SO: FRINGE Programme
Welcome to Southampton Fringe 2024 programme! Find out more about the fantastic shows on offer and book tickets below.
MAST 7.30pm
10th-13th July
Guys and Dolls
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Award-winning SOS Presents (Southampton’s oldest established musical society) is thrilled to bring the iconic GUYS AND DOLLS to the MAST Mayflower Studios from 10-13 July 2024. Featuring unforgettable hits including "Luck Be A Lady" and "Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat," GUYS AND DOLLS is one of the best loved romantic comedies from the Golden Age of Broadway Musicals.
SOS Presents is the performing name of Southampton Operatic Society. For many years they performed Gilbert & Sullivan operettas at the Guildhall, the Mayflower and the Nuffield Theatre (for a 60+ year run!) before switching their focus to popular musicals. In 2022 they adopted the lovely MAST Mayflower Studios as their new theatrical home. Two of the five shows they have performed there to date have already won awards (Legally Blonde 2022, Seussical the Musical 2023) while their January 2024 production of Spamalot was a sell-out. So despite celebrating their centenary in 2024, they are definitely 100 years young!
Mettricks 7.30pm
11th-13th July
Tomorrow, Maybe
'Tomorrow, Maybe', the award-winning immersive song-cycle by local writers Amies & Clements, is coming back to Southampton as part of the first ever Fringe theatre festival. Nearly 10 years after the show was initially developed in Asante (Romsey) by Stickman Productions and a team of local actors, it is returning with new characters, brand new songs and a new talented cast.
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‘Tomorrow, Maybe’ is set in a commuters’ coffee shop and focuses on snapshots of the people we see every day but know nothing about. From a Sicilian woman who tries to make sense of a recent loss to a homeless man and his powerful tale of hope, the show explores missed opportunities, fleeting connections and those interactions that are both raw and impactful, staying with us long after the moment has passed.
Stage Door, 7.30pm
11th July
Is Opera Boring?
“No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible” - W.H. Auden
Join two local musicians who are never sensible if they can help it - Bordon born-and-bred boogie-woogie pianist Mark Hoare and Southampton's own opera singer and comedy writer Lucy Mellors.
Fresh from their sell-out run at the Phoenix Theatre, Lu and Mark continue their hilarious voyage of discovery into the world of
opera. Lu thinks it's the greatest artform on the planet. Mark just wants a fig roll and to play Great Balls Of Fire. What could possibly go wrong?!
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​Expect a bit of anarchy, a lot of silliness and some surprisingly awesome music.
This performance is sponsored by McVitie’s Fig Rolls*.
*It isn't. Please bring some if you have them. Thanks.
Heartbreakers 8pm
11th July
An evening with Shannon B
Shannon B, born and raised in Southampton. She started in the underground scene and soon found commercial success. Share an evening with Shannon and J Fashole-Luke. Celebrating the genres and artists who have shaped her into the musician she is today.
MAST, 8pm
11th July
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Pride & Prejudice
(featuring curtain raiser from FuzzyLogic)
Pride & Prejudice
‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife…’
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Though undoubtedly one of the best loved novels of all time, this is Pride & Prejudice as you’ve never experienced it before. Our cast blend improvised movement with dialogue lifted directly from Austen’s original text, bringing to life the timelessly human relationships at the heart of the story. No two performances are the same, as scenes emerge spontaneously from the movement, guaranteeing a totally unique experience.
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Pride & Prejudice is the debut work of the University of Winchester’s first BA Acting graduate company, Wasn’t There a Man? You can find us on Instagram @wasntthereamantheatre.
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This adaptation is suitable for all ages.
FuzzyLogic
FuzzyLogic is ZoieLogic Dance Theatre’s nationally acclaimed all male youth company that has been pushing the boundaries of Dance Theatre for over 20 years. The company is all about creativity, telling stories, high energy movement and contact work. We create innovative works that tour the UK regularly, including guest spots at high profile events and projects such as U.dance festival, while working with dance organisations such as Sadler’s Wells, The Place and Laban.
Library, 10:30am, 12pm
11th July
Musical StoryBox
The Ultimate Musical Storytelling Experience!
We provide educational storytelling classes merging music, literacy, and sensory play to create a unique and immersive experience for children from birth up to Key stage 1. Created by lifelong friends Melissa and Katie, they recognised a need for novel approach to early childhood education, and set out to create a compelling class with a vision to inspire a love of music, books and learning in young minds.
Katie, a professional musician and Melissa a primary school teacher, combined their skills to create a special educational experience for children.
Musical StoryBox has developed collaborations with local community groups, such as Youth Music Wessex. This year Musical StoryBox is in the running for three awards, having been made finalists for 'Children's Activity Provider of the Year' with the Business Success Network, 'Small Business of the Year' with The Family Network, as well as 'Start Up of the Year' in the Club Hub Awards. With a recently developed franchise model, Musical StoryBox hopes to soon expand across the country!
Library, 8.00pm
11th July
The Lock In @ The Library
Presented by The Outsiders Project, The Lock-In was first created during the pandemic as a way for our writers to safely gather and share what they had been working on independently.
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It quickly became apparent that these evenings were more than just somewhere to read our work- but a space to connect, share ideas, learn from each other, and develop our confidence in performing; taking our writing from page to stage.
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The Lock-Ins have now become an important part of the work we do, and have grown to a place where we are proud to welcome audiences. The pieces you'll see are seeds of ideas that form part of much more ambitious work: One-person shows; Novels; Poetry collections; Albums. Anything is possible.
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Expect new writing, spoken word and music from unheard voices.
Expect strong language, uncensored stories and brilliant writing.
Content Warnings:
Strong language and explicit content including themes of a sexual nature, self harm, addiction, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, sexual assault, mental health, death and severe illness.
Heartbreakers, 7.30pm
12th July
Lose Your Own Adventure / In Search of Love and Other Lies Scratch Night (Double Bill)
Mudlarks Theatre presents
Lose Your Own Adventure
Control your own destiny! Mudlarks Theatre is diving into the nostalgic world of the fantasy adventure game, where you - the audience - decide the path of the story! With your help, Steve the Surefooted will certainly achieve his dreams of being an adventurer…won’t he?
yt2 presents
In Search of Love & Other Lies
A wonderfully eclectic collection of true and devised stories encountered in the quest for love, in all their beauty and brutality.
This talented ensemble cast takes you on a journey through the horrors and highlights of the, often, elusive search to love and be
loved.
Please note - contains adult language and themes.
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MAST, 8pm
12th July
Ain't No Chopping Me Down & The feeling of knowing something is wrong, but it isn’t (Double Bill)
Holly Amelia Scott Presents
Ain't No Chopping Me Down
Ain’t No Chopping Me Down is a one-woman, autobiographical piece exploring family divorce, change and growth. Blooming with puns and poetry, Holly tells the story of a tree, rooted in her ways and struggling to branch out.
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Theatre For Life presents
The feeling of knowing something is wrong, but it isn’t
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Inspired by real-life experiences that have been silenced by a culture of shame, this performance is a raw exploration of the generational and healthcare disparities, cultural clashes, and societal norms surrounding female reproductive health and gender identity.
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Stage Door, 8pm
12th July
Kate Butch:
Wuthering Shites
Fresh from the runway of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, comedy crossdresser Kate Butch has written a jukebox musical based on the songs of Kate Bush (kind of like if Mamma Mia! had a nervous breakdown) but now she needs your help to get 'BUSH!' to Broadway.
Join the 'great comedian' (WhatsOnStage) as she runs up that hill, with stand-up comedy, live vocals, lip sync extravanganzas and more cloudbusting than you can shake a stick at.
Buxton Fringe Best Comedy 2017 and 2019.
'A pitch perfect performance' Alan Carr
Belgium & Blues, 4pm
13th July
Spoken Word - Poets and Pints
Grab a pint and settle in for an afternoon of the south coast's most exciting poets and spoken word artists.
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Hosted by Jo Fisher
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Featuring:
Andrew Ovenden
Andrew Buchanan
Harley T
Jackson Davies
Rich Lansley
MAST 19:45
13th July
Write A Note
​Write a Note, in association with ArtfulScribe, offers a monthly platform for poetry, spoken word, and live literature to find new audiences in a warm, and supportive environment at MAST in Southampton. An ideal space to trial new work or perfect delivery of existing material, entry is free with donations encouraged at the end of the evening.
Library 11am - 1pm
13th July
Storytelling @ the Library
Join our wonderful Storyteller @ The Central Library at 11am, 12pm and 1pm to take your little ones on a literary adventure.
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No tickets needed - just turn up!
MAST, 12.45pm
13th July
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Spitfire Patrol
“Camp wouldn’t be the same without songs around the fire, nights under the stars, and getting involved in global conflict...”
The Garret Theatre Company presents Spitfire Patrol, a new one-act comedy following a group of Girlguides in wartime England who must learn to put aside their fears and prejudices when an enemy soldier stumbles into camp.
Armed with their basic survival skills and a plethora of badges, will they ‘Be Prepared’ when duty calls?
This production is suitable for all ages, recommended 7 years +.
This production includes one simulated gunshot.
Stagedoor 1pm & 6.30pm
13th July
Drag Brunch
Join Dawn the Drag Queen, Aura Jay and Layla Zee Susan for this cheeky late night bottomless Abba Drag Brunch!
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Tickets include 2 hours of bottomless cocktails, an afternoon tea and an amazing Abba show!
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This show will be seated around tables.
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BOOK NOW before it sells out!
MAST 8.15pm
13th July
Twisted Tales
(featuring Curtain Raiser from ORB Youth Dance Co)
Box House Theatre Presents
Twisted Tales
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In a dystopian world where there is no possibility of choice and occupations are assigned at birth, we observe a group of actors who have been bred for one sole purpose: to entertain. Each night, the thespians are brought to the stage filled with nothing but a large book and forced to retell nostalgic folk tales.
Imposed to perform for the observers, critics and opportunists, the group journey through the miseries and raptures of life as a working actor and how an audience create the compulsion for performance.
Twisted Tales is a "visually stunning" Platform Theatre piece created by Box House Theatre Company. A cast of six regal actors are confined to the space of a gym mat whilst showcasing four folk tales which all end with a twist. Platform Theatre relies solely on the actor's arsenal to create props, set, costume and sound to build the very world in which they tell their story. With moments that will make you laugh, and cry, Twisted Tales serves pure captivating entertainment.
“TWISTED TALES ISN‘T JUST A HOMAGE TO TRADITIONAL STORYTELLING, BUT A REBELLIOUS RENDITION OF IT.” - Fringe Biscuit, ★★★★★
"THE BIGGEST TRAGEDY OF THIS WHOLE PLAY IS THE ACTORS HAVING TO STOP AT ONLY FOUR STORIES."
- Everything Theatre, ★★★★
"BEAUTIFULLY EXECUTED PERSONIFIED PHYSICAL THEATRE." - Fringe Review, MUST SEE SHOW
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ORB Youth Dance Co.
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ORB is a thriving, semi-professional performance company dedicated to delivering high-quality, physical, contemporary-based dance training and performance opportunities for aspiring young dance artists across Hampshire.
ORB value individuality and young artistic voices, all whilst honing contemporary dance techniques and performance skills.
Heartbreakers 9pm
13th July
Sauna Boy
Dan works at the south-coasts most successful and infamous gay sauna. A place where men from all walks of life come to relax, socialise and most importantly... f**k.
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There are many stories to discover: the good, the bad and the downright lubricated. But as Dan learns the secrets of this hidden world and connects with its diverse patrons, he begins to realise that sex at the sauna is not always as simple as it seems.
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Join Dan as he navigates a hidden world of lust, friendship and unorthodox working relationships.
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From multi-award winning writer/performer, Dan Ireland-Reeves, comes a semi-autobiographical look behind the curtain of one of the worlds most secretive and seductive industries.
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Pulsing with frenetic energy and laced with sexual tension; Sauna Boy is guaranteed to touch you in more ways than one.
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"Welcome to West End Sauna..."
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Direct from sell-out performances across Australia, America and Ireland.
★★★★★ "Captivating and intimate"
Broadway World
★★★★★ "Sauna boy steams up the theatre"
Front Mezz Junkie
★★★★ "Sensational... sauna boy packs a powerful punch"
Dance Life Australia
★★★★ "Ireland-Reeves impressively switches accents, mannerisms and voices at quick-fire speed"
Out In Perth