Totnes Fringe Festival: A Bold New Celebration of Local Creativity 11–13 July 2025
July 11 - July 13
This summer, Totnes will host its first ever Fringe Festival, a three-day celebration of bold, independent performance from 11–13 July 2025. With a focus on theatre, spoken word, contemporary dance, comedy and children’s storytelling, the festival will transform venues and public spaces across the town into platforms for fresh ideas and original voices.
The Totnes Fringe Festival is the brainchild of Danielle McIlven, a theatre director living in Totnes, and is entirely volunteer-led, with a team of theatre professionals, PR specialists, designers, marketing professionals and tech experts donating their time and skills.
“Totnes has always welcomed alternative thinking,” says McIlven. “The Fringe is a way of honouring that spirit—nurturing our creative roots while imagining radical futures. It’s about creating space for artists and audiences to connect in ways that feel fresh, playful and important.”
Events will take place in both indoor and outdoor settings, including the Civic Hall, Barrel House, Seven Stars and even the launderette, as well as the Castle, The Rotherfold and Leechwell Gardens. The latter will host a dedicated programme of children’s theatre, creating space for young audiences to enjoy imaginative and interactive performances.
With over 100 applications from artists and companies around the UK, the programme will showcase a wide range of local and national talent. True to Fringe values, events are designed to be affordable or free, and artists will receive a generous 80/20 revenue split to help support their work.
“Fringe festivals are where the next big things happen,” says McIlven. “They’re where emerging voices find their audience. We’re proud to make Totnes a launchpad for new work.”
The festival is funded through a mix of crowdfunding, business sponsorship, grants, and ticket sales. Local businesses are already stepping up to support, gaining excellent visibility while helping to make the arts more accessible in Totnes.
With its community-led ethos and daring programming, the Totnes Fringe Festival promises to become a regular fixture on the town’s cultural calendar.
If you’d like to volunteer to help, buy tickets or view the full programme go to www.totnesfringe.uk and follow on social media @totnesfringe on Instagram and Facebook.