The full programme for the 2019 Wanstead Fringe has now been unveiled, and is being distributed all over Wanstead, Snaresbrook and Aldersbrook. Already tickets are selling furiously and some events have even sold out.

As in previous years, the Fringe is a combination of comedy, live music, masterclasses about food and photography; there’s the Jumble Trail, the open air Kinema, and the centrepiece of the whole Fringe, live professional theatre.

There are three plays on this year – with The Border promising to be an uncannily timely production. When the programme was being put together it looked like there would be a degree of certainty around our national boundaries, but now, well who knows what’s going to happen. The play is going to be right on the button – and you can get tickets below. If you know or have children 13+, do them a favour and plan your outing now.

The Border – a new play by Afsaneh Gray

Tickets for all the events with the full lineup (many events don’t need tickets) can be found on the Wanstead Fringe website which is here. Or look for a copy through your door.

If you don’t like buying online, the box office will be open at the Larder on Saturday and at the Farmers’ Market on Sunday.

Wansteadium reader Ali O’Riordan found this poor fella adrift in Wanstead Park – one of Wanstead’s few remaining hedgehogs. He was in some distress so she took him to get veterinary help and was told he had been burned at some point.

As ever, all hog sightings are welcome. And remember, they should not normally be seen during the day, so if they are visible do look out for signs of distress.

For lots of people, the comedy in the Wanstead Fringe is what defines it, and this year will be no exception with six different comedy events planned. Tickets are, as of this morning, now available – you can follow the links below.

Topping the bill again is Paul Sinha. You could say that the Wanstead Fringe and Paul Sinha have a pretty good relationship. After all, this marks his third appearance at the  Having started his career off in the 1990s by qualifying as a GP, he found  his natural aptitude for comedy soon began to overtake his medical career. The turning point came when he was nominated for an if.comeddies award at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe.

But it’s not just comedy. His trivia knowledge led him to get picked as a chaser ITV’s The Chase where he’s known by various names including “The Sinnerman”, “Sarcasm in a Suit” and “The Caviar King”.

Recently, the 49-year old revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. His reaction is that “he probably wouldn’t be appearing on Dancing on Ice anytime soon”. But he is one of a kind.  As the UK’s first gay Anglo-Bengali GP turned stand-up comedian, his act veers from political commentary to turning his acerbic wit on various subjects as ethnicity, sexuality and the state of the UK – to wit: “I’ve just downloaded an app that lets me find all the single, middle-aged Asian men in the area. It’s called Uber.”

Comedy: Paul Sinha

And alongside Paul in the line-up are the following, including the magnificent return of Bam Bam (aka Graeme Matthews) who has spent much of the past year on Britain’s Got Talent and will be returning for our Comedy for Kids event.

Comedy for kids: The return of Bam Bam

There are gems all week – the rest of the line-up is as follows:

Comedy: Jason Simmons – Comedy Hypnotist

Wanstead New Comedy Act Competition

Shoot From The Hip Comedy Improv

Comedy: Chris McGlade & Gerry K

BeComedy & Italian Apetitivo and Nibbles

Theatre is coming into the heart of Aldersbrook as part of the Wanstead Fringe, organisers have announced. A new play, The Border, is to be staged there as part of a national tour. 

The play is an outrageous parable about identity and “the lines we draw between ourselves and other people”. It is, organisers say, a timely and thought-provoking contribution to current questions.

It’s the first time the Fringe has staged a big event in Aldersbrook – most events have so far been in central Wanstead or Snaresbrook. But the play is to be staged at the Aldersbrook Community Centre in Brading Crescent.

Giles Wilson, director of the Wanstead Fringe, said: “We’ve wanted to host events in Aldersbrook for a couple of years, and it’s great that we are able to do it in a way that also fulfils our mission of bringing live professional theatre to the Fringe.”

The play will be particularly useful for young adults though will be of relevance to everyone. For anyone studying drama, citizenship or PHSE, it will be especially valuable.

Tickets are now available via the Wanstead Fringe site, priced £8 and £6.

The Border – a new play by Afsaneh Gray

• There are two other plays being performed as part of the Wanstead Fringe. You can see details of them at wansteadfringe.org/theatre

Large parts of Wanstead including the High Street shops and traffic lights were among the areas hit by widespread power outages on Friday afternoon. For shops it was the third in just a few months. Power was restored after a short while but not without causing a fair amount of disruption.

The producers of one of the plays running as part of this year’s Wanstead Fringe have a role going spare suitable for a young Wanstead actor. The production of The Railway Children Musical is taking place at the Deaton Theatre at Forest School on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September, and the role of Jim is about to be cast.

The producers of the play are Hordern Ciani, who last year staged The Secret Garden as part of the Fringe. 

Producer Katherine Mount said: “Jim appears towards the end of the show when he falls on the tracks in the railway tunnel and is rescued by the children.  The role would suit a young person with interest in the theatre, giving them the opportunity to work with a professional cast and production company. They should have acting and singing ability.”

Rehearsals will take place in the week commencing 9 September with technical and dress rehearsals on 13 September in Wanstead. The performances are on Saturday 14 September at 3pm and 7pm, and on Sunday 15 September at 3pm.  If the successful candidate needs time off school to take part, the company will apply for licences and supply a registered chaperone.

Parents of anyone interested should apply directly to info@hordernciani.com

Tickets for the production are selling fast and are available via the link below.

 

The Railway Children

The Railway Children

The Railway Children