About the Fringe
Stroud, situated in Gloucestershire, is a hive of cultural, artistic and musical activity every day of the year, and over one weekend in September, thousands of punters and hundreds of performers come together to celebrate what’s on offer.
The Fringe is a collaborative festival that allows all of Stroud's performers and venues to muck in and get involved. One of the key attractions is the Park Stage which for the last 3 years has been situated in Bank Garden near Stroud town centre. Last year this was complemented by a second stage, called the Bird's Nest, situated in the Cornhill market place.
As if that wasn't enough venues throughout the town host their own events. Putting on a vast variety of performances, making sure there really was something for everyone.
We also team up with the Stroud Food Festival and Stroud Walking Festival to be part of the Stroud Festival Fortnight.
Enviromental Policy
The Stroud Fringe Festival is committed to keeping its carbon footprint low. We only use local businesses to print our posters, programmes and flyers, and we try to recruit as many Stroudies as possible to prevent volunteers needing to travel.
Stroud is well placed for transport to and from the festival, and with parking limited in the town, the alternatives are worth considering. Stroud is on main train lines from London, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bath, Bristol, Swindon and the West Midlands. Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for timetables.
Stagecoach and Cotswold Green bus services regularly serve the town and surrounding areas. Please check www.stagecoachbus.co.uk for timetables.
We also use PA and sound hire companies based in, or as close to Stroud as possible, to make sure we support local businesses.
All photographs one this site were taken by Tammy Lynn.
Meet the Team behind the Fringe.
Jeremy Collingwood Chairman
Born and bred in Stroud, Jeremy returned to the town recently to live
near his parents, after a long and successful commercial career in the
music industry.
A former regional director of Ourprice records and WHSmith, and one of
the country's top experts on reggae legend Bob Marley, Jeremy has
published several books.
Taking over as chairman following the 2009 festival, Jeremy has built
strong relationships between the Fringe and its partners.
He has also taken on the chairmanship of the Lansdown Hall, formerly The
Space, and is overseeing a massive refurbishment to bring the building
into the 21st century.
Freddie Whittaker Vice-Chairman, Operations and Marketing Director
A local newspaper reporter by day, Freddie has been involved with the
Fringe since 2007 and formed the original committee following the
unsuccessful event in 2008.
He grew up performing at past Fringe festivals with bands CuckooRow and
Roundabout as a teenager, and now heads up the operations team.
Freddie also co-ordinates the marketing side of the Fringe and runs
security and stewarding teams over the weekend.
He loves festivals and usually attends three or four in the summer
months, returning to finish his festival season in Stroud.
Christina Snell Secretary
Christina joined the fringe committee when Stroudies got together to
save the festival after its cancellation in 2008.
She agreed to become secretary of the committee and company upon its
formation.
Christina is also the chief executive of Age UK Gloucestershire and has
given more than just her administrative skills to the festival,
performing over the weekend and volunteering for stewarding shifts.
She also hosts a radio show on Stroud FM, the town's community radio
station.
Ned (Gomund) Gibbons Website Manager and Deputy Operations Director
Ned is an IT manager at a local secondary school but lends his spare
time to support the Fringe.
He manages the website and helps to co-ordinate the programme and
posters side of the marketing.
He also helps Freddie to head up the stewarding team over the weekend
and graced the stage last year as compere on Sunday.
Ned is also a keen photographer.
Jack (Freddy) Wetson Music Director
Jack has spent the years since leaving school working in IT and telecoms
in and around the Stroud area.
With a passion for band and event management, he co-ordinates the
Fringe's communications with its venues and performers.
Over the weekend itself, Jack can be seen helping to head up the
operations team at the bank gardens stage.
He is a qualified first-aider and used to run his own independent record
company.
Daisy Miles Creative Director
Daisy has worked with the team for a number of years, as a deputy
steward leader.
She is currently studying for an art foundation qualification at Stroud
College and has joined the Fringe team to help improve the festival's
image.
She has a keen interest in event management, and has been working at
Glastonbury Festival for many years.
Natalie Smith Creative Director
Nat also helped to run stewarding teams over the past few years, and
wanted to take on more responsibility.
Currently studying A levels, Nat regularly organises events on behalf of
her sixth form college.
She will be helping Daisy and Freddie to make bank gardens look nice and
re-brand the festival.
Documents
Fringe Accounts 2009
Fringe Accounts 2010
Fringe, Aims, Objectives and Ethos
Our Directors Charter
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