Gravesham Estuary Fringe Festival 2021

Gravesham Estuary Fringe Festival will be taking place from 4 – 12 June as part of the Associated Programme of Estuary 21. Gravesham Arts Salon has reached out to artists and creatives across all genres throughout the borough to be part of this festival. There was no restriction on the kind of work although we welcomed work that responded to the current situation in a sustainable and creative way so that we could continue despite the prevailing conditions.

The response has been amazing and we are delighted that over the 10 days of the festival we have a panoply of wonderful work from comedy to rap and poetry to musical theatre not to mention the multiple exhibitions by local artists and the daily Fringe TV broadcasts from Studio (Café No84). In line with the main Estuary 21 programme, the fringe will be held as an online or outdoor festival, although there will be some live streamed events and events that are made specifically for streaming. We have some fantastic sites taking part as well as those that will be on the GAS website including Fort Gardens, LV21 (lightship), TJ’s public house, The Three Daws, The Enchanted Garden and St Andrew’s Arts Centre to name but a few.

The full list of events can be found on the GAS website and include:– online exhibitions by Jonathan Faragher and Mercedes Balle, Barbara Blum, Gravesham Art Group and Peter Vigar; outdoor comedy from The Noise Next Door; streamed performances from Gtown Talents, Make A Noise Choir, The Murder Mystery Company and Robert Jones; live music by Ronnie Westrip, Mark Johnson, and Holly’s Buddies; outdoor art installations by Sonnia Margarita, Victorian Print Makers, Simon Martin, Artrack; online workshops by Liz Byletts Follies and Lydia Brockless and outdoor theatre performances from Spur of the Moment Theatre Company and Lauren Mills. In addition local poet and spoken word artist James M’Kay will be broadcasting live on youtube throughout the festival from Café No 84 with highlights from the fringe as well as interviews, performances and, of course poetry.

Programme

3 - 12 June - Fringe TV with Poet James M'Kay Livestreaming on Youtube from 'Studio 84'
4 - 12 June - Online Exhibitions on the GAS website - Barbara Blum & Gravesend Art Group
4 - 12 June - Online Gallery Breaching the Boundary installation by Jonathan Faragher and Mercedes Balle with strands of climate, protest and rebellion 
4 - 12 June - Fortress photography installation reflecting the countryside around Gravesend by Simon Martin on the railings by the Ship and Lobster
4 - 12 June - Parenthood installation at Gravesend Borough Market by Sonnia Margarita & Stephanie Henriksen reflecting human experiences during the pandemic.
4 - 12 June - batik online workshops led by Liz Bylett - Follies Artworks
4 June - live music in TJ's Garden - DA12 2RF
5 June - Local Art and Photography Exhibition - The Hill DA11 9 EU
5 June - Holly's Buddies band in Fort Gardens, DA12 2BH
6 June - Interactive Streamed Murder Mystery by Audacious Theatre Company
6 June - It Didn't Come Out in the Wash - installation in the Enchanted Garden DA11 9EU
7 - 12 June - Turning Point Installation - The Hill DA11 9EU
8 June - The Noise Next Door - comedy in Fort Gardens DA12 2BH
8 - 12 June - Interactive Streamed workshop by Lydia Brockless - Making words into 3D objects
9 June - Streamed Concert by Make a Noise Choir
10 June - Robert Jones Live streamed comedy from LV21
11 June - Mark Johnson and Ronnie Westrip - live music in Fort Gardens DA12 2BH
11 & 12 June - Installation of Sturge Fountain Tile Project by Leigh Osborne and Local Residents
12 June - 'It Is What It Is' Spur of the Moment Young People's Theatre 1pm - Enchanted Garden DA11 9EU
12 June - Spur of the Moment Theatre and Courageous Roses Theatre - Enchanted Garden DA11 9EU
12 June - Live Music in TJ's Garden DA12 2RF

About the artists
Gravesham Arts Salon (GAS) first met in 2016 and, since starting as an informal network of creative practitioners living or working in Gravesham, is now a constituted organisation initiating and delivering projects under the GAS banner. It has, however, maintained its core intentions to be a supportive place for artists and creatives in the area to share ideas and link up with colleagues. Since its inception GAS has worked on several projects including Silk River in 2017. In 2018 GAS delivered the first one day Riverside Fringe Festival and, based on its success, this was developed into a week long festival in 2019, Riverside Fringe was awarded funding from ACE