Nelson Fringe Festival: 23 March – 1 April 2023

Nelson Fringe Festival returns with theatre, music, comedy, improv, dance and oh, so much more. The 2023 programme continues the challenge of putting everything and anything on stage.

The 2023 programme boasts 40 shows across 10 days in 3 venues (plus 2 workshops!).

A Fringe Festival is a line-up of one-hour shows in small venues with cheap tickets. But we’re also a lot more. A Fringe show is life on the edge – it’s about stories and laughs and music that is happening right there. It’s the absolute core of live performance – it’s where every stage show begins.

A Fringe Festival is a guaranteed mixed-bag, and in 2023, we’re really hoping that it has an international flavour.

Pop the dates in your diary, and check out our website for more info and tickets.

We’re so stoked to be dropping the 2023 programme – like a jaunty little thud, that only a jam-packed brochure can give.

We could go on and on about the international acts – from the UK, USA, Canada, and Switzerland.

We could tell you about the local shows featuring a line-up of phenomenal talent. We could boast about the number of performers from right around the country, coming to Nelson to strut their stuff on our stages.

We could rattle off all the sorts of shows we have – cranking’ music, sharp-witted improv, new plays, new-takes on old plays, autobiographical plays, dance-like-there’s no-tomorrow, pirates, singing teachers, bugs, jokes, a tour of Nelson, general gloriousness, and things that will change your life for the better, forever.

And it’s taken this long to even mention the kea’s new bucket hat… so much to talk about!

Here’s what our Festival Director says:

Welcome to Whakatū Nelson’s celebration of alternative performance. After a hard few years, artists are back creating exciting shows for everyone to enjoy. There is music to get your feet stomping alongside theatre that will challenge and make you think, both classic work and brand new; very personal dance next to hilarious comedy. We welcome artists from near and far, and at every stage of their careers, some starting out and others with years of experience.

Fringe is all about taking risks, for the audience as well as the performers. So look through the programme and choose some things you like the look of, then plunge in, try something different, something you wouldn’t normally go to. For an hour of your time and the price of a couple of drinks, you might find something unexpectedly magical.

Now go check out the website and see you at the Fringe!
Giles Burton, Festival Director

https://www.nelsonfringe.co.nz/