Buxton Festival Fringe 2025 Week 2 Highlights
Buxton Festival Fringe – one of the UK’s largest open-access arts festivals alongside Edinburgh and Brighton – is now in full swing, entering its final week with its trademark burst of creativity and energy.
Now in its 46th year, the Fringe continues to build on its reputation for a warm welcome, an eclectic programme, and a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere.
We’ve updated this article and picked out 12 events in the final week not to miss!
12 Fringe Events Not to Miss from the Final Week
Still unsure what to see? The Fringe team can help – grab a copy of the printed brochure around town or download the free Fringe app (available on iOS and Android) for easy access to the full programme on the go. For all listings and updates, visit their website at buxtonfringe.org.uk/programme
The Fringe runs until 27th July and this year’s programme features a dynamic line-up of local and international talent, offering something for every taste.
1. Comedy – THE WORST RECORD COVERS IN THE WORLD!
The Worst Record Covers in the World is a selection of the most crazy, exotic, tasteless, funny, peculiar, inept and mind-boggling sleeves ever produced. ‘The room is full of people howling with laughter; it’s great’ Mark Radcliffe. See it in several venues around Buxton – details at the Fringe Information Desk.
🗓️ 9th – 27th July, all day
📍 Around the town
🎟️ FREE
2. Comedy – LATE NIGHT DIRTY SCRABBLE – WITH ROB ROUSE & FRIENDS – Rob Rouse & Underground
The sensational sell-out cult hit of Buxton and Edinburgh Fringes… the most fun possible at the festival with your clothes on! Buxton Fringe Comedy Award Winner Rob Rouse and guests compete for double-entendres and Double Word Scores. Hilarious, puerile, and inclusive gameshow, putting the dick in dictionary. Guaranteed belly laughs!
🗓️ 22nd & 23rd July 10pm to 11pm
📍 Underground at Spring Gardens
🎟️ £9 (Conc £8)
Bookings via underthefringe.com. Info: 020 8144 0070. Students & low income £3 off.
3. Spoken Word – PARANORMAL ACCOUNTS WITH THE GRAVEYARD KNITTING CLUB – Graveyard Knitting Club
A two-person show exploring and exposing local Derbyshire folklore and ghost stories, through the guise of two gossiping ghosts, during their weekly knitting club. (New Writing)
🗓️ 23rd & 25th Jul 5.30pm to 6pm
📍 Scrivener’s Bookshop, High Street
🎟️ £5 (Child and Conc £3), Mild horror, Ages 12+
Bookings via Opera House 01298 72190 / Book direct with Buxton Opera House online here.
4. Music – LIVE NUGGETS – Up-Psychled
Three-piece psychedelic band, featuring Fringe stalwarts Will Hawthorne and Adrian Sherwood, focusses on the classic anthology Nuggets. A handful of numbers from the Lenny Kaye compiled album showcasing American Garage and Psychedelia inspired by the 1960s’ British Invasion. A smattering of British classics will be added to provide context.
🗓️ 24th July, 9pm to 10.15pm
📍 Buxton Working Men’s Club – upstairs
🎟️ £8 (Child and Conc £6)
Bookings via Opera House 01298 72190 / Book direct with Buxton Opera House online here.
5. Music – THE SHOWS WE USED TO KNOW – Robert Hazle & Helena Northcote
Celebrate the forgotten favourites and fabulous flops of British musical theatre with songs and stories of Noël Coward, Jessie Matthews, Lionel Bart, Elisabeth Welch, Anthony Newley, and many more! Cabaret duo Hazle & Northcote returns for a third year. Buxton Fringe 2024 Music Award – Show. ‘A formidable double act’ Fringe Review
🗓️ 24th July, 9pm to 10.15pm
📍 United Reformed Church
🎟️ £12 (Child Free, Conc £10)
Bookings via Opera House 01298 72190 / Book direct with Buxton Opera House online here.
6. Theatre – ALMOST HAUNTED – Northern Powerhouse Theatre
Welcome to Spectre Quest – thrilling investigations of supernatural occurrences. As darkness descends, our brave team delve into the enigmatic world of the unexplained, guided by their quirky hostess-with-the-mostest. What secrets lurk in the shadows? From a multi-award-winning company. Best Drama, Best Comedy and Best Performer at Greater Manchester Fringe.
🗓️ 24th July 7pm to 8.15pm, 26th July 8.15pm to 9.30pm
📍 Underground at the Working Men’s Club
🎟️ £10 (Conc £9)
Bookings via underthefringe.com. Info: 020 8144 0070. Students & low income £3 off.
7. Theatre – THE EASY WAY OUT – Eli Yim
A musician, a doctor, and a traumagenic personification of God walk into A&E. They conduct a mental health crisis assessment and absolutely nothing happens. Tale as old as time. Eli Yim debuts their autobiographical one-man show, combining musical theatre with stand-up comedy to narrate their offbeat yet powerful almost-death story. (New Writing)
🗓️ 25th July 4.15pm to 5pm, 26th July 5.15pm to 6pm
📍 Underground at the Working Men’s Club
🎟️ £10 (Conc £9)
Bookings via underthefringe.com. Info: 020 8144 0070. Students & low income £3 off.
8. Children’s Events – IRISH STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN – Neysa Killeen
Join storyteller Neysa Killeen for a relaxed sharing of Irish folklore for children. Including legends like Oisín in the Land of Youth and other weird and wonderful tales, these stories will delight and inspire children and their grown-ups. 7-9 years: Saturday 11am and Sunday 1pm, 10-12 years: Saturday 2pm (New Writing)
🗓️ 26th July 11am to noon, 2pm to 3pm / 27th July 1pm to 2pm
📍 Scrivener’s Bookshop, Buxton
🎟️ £5 (Conc £3), Ages 7 – 12yrs
Tickets on the door.
9. Other – PICK ‘N’ MIX – Underground
Treat yourself to a taste of the Fringe! Featuring short and sweet excerpts from a quality assortment of specially selected shows, and interviews that get you the scoop from behind the scenes. There’s allsorts to sample in this jolly mixture of theatre, comedy, music, Fringe offers, prizes, and free sweets.
🗓️ 24th July, 1pm – 2pm
📍Underground at Spring Gardens
🎟️ £5
Bookings via underthefringe.com Info: 020 8144 0070
10. Theatre – THE LAST DAYS OF TRUMP (A LIBERAL FANTASY) – Eoin Carney (Creator/Producer)
It’s US election day, 2028, and ageing two-term President Donald Trump is about to be replaced for good. Will he go rogue or will a plan to keep him focused on golf, gorillas, porn, and building his perfect Presidential Library avert disaster? See it before the US playwright gets ICEed! (New Writing)
🗓️ 24th July 7pm to 8pm
📍 The Palace Hotel
🎟️ £10 (Child Free, Conc £6)
Bookings via linktr.ee/trumplastdays or email [email protected]
11. Visual Arts – BUXTON PHOTO CHALLENGE 2025 High Peak Photography Club
Come and join Buxton’s own photomarathon – a photography challenge to take six photos on six themes in six hours. All you need is your camera with empty memory card or phone. Arrive between 10am and 11am to get your themes then off you go! Everyone welcome.
🗓️ 26th July, 10am to 4pm
📍The Old Clubhouse – Downstairs
🎟️ £5 (Child £3.50). No advance booking, tickets on the door.
12. Other – HIGH PEAK PRIDE PICNIC – High Peak Pride
A summer afternoon, fancy hats, wonderful cakes, fabulous people: Buxton’s (High Peak) Pride Picnic is back for another summer feast, a celebration of the town’s LGBTQ+ community. Join us for laughter, conversation, new friends, old tarts… bring your own picnic and maybe a cake for our Big Gay Bake Off.
🗓️ 26th July, 2pm to 5pm
📍Pavilion Gardens
🎟️ FREE
13. Music – HANNAH BRINE LIVE AT THE BUXTON FRINGE – Hannah Brine
Singer-songwriter Hannah, Buxton Fringe Solo Vocal Award 2024, brings gorgeous songs from her new album Blue Sky Now to share with you. Inspired by the Great American Songbook, and likened to Carole King and Rumer, Hannah performs lush ballads and lively jazz anthems, all destined to be modern classics. (New Writing)
🗓️ 24th July, 8pm to 9pm
📍 United Reformed Church – Purple Room: Church
🎟️ £14 (Child and Conc £10)
Bookings via Opera House 01298 72190 / Book direct with Buxton Opera House online here.
14. Street Theatre – THE SHAKESPEARE JUKEBOX – Buxton Drama League
The Shakespeare Jukebox celebrates its 20th anniversary, performing scenes and speeches from the Bard’s most famous plays in its own unique style – all chosen by you for a charity donation! Whether this is your first time, or you’ve seen them before, join in the fun with this Buxton legend!
🗓️ 25th, 26th July, 6.15pm to 7pm
📍 Pavilion Gardens – Promenade
🎟️ Free
New venues for 2025
This year the Fringe is bringing performances to venues across Buxton and beyond. Resourceful performers are making use of a wide variety of spaces, with a weekend of comedy at the Lee Wood Hotel and events taking place in Harpur Hill, Brierlow Bar, Burbage, and other locations throughout the town centre. This year also welcomes the addition of a new Fringe venue: Buxton Working Men’s Club.
Underground at The Fringe returns to Spring Gardens venue as well as setting up a new one – Buxton Working Men’s Club
Underground at the Fringe has once again transformed the former Track & Trail shop on Spring Gardens into a temporary theatre, offering the best in UK touring stand-up, sketch comedy, theatre, poetry, bands, family shows, physical theatre, and more.
Underground have also set up home in a new venue this year – downstairs at Buxton Working Men’s Club.
For the second year, Sacro Lounge (a few doors down) is hosting the Underground at the Fringe Box office (upstairs). The box office at Sacro is staffed from 30 minutes before the first show, until the last show goes up. Box Office opening times are weekdays 12.30pm – 8.30pm and weekends 11.30pm – 8.30pm.
Fringe Information Desk – New Location at The Octagon Lounge
Throughout the festival, the Fringe Information Desk is open daily in its new location – the Octagon Lounge at the Pavilion Gardens.
Plan your events – pick up a printed brochure / download the ‘Fringe’ app
If you’re still unsure about what to see, the Fringe themselves can help. As well as the weighty, printed brochure available around the town, check out their app (available on iOS and Android), giving you handy access to the full programme on the go.
As usual, the Fringe will also host lots of free event showcases.
With a such a vast programme, it’s also a good idea to check for late changes/cancellations at buxtonfringe.org.uk/latechanges.
The Fringe is a registered charity. See buxtonfringe.org.uk for how to donate, become a Fringe Friend or to volunteer.
Buxton Festival Fringe
When: 9th – 27th July 2025
T: 07591 013554 (Fringe Information desk during Fringe only) or Fringe Marketing Officer: 01298 79351. General enquiries: 07792 346 127
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