The curtains were lifted at the Red Door Theatre on 29 January, revealing the 2025 programme for one of Aotearoa’s “feistiest little festivals”.
Nearly 50 events encompass this year’s Nelson Fringe Festival which will grace the stage at central city venues between 5 and 16 March.
Director Giles Burton says 21 of the 47 shows feature Top of the South performers which includes an improv show by Waimea College students, and a show about Nelson actress, comedian and writer, Naomi Strain’s, “drug-fuelled adventure” at Nelson Hospital.
He says the festival’s content, which includes other theatre shows, comedy and outdoor performances, was always exciting and unique.
“I think in Nelson, we have a lack of venues for small theatre, so it’s the one chance that people get in the year to see lots of really exciting stuff from here and around the country,” he says. “It’s kind of cutting edge, with Fringe there’s much more risk-taking by performers to do something new.”
“I think Fringe audiences once they get into it, they kind of get excited by the fact that they’re seeing stuff that they wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to see.”
Giles says each show is about an hour long. Visit www.nelsonfringe.co.nz for the full programme and tickets.
