If you are interested in performing at this year’s Camden Fringe here is all the information you need about how it works and how to apply via our online form.
If you have a specific query that isn’t covered in the following information please give Michelle or Zena a call at the Etcetera Theatre on 020 7482 4857.
Please apply by the 31st March 2010.
It’s a fringe festival which takes place in Camden during August. Anyone and everyone is welcome to apply. Last year’s shows included new writing, classical theatre, musicals, stand-up, sketch comedy, dance, children’s shows, magic and a quiz. The venues are all small and located close to public transport within the borough of Camden. Shows take place throughout the day and generally last one hour.
The first Camden Fringe took place in August 2006 at the Etcetera Theatre and included 57 performances by 22 acts. It has grown steadily since then and last year there were 399 performances by 116 different acts in 4 separate venues. There has been an 80% increase in ticket sales each year since 2007.
This year the Camden Fringe will expand again to include more performances and more opportunities for new acts to get themselves noticed in a creative environment outside of the Edinburgh Fringe.
The Camden Fringe was established and is run by Zena Barrie and Michelle Flower. They have been running the Etcetera Theatre in Camden for 6 years and produced shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival between 2002 and 2006.
The Camden Fringe was set-up as an alternative to Edinburgh Festival in London, offering performers the chance to try out new material and different ideas in a supportive setting with less time and fewer financial commitments than Edinburgh. Over the past 4 years the Camden Fringe has gained a reputation for supporting acts providing helpful information and guidance for newcomers and old-hands alike.
“I would recommend the Camden Fringe to anyone looking to put on a show. The staff were really helpful, friendly and supportive and I had a wonderful experience.”
Gráinne Maguire“The Camden Fringe was a joy for all of us at Policy Wonk International. Camden captures the spirit of Edinburgh while losing the heartbreak, the massive financial burden and the need to spend a month of your life in Scotland. Our shows sold out. We got reviewed. Our Ukulele Department even got booked for several weddings off the back of it.”
Jamie Douglas
We are currently looking for acts to perform at the 2010 Camden Fringe - we’re pretty much open to any suggestions! Shows should be around 1 hour long.
There will be between 2 and 6 performances each day in all the venues, including matinee and late night performances. The lengths of run are flexible - from one night to six, depending on what you/we think will work best for you and your potential audience.
We do our best to fit everyone who wants to perform at the Camden Fringe into our programme. We don’t require scripts or a lot of supporting material with your application, and we don’t need to see a performance of your show before the festival - in fact the fresher they are the better! Please fill out the online application form and we’ll let you know if we require any further information from you.
We will only offer you one time slot for each show to take place on consecutive days - we can’t, for example, accommodate a show wanting to do 5pm on a Thursday, 10pm on the following Tuesday and 1pm at the weekend.
Applications open on 1st January 2010. Please get your application in to us by the 15th March 2010.
Shows will be hosted at the fives venues detailed below, with the possibility of expanding into other spaces if there is demand.
All venues will be supplied with basic lighting and sound equipment. Acts will have to provide their own technicians to operate the shows. All lighting and sound equipment will be shared with other acts performing in the same space, and the performing space needs to be cleared after each show, so we can’t accommodate shows with built-in sets or highly complicated technical requirements.
The Camden Fringe will operate the box office at each venue and advance ticket sales will be made through the Camden Fringe website.
Above the Oxford Arms, 265 Camden High Street, NW1 7BU
www.etceteratheatre.com
Established in 1986, the Etcetera Theatre is a small, black box theatre with end-on raked seating. It seats 42 people and is fully equipped with sound and lighting equipment. There is a small dressing room and storage spaces for props and costumes. The Etcetera is the home of the Camden Fringe and is a great space for theatre, sketch shows and other ensemble pieces.
100 Camden High Street, London, NW1 0LU
www.camdenhead.com
The space at the Camden Head is an adaptable function room that is regularly used for stand-up nights. It can seat 50 people, and the seating arrangements are flexible. The stage space will be small and the lighting and sound are basic, but suits stand-up, poetry, improv and cabaret shows.
58-60 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 2PY
www.cptheatre.co.uk
Founded in 1994 the CPT is black box theatre with end-on seating for 50 people. It is fully equipped with lighting and sound equipment and a dressing room which can accommodate up to 10 people. The CPT is a slightly bigger space than the Etcetera and has a great reputation for hosting visual and physical theatre. Accessible by wheelchair performances.
The Roundhouse Chalk Farm Road London NW1 8EH
www.roundhouse.org.uk
The studio space is situated underneath the main Roundhouse space and is accessible by wheelchair. The space seats 120 in end-on, raked seating and provides a large stage space with an expose brick wall as backdrop. The Roundhouse Studio has a large dressing room and backstage space.
42-44 Gaisford St, Kentish Town, NW5 2ED
www.giantolive.com
The Lion and Unicorn is a new venue for 2010. It is situated in the heart of Kentish Town and is 10 minutes walk from Camden High Street. Situated above the pub of the same name, the space is another black box space with end on seating for 70 people. The Lion and Unicorn has a large backstage area for actors, set and props, so is especially suited to ambitious shows with large casts.
The Camden Fringe team will assist you in promoting your show as part of the festival as a whole. You will need to provide us with images, blurb and a press release. We will give you assistance and advice on all of these things.
Each show will have a page on the Camden Fringe website with an image and show details and links to online booking.
The Camden Fringe will produce and distribute a brochure, detailing all the shows individually. We will try and set up some deals with designers and printers for you, if you wish to create flyers and posters exclusively for your show.
Each participating group will be expected to spend time distributing a share of this promotional material and to generally work hard in order to make all the shows a success. We can’t guarantee you an audience for your show - it’s up to you to market and promote it, as you know better than anyone else what it is that makes your show brilliant and unique.
The Camden Fringe will send out press listings information and create an online press office where publications can download images and information on each individual show. See the press page of this website for examples of the sort of press coverage we achieved in 2009.
In the interests of keeping things simple we offer the same deal to all shows.
There is a participation fee for each show/act which is payable upon signature of a contract (which should be in April). The participation fees are as follows:
This will guarantee your venue, pay for your inclusion in the brochure and our press campaign, and include the running of the box office for your show. You will need to provide a tech operator to run your show and work hard to promote your show to get an audience.
Your income will come from the box office takings. The deal will be a 70/30 split in your favour. So 70% of the box office sales will be paid to you and 30% to the venue. We aim to have all box office returns paid within 4 weeks of your final performance.
Tickets will be priced at £7.50 each. We may offer some discounts or loyalty scheme for repeat customers.
Please fill in the online application form. A copy of the completed form will be emailed to both the Camden Fringe and to you. It is completely free to apply and you should hear from us shortly after your application is received.
The Camden Fringe has teamed up with the Camden Theatre Consortium and Camden Council’s arts and tourism service to try and help Creative Producers attract money and volunteers to support their forthcoming shows.
If you are looking for more money or creative helpers to develop your show at the Fringe or beyond, then why not enter your production details on to the camdentheatres.com site.
The site will become live on 12th February 2010 and it is aiming to be the first on line “investment” site for fringe shows to attract development money and volunteer pledges.
We are offering entrants of the Camden Fringe the first opportunity to be registered on the site. All you need to do is set a target budget and tell us how many hours worth of volunteers you need?
We will use your fringe production details to advertise your project, whatever genre, or scale of your show to attract potential donors or helpers such as backstage workers, flyerers, or even creative teams.
All you need to do in return is tell us what you will offer donors and volunteers who back you, like free tickets, programme credits, or first night parties.
We are aiming to get potential backers to donate time and money to your show. Once you have hit your target you get all the resources.
Potential backers can pay easily through Paypal, and follow your progress on line, without you having to ask your family and friends directly for cash.
We are not offering investments that give a financial return we are asking for backers for you, who will give to your show because they like your project and believe in you. The minimum gift is £25.
There is no time limit to achieve your budget, but you obviously have production schedules to meet.
This scheme is an excellent way to get your social network to help you find resources and help turn your facebook friends into “creative companions”, whilst increasing your audiences and building up your creative networks.
If you would like your show to be listed on the site please indicate in your application to the Camden Fringe and we will send you the full details or visit the website at camdentheatres.com after 12th February 2010.
Thank you for your interest in the Camden Fringe
Camden Fringe now available for