The Lambeth Fringe Competition has unveiled its 2025 programme, confirming a landmark version that celebrates its tenth anniversary with greater than 200 occasions scheduled throughout the borough between 25 September and 25 October.
Now firmly rooted in South London’s cultural panorama, the competition—previously referred to as the Clapham Fringe—has grown from a modest fringe showcase into one of many capital’s most dynamic platforms for rising and underrepresented voices. This yr’s anniversary version can be its largest so far, bolstered by help from Arts Council England for the primary time in its historical past.
Programming features a vibrant mixture of theatre, comedy, cabaret, music and household performances, delivered throughout 25 venues that replicate the variety and creativity of Lambeth. New associate places reminiscent of Arch 555 at Foolish Towers, Vauxhall Metropolis Farm, Vaulty Towers and Morley School be part of returning venues in a borough-wide takeover that champions accessibility and creative innovation.
Competition co-directors Velenzia Spearpoint and Rebecca Pryle described the 2025 version as a “main milestone,” including: “We’re thrilled to current our greatest and most formidable programme so far… the spirit of the Fringe has at all times been about creativity, accessibility and grassroots power and in 2025, that spirit is stronger than ever.”
Among the many headline acts is “The Final Bubble Present” (3–4 Oct), a household spectacle from Guinness World File-holder Ray Bubbles, providing bubble volcanoes, ghosts and tornadoes in a surreal reside expertise. Audiences can even stay up for “Willy Witches” (8–10 Oct), a sharp-edged comedic tackle 4 ladies combating to outlive the English witch hunts, and “MJ Hibbet: Knowledge and Dr Doom” (11 Oct), a one-man musical lecture arguing why Marvel’s iconic villain surpasses Batman—backed by statistical fashions and stratified sampling.
Additionally within the line-up is “CatGPT – Feline & Ferall” (26–27 Sept), the true, absurdist story of a person who makes use of AI to deliver his cat again from the useless, and “Bathroom Physique” (25 Sept & 20 Oct), a solo forensic thriller a couple of cursed corpse found in a peat bathroom.
From satirical burlesque like “BINCELS” (26 Sept), which parodies web misogyny by means of musical drag, to political storytelling in “Mom Is aware of Finest” (18–19 Oct)—a cross-generational examination of home life beneath oppression in Russia, South Africa and Israel—the competition continues its dedication to platforming marginalised narratives.
New initiatives launched this yr embrace the Lambeth Fringe Bursary, created in partnership with Morley School, which can donate all ticket proceeds from its competition programme to help college students going through monetary obstacles to increased training. The competition can be increasing its give attention to artist wellbeing, formalising a partnership with Wellbeing within the Arts and introducing The Glitch Awards to highlight standout inventive contributions.
This yr’s choices vary from political satire and surrealist efficiency to interactive youngsters’s theatre and AI-infused comedy, underscoring the competition’s large remit and its continued dedication to experimental, community-driven programming. For youthful audiences, mythological romp “Myths, Maps & Monsters: Zeus’ Birthday Bash!” (27–28 Sept) gives an interactive journey to defeat Medusa and restore order to Historic Greece. Elsewhere, reveals like “A Noise Annoys” (4 Oct) discover the sonic quirks of language, and head bucket mattress (13 Oct) makes use of dance-theatre to deconstruct the connection between our bodies and their materials surroundings.
Now in its tenth yr, the Lambeth Fringe, produced by the Bread and Roses Theatre, has advanced nicely past its origins above a Clapham pub, carving out a repute for risk-taking and inclusion. Its ethos stays rooted in championing equality, range and creative advantage, welcoming each native performers and touring firms.
Tickets for the 2025 Lambeth Fringe vary from £5 to £16, with occasions operating each day throughout Lambeth between 25 September and 25 October. With its expanded attain, landmark programming, and a renewed dedication to social affect, the Fringe enters its second decade as a daring and important fixture of London’s impartial efficiency scene.
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