Mind the gap

Here follows an official statement issued by Underground Venues. If the management sounds a little bit full of themselves well that's the nature of publicity. Apart from that UV is pretty good and is entitled to boast a bit. Buried about half way down this press release is a 2-for-the-price-of-1 ticket offer. Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Underground Venues returns for its 5th year on the Buxton Fringe this July, with its largest and most varied programme to date. Nineteen days, 200 performances and 60 different shows and events showcase the hottest talent from the High Peak and around the country in two subterranean spaces.
 

With so much on offer, it’s easy to get a bit lost. So below we’ve picked a few of the highlights from this year’s programme.
 

As usual, Underground Venues will be the perfect place to catch some of the Edinburgh Fringe’s top names before they even arrive there. This year 25 acts – including stand-up, new plays, music and magic - will be premiering at Underground before travelling north at the end of the month.
 

New to the venue this year is an advance online sales facility. Customers will be able to buy tickets from June 12th with no booking fees. In the Paupers Pit, allocated seating also means early birds can reserve the seats they like most and not worry about getting near the front of the queue.
 

And in a bold initiative, Underground will this year be making a host of ‘2 for 1’ tickets available for the first night of almost all shows. Some will be available online from June 12th with others reserved for Box Office sales on the day. All you have to do is type “firstnightonly” in the discount code box – or quote it at the box office.

Underground Venues at the Buxton Festival Fringe
7th-25th July 2010 events from 1pm til midnight each day.
Bookings undergroundvenues.co.uk - book from June 12th or 07980 29 29 78 during the Fringe
Full programme undergroundvenues.co.uk/programme from June 10th
Blog undergroundvenues.co.uk/blog
Twitter twitter.com/underthefringe
Facebook facebook.com/underthefringe

After developing her show at Underground in 2007, Helen Keen stages her fully polished IT IS ROCKET SCIENCE, before it appears on Radio 4 later this year.
 

After being cr Highlights:owned the ‘Young Magician of the Year’ by the Magic Circle of Great Britain, Michael Jordan returns to Buxton with his somewhat jealous sister for another hour of unbelievable magic, circus skills and sibling rivalry. (HIGH JINX)
 

Top-name comedians provide stand-up entertainment every night of the Fringe, including Buxton-favourite Andrew O’Neill, Hackney Empire Finalist Gerry Howell, star of The Now Show & The News Quiz James Sherwood, and the much-acclaimed Gary Delaney (“master of the deadpan one-liner” The Guardian).
 

Jake Thackray himself (well, someone that looks a lot like him) will be playing a collection of his fantastic but little-heard songs. (JAKE THACKRAY RIDES AGAIN).
 

Buxton’s own Three’s Company return for the 8th Buxton Fringe with REVERIE, a new play by Tom Crawshaw, starring Yaz Al-Shaater.
 

The Official Jester of Buckingham will be making a diplomatic journey to the faire towne of Buckstones to provide comic relief to its citizens. (THE FOOL)
 

Having already won the Editors Choice Award (from Fringe Guru) and been nominated for Best Actor (by Latest 7) at the Brighton Fringe, BANE 2 looks set to be one of the hottest theatre tickets. Catch it before it headlines at the Pleasance Dome in Edinburgh.
 

Something a little risqué from The Naked Poet (poetry as God intended it) and Dan Somerville (“dark emotional landscapes of sexuality and vulnerability”). (THE STATE OF THE UNION UNDRESSED & THREE WORKS).
 

…but the young ones aren’t left out with fantastic kids shows OOK! AND THE TERRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED and THE CLOCK MASTER (as well as family entertainment from High Jinx and The Jester of Buckingham).
 

The finest new writing from around the country including THE BENEFIT OF TIME, ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT, J AND C, NO VIEW FROM THE WINDOW and PURGATORY PASSENGERS.
 

An entire Alternative Shakespeare Festival with 454 GRAMS (The Merchant of Venice powered by bike), GREEN EGGS AND HAMLET (the Danish prince meets Dr Seuss) and SHAKESPEARE’S WOMEN (rising up finally against their maker).
 

And of course a host of old favourites that Buxton simply can’t do without at Fringe time, including Sam Dunkley (SAM DUNKLEY), George Telfer (BURTON’S LAST CALL), Matt Pritchard (THE MAN WHO CANNOT LOSE) and Spiltmilk (SPILTMILK SAY DANCE).
Please note that two shows advertised in the Fringe programme and scheduled for Underground Venues have now be cancelled at the request of the performers. "A Collection of Chekov" (page 18) and "Grimms" - page 19 in the programme will not take place. Check the Underground Venues website for news of any replacement performances.

by Keith Savage - 19/06/2010