The exciting Chippenham Fringe Feb festival kicks off from Friday 23rd until Sunday 25th February packed with a diverse range of entertaining events for all ages across Chippenham. Highlights include comedy shows, live music performances, an art exhibition, interactive workshops, and family-friendly activities, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy – with affordable entry fees or free!
Embark on the Movie Trail throughout the town centre, where you can uncover 20 classic movie references for a chance to win a £50 voucher for Chippenham Reel Cinema. If you’re in the mood for some laughs, don’t miss “Instant Wit,” a quick-fire comedy improvisation show packed with sketches and songs, or head to “Daft Laffs Comedy” for an evening of diverse stand-up comedy.
Art enthusiasts can explore Ellie Thompson’s “Harm Joy” exhibition at Chippenham Museum, featuring whimsical felt fabric skeleton characters. Why not get hands-on at the Chippenham Community Mural event, where you can contribute to a communal artwork celebrating the local community. Find out more about Street Art in the “Hidden Canvasses: Street Art and the City” talk. Plus, don’t miss the unique “Drink & Draw with Chris Lambert” event at 31CO.WORK, a social evening filled with creativity, games, and community for artists of all levels.
Music lovers won’t be disappointed either, with a range of musical acts from jazz standards to alternative country music, folk to pop and rock music. From community choirs to a battle of the bands competition – there’s something to keep your toes tapping all weekend long. You can even grab your moment to shine at Riverbank Studio’s Open Mic night at The Old Road Tavern.
For young families, there are plenty of activities to keep the little ones entertained, including music & sensory sessions, circus workshops, interactive storytelling, and don’t miss aKa Dance Theatre’s sunny, family-friendly show, Shedache.
With a poetry workshop, excerpts from the musical “Rent” and a chance to dig out your best Hawaiian shirt and escape to paradise with Splitz & Co’s, “Elvis in Blue Hawaii” there really is something for everyone to enjoy.
With such a packed schedule, booking tickets early is essential to avoid disappointment and why not follow Chippenham Fringe February on Facebook and Instagram to be the first to know the latest news!
Chippenham Fringe Feb is produced and delivered by Melt Productions in collaboration with Chippenham Borough Lands Charity and the Chippenham ChAT (Chippenham Arts Team).
Funding for the event is provided by Chippenham Borough Lands Charity.
#FringeFeb24 #FringeFeb #ChippEvents
Fringe Feb Schedule
FRIDAY 23RD FEBRUARY
ALL DAY – MOVIE TRAIL – TOWN CENTRE – FREE
Collect a trail map and find 20 classic movie references hidden in Chippenham town centre for the chance to win a £50 voucher for Reel Cinema. More info…
10AM-4PM – HARM JOY EXHIBITION – CHIPPENHAM MUSEUM – FREE
Ellie Thompson’s Harm Joy exhibition at Chippenham Museum features hapless felt fabric skeleton characters reflecting the artist’s cartoonish sense of humour and interest in schadenfreude and anatomy. More info…
7-8:45PM – INSTANT WIT – CONSTITUTIONAL CLUB – £6-£14
A quick-fire comedy improvisation show packed full of sketches, songs, gags, surreal situations, and prizes. For audiences aged 12+. More info & book tickets…
7-9:30PM – CAUSE MUSIC CAFE – THE CAUSE – £5
Start the Fringe Festival weekend with a song or two! A popular music show with 6 different musical acts performing a variety of songs from jazz standards to folk to blues to classic pop with lots of fun! More info…
7-11PM – DRINK & DRAW WITH CHRIS LAMBERT – 31CO.WORK – £5
Calling all Chippenham artists and doodlers: a social evening backed full of creativity, games, collaboration, and community for artists of all levels. More info & book tickets…
8-10:30PM – TAKE THE STAGE HEAT 2 BY RIVERBANK STUDIOS – THE NEELD – £5
Heat 2 of this battle of the bands showcases local young music acts compete for a place in the final. More info & book tickets…
SATURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY
ALL DAY – MOVIE TRAIL – TOWN CENTRE – FREE
Collect a trail map and find 20 classic movie references hidden in Chippenham town centre for the chance to win a £50 voucher for Reel Cinema. More info…
10AM-4PM – HARM JOY EXHIBITION – CHIPPENHAM MUSEUM – FREE
Ellie Thompson’s Harm Joy exhibition at Chippenham Museum features hapless felt fabric skeleton characters reflecting the artist’s cartoonish sense of humour and interest in schadenfreude and anatomy. More info…
10AM-4:30PM – CHIPPENHAM COMMUNITY MURAL – The Buttercross – FREE
Make your mark on our Chippenham Community Mural! You will be given a tile and encouraged to draw a local scene or a portrait. All ages welcome! More info…
10:30AM-3:30PM – WRITE AROUND THE MUSEUM – Chippenham Museum – FREE
Explore objects in the Chippenham Museum galleries through creative writing inspired by the displays with hourly live or recorded readings by the museum’s creative writing group celebrating the end of their “Write around the Museum” project. More info…
11-11:45AM – CURIOUS COMPANY: STILT WALKING FOOTBALLERS – High Street – FREE
Get ready to cheer on our stilt-walking footballers as they kick up some fun on the High Street!
11AM-12:30PM – CLAIRE’S CIRCUS: WORKSHOP – King Alfred Hall – £3
An introductory circus skills session suitable for all ages and abilities to learn and expand skills in juggling, spinning plates, poi and more. Further info & book tickets…
12:30-1PM – CHIPPENHAM MORRIS DANCERS – The Buttercross – FREE
Don’t miss the Chippenham Folk Dancers performing traditional dances near the historic Buttercross, whetting your appetite for the Chippenham Folk Festival
1-1:45PM – FF + MELT PRODUCTIONS: BABY BOOGIE – King Alfred Hall – £3 (0-2)
A baby sensory and music session suitable for ages 0-2, featuring lights, toys, and social interaction with other babies and parents. Further info & book tickets…
1-2PM – HIDDEN CANVASES: STREET ART & THE CITY – Platinum Hall – £5 (U18 FREE)
There’s more to street art than Banksy – Hidden Canvases is a beginner’s guide to the world’s biggest art movement since pop art, exploring the different elements and styles of uncommissioned graffiti and murals, from superstars to local heroes, that are redefining public spaces. More info & book tickets…
1-4PM – LET’S BUILD LEGO CHIPPENHAM – Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre – FREE
Help build an 1886 Lego version of Chippenham marketplace, recreating landmarks like the Yelde Hall and Buttercross, using historical maps and photos for reference but with creative license to construct your own colourful interpretations. More info & book tickets…
1:30-3PM – CLAIRE’S CIRCUS: BALLOON MAKING – High Street – FREE
Join Claire on the High Street where she will be doing balloon modelling making flower bracelets to dinosaurs, princess crowns to crocodiles.
2:30-4:30PM – YOUR POETRY WORKSHOP WITH NIGEL LINACRE – The Library – £5 (14+)
The Poetry Workshop is for anyone who has ever wanted to write poetry, including people who have never managed to do so. Participants will be shown some ways poetry can work, be given some guidelines, and be encouraged to start writing poetry in one or more styles.
3-3:30PM – FRINGE SPECIAL! STORY TIME – Waterstones – FREE (U12)
Dive into a world of imagination at Waterstones with our Fringe Special Story Time.
3-4PM – ALLSORTS COMMUNITY CHOIR – The Buttercross – FREE
Join Allsorts Community Choir for a fun-filled sing-along that’s sure to lift your spirits and bring smiles all around.
3-4PM – MARY LOU REVUE: STEPPING THROUGH TIME – The Yelde – £5
Vintage song and dance duo presents ‘Steppin’ Thru Time’; a celebration of music and stars from the 1930s through to the 1970s. With timeless melodies and nifty dance moves, there’s something for all ages. More info & book tickets…
4:30-6:30PM – THE ROSELLYS – Rivo Lounge – £5
The Rosellys, a talented 5-piece band, bringing original alternative Country Music to The Rivo Lounge. For all ages. More info & book tickets…
6.00-11pm – FRINGE FEB MEGASHOW BY VAMOS PRODUCTIONS – The Old Road Tavern – FREE
A huge line up of music featuring Miss Kill, Qariaq, Cracked Machine, Mosaic and Sharpie in the barn and The Real Cheesemakers (acoustic), Charlton Lane, Harmony and Chews Life in the pub.
7:00PM – CAUSE ACOUSTIC MUSICAL CIRCLE – The Cause – FREE
Join an open acoustic session arranged in a circle and sing a song or two or just listen and join in a chorus! More details…
8PM – MAPLE THEATRE COMPANY: EXCERPTS FROM RENT – Wine Monkey – FREE (18+)
Catch excerpts from our upcoming musical Rent, performed by our fabulous cast—experience the essence of ‘Viva La Vie Boheme!'”
8-10PM – FF + MELT PRODUCTIONS: ‘DAFT LAFFS’ COMEDY – King Alfred Hall – £6-14 (18+)
Enjoy a night of diverse, weird and wonderful stand-up comedy from hot comedians Spencer Jones, Priya Hall, Abi Clarke and Sophie Duker hosted by Wil Hodgson as part of Melt Productions’ Daft Laffs event for Chippenham Fringe February 2023. More info & book tickets…
SUNDAY 25TH FEBRUARY
ALL DAY – MOVIE TRAIL – TOWN CENTRE – FREE
Collect a trail map and find 20 classic movie references hidden in Chippenham town centre for the chance to win a £50 voucher for Reel Cinema. More info…
12-12:45PM – FF + MELT PRODUCTIONS: TODDLER TANGO – King Alfred Hall – £3
A toddler sensory and music session by Melt Productions, featuring lights, toys and social interaction for toddlers and parents. More info…
1-1:45PM – CURIOUS COMPANY: STILT WALKING FOOTBALLERS – High Street – FREE
Get ready to cheer on our stilt-walking footballers as they kick up the fun on the streets!
2-5PM – CAUSE TEA DANCE – The Cause – SOLD OUT
3-3:30PM – KNAPSACK PRODUCTIONS: SPACE ROCKS – Waterstones – FREE
You are in mission control monitoring the re-entry of the space probe FringeFeb, which is returning from the edge of the solar system. Will the probe return safely? What will you find when you open it? Has it brought back alien life? Come along and be a part of Mission Control Chippenham. A space science show for the whole family.
3-4PM – PSG CHOIR – The Buttercross – FREE
Get ready to groove and sing along with PSG Choir as we bring the perfect mix of pop, soul, and gospel to lift your spirits and keep the fun going!
4-5PM – AKA DANCE: SHED-ACHE – Constitutional Club – £5-7
Get ready for aKa’s sunny, family-friendly show featuring boogying, silliness, snacks, socks and 100% chance of laughter no matter the weather! More info & book tickets…
7-8:45PM – SPITZ & CO. ELVIS IN BLUE HAWAII – King Alfred Hall – £6-14
A musical which will leave you ‘all shook up’! So, dig out your best Hawaiian shirt and escape to Paradise! Expect the usual mayhem and lots of audience interaction, plus all your favourite Elvis songs. More info & book tickets…
8PM – RIVERBANK STUDIOS’ OPEN MIC – Old Road Tavern – FREE
Step into the spotlight at Riverbank Studios’ Open Mic Night at the Old Road Tavern – your chance to showcase your talent!
