mins) £7/£5
John Pendal: Monster
Professional comedian John Pendal was born and raised in Watford. He
brings his hit comedy show "Monster" to the Pump House, fresh from the
5
2019 Edinburgh Festival where it received four FIVE STAR reviews:
"fabulous show" - Voice Magazine, "deeply moving"
COMEDY
- The Wee Review, "indelible triumph" - Broadway Baby and
"comedy masterpiece" - Feminist Fringe Reviews. “Monster” is
a comedy show about sex and sexuality, which laughs in the face of shame
and guilt. It's aimed at anyone struggling to feel good about themselves.
PUMP HOUSE COLNE RIVER ROOM
Sun 4th @8.30PM (60 mins) £8/£6
Tesco Sacked Me After 8 Days
Having sold out his debut stand-up comedy show in his hometown of
Chester, actor and comedian Desmond Hinks heads to the Watford Fringe
with his hilarious tales from the supermarket. Join Desmond for an evening
of stand-up comedy and storytelling, as he takes you back to March at the
beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak, and regales you with tales from his
temporary job at Tesco, which only lasted 8 days before being sacked for
COMEDY
writing a comedy diary of his experiences on Facebook, which went viral and
attracted over one million views in just one week.
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Thurs 1st @6.30pm (60 mins) £12
THE TUDOR ARMS
Fri 2nd @7.30pm (60 mins) £12
PUMP HOUSE: CHARLES ROOM
Sat 3rd @3pm (60 mins) and
Sun 4th @5pm (60 mins) £12
MCUsical: The Unofficial Parody Marvel Musical
A hilarious brand new nerdy comedy show, which retells the last 10 years of
MUSICAL COMEDY
your favourite superhero cinematic films through your favourite Broadway
show tunes! This work-in-progress show comes from a highly reviewed,
successful company.
‘You'll love it!’ 3000
Best Musical Comedy Award Nominee – Leicester Comedy Festival
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd @2.30pm (75 mins)
Sun 4th @12.30pm (75 mins) £7/£5
Pikkpikk
COMEDY MIME
TO BE CONFIRMED: SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS
Pikkpikk, a street performer. We hope that Pikkpikk will bring his unique
comedy mime act to the Watford Fringe this year. Please see the website
for details of time and place!
VENUE: TBC
Day/time: tbc
Thought Reader Thought Leader
TO BE CONFIRMED: SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS
COMEDY
With audience participation I'll walk you through a day in Las Vegas.
This is a fun family show where the audience makes all the decisions yet
the house always wins. I’ll show you how!
WATFORD MUSEUM
Sun 4th @8pm (60 mins) £10/£5
MUSIC
A Recital of Opera, Song and Musical Theatre
Local operatic baritone Thomas Isherwood performs a one hour recital
with his duo partner Elspeth Wilkes, with music spanning the genres of
SONG
opera, art song, folk song and musical theatre.
Thomas began his musical training at the Watford School of Music aged 8
and now returns to his home town to perform as part of the Watford
Fringe Festival.
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Thurs 1st @8.15pm (60 mins) £14
Watford Folk Club
Pete Nutkins, Lizzy Hardingham and Julian Mount present a superb hour of
folk music, that is not to be missed!
FOLK MUSIC
Pete's repertoire draws from both traditional and contemporary songs.
Lizzy's pure voice twinned with her impressive songwriting skills meld
together to create "beautifully delivered folk music". Julian's songs are
thought-provoking, full of wit and highlights his quirky perspective on
people, places and situations.
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Fri 2nd @7pm (60 mins) £5
A Country Way of Life
COUNTRY & WESTERN
Country music evangelist Jonny Brick plays music from country legends in
his show from the Edinburgh Fringe that explains the three types of
country songs, why pop music has never stopped being influenced by
'hillbilly music' and why you definitely and absolutely should like both
genres: country AND western.
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Sat 3rd @12pm (50 mins) £5
Tom Seals: The Piano Man
Conceived and performed by boogie-woogie and blues pianist and vocalist
extraordinaire Tom Seals, who has travelled the world performing to
thousands, attracting an astonishingly dedicated fan base along the way.
POPULAR
His unmistakable vocals coupled with his remarkable talent on the keys,
firmly places his stamp on the widely known and loved songs of the past.
This show is humorous, thoroughly entertaining and will appeal to all. Toe-
tapping guaranteed!
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Sat 3rd @9.45pm (60 mins) £10/£8
Sun 4th @10.15pm (60 mins) £10/£8
Songs with Andrea
Returning to the Watford Fringe for another year, Andrea is an
experienced singer and actress from West London. If you have been lucky
VOCAL
enough to see her as lead vocalist with her band, Jazz Mondays, you will
know she is a performer who owns the stage! WatFringe is delighted to
welcome her back.
WATFORD MUSEUM
Sat 3rd @12pm (60 mins) £4/£3
Bonnie Shepherd
VOICE & GUITAR
Bonnie, a talented musician, is passionate about the music she performs. A
voice of haunting beauty, accompanied by guitar, produces a sound that is
both contemporary and timeless.
WATFORD MUSEUM
Sat 3rd @4pm (30 mins) £5
Electric Umbrella
TO BE CONFIRMED: SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS
It’s all about the magic that happens when people with learning disabilities
and professional musicians work shoulder to shoulder. It’s about discovering
MUSIC
and showing who people really are. It’s about achieving incredible things
together. It’s about adapted instruments, being absolutely person-centred,
making extraordinary adjustments, and it being perfectly acceptable that
sometimes it takes three people to play a cello! Join Electric Umbrella as
they go online at this year’s WatFringe.
LIVE STREAMING
Fri 2nd @4.30pm (60 mins) FREE (donations welcome)
Big Mo’s Big Trio
Big Mo's Big Trio brings a fresh approach to the piano trio combining
traditional influences with modern greats. With compositions and
arrangements that draw the performers and audience into a captivating and PIANO TRIO
indescribable atmosphere, the trio is an unstoppable force in the new wave
of jazz in the North, bringing the genre into a more accessible field. As an
ensemble fabricated from close friendships, the band creates a genuine and
thought-provoking sound through a combination of original compositions
and tunes from the band's biggest influences.
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Sun 4th @7pm (30 mins) £5/£3SPOKEN WORD & MAGIC
Fizz Kids Magic & Mayhem
MAGIC FOR THE FAMILY
TO BE CONFIRMED: SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS
Come and join the Magic and Mayhem with Kurtis from Fizz Kids. This show
is suitable for both children and adults and will have everyone laughing and
amazed. Come and watch some incredible visual magic that will leave you
wondering "How did he do that?". This show is one not to be missed!
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd @1pm (45 mins)
Sun 4th @11am (45 mins) £10/£5
The Ginger Magician
CABARET MAGIC
TO BE CONFIRMED: SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS
The Ginger Magician is a comedy magic act that will contain lots of
laughter, banter and of course MAGIC! You have seen Derren Brown.... You
know of Tommy Cooper... Now, we have the Ginger Magician....
PUMP HOUSE THEATRE
Sat 3rd @12pm (30 mins)
Sun 4th @10am (30 mins) £10/£5
In the secret garden of Frances Hodgson Burnett
STORY WITH MUSIC
A one-woman play underscored by live music on accordion and Celtic harp
tells the compelling story of the Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of The
Secret Garden. A phenomenally successful and prolific author, she often
featured in gossip columns around the world. Hear about her flamboyant
lifestyle and enjoy excerpts from some of her more famous works.
WATFORD MUSEUM
Sat 3rd & Sun 4th @2pm (45 mins) £8/£6
The Mariner’s Song
Calling all adventurers! Navigating through personal history and ancient
myth, prepare to brave the elements and embark upon a lyrical voyage STORYTELLING
through the ages. Will you answer the Mariner’s call?
★★★★ “wonderful storytelling” (edfringereview.com)
★★★★ “beautiful and hypnotic” (ThreeWeeks)
PUMP HOUSE: COLNE RIVER ROOM
Sat 3rd @6.30pm (55 mins) £13/£10
A Year On
WORDS & MUSIC
Inspirational talk with music. Musician and brain injury survivor, David
Naylor, woke from a coma and did not know who he was or what his life
had been like. He heard a song in his head and realised he had written it.
He set about finding more of his past compositions… and found a reason
to live…
PUMP HOUSE: CHARLES ROOM
Sat 3rd @5pm (45 mins) £3/£2Women, Witches and the Wild Hunt
Storytellers take you on amazing adventures, fight ferocious beasts,
STORYTELLING
answer dangerous questions and bring you home with just a story. Take
part in the night hunt, eat, drink and leave with payment in gold! Join
Sarah Lloyd-Winder, an experienced, inspirational storyteller from
Hertfordshire, as she revisits some ancient tales that may seem familiar,
and weaves the magic of a story.
WATFORD MUSEUM
Sat 3rd & Sun 4th@6pm (60 mins) £6/£5
The Dream Speaks Back
Three authors reveal all about writing a joint book.
In an open Q&A session, Cy Henty, Sue Hampton and Leslie Tate will
describe touring with Russell Brand, growing up as non-binary and the
mental health issues that went into their three-way autobiography ‘The
Q&A
Dream Speaks Back’. On the way, our three authors will talk about
developing the creative process and rediscovering the child within.
A deeply comic, character-driven insight into the personal memories and
dream-fictions of three creative individuals.
PUMP HOUSE: CHARLES ROOM
Sun 4th @3pm (60 mins) £5You can also read
