Madam Renard’s Mini Fringe bubbles up in cauldron of theatrical treats including a gothic offering from the founders of the festival.

The Bridal Ballad is based around the writing of Edgar Allen Poe and brings a real taste of Gothic melodrama to the fringe. The festival line-up also includes stand-up, farce, contemporary drama, musical theatre, vaudeville, and innovative one-man shows, running alongside experimental theatre.

The Fringe is in its third year and has won backing from the Arts Council, which means theatre companies from all over UK have been attracted to performing at the festival alongside the home-grown talent.

One of the directors and founders of Madam Renards is Matt Fox. He said : “We are thrilled the arts council have seen the value of supporting new and cutting edge theatre in Swindon, and we hope that this will be the start of a long term relationship.”

The first dramatic offering is on Tuesday, April 7, at 7pm, at the Phoenix Theatre when The Aandric TeatroNonviolento kicks off the Fringe with a physical theatre show influenced by the works of Sophocles and entitled Antigonie on Antigonie. Also on the bill is the Marlborough-based company Friendly Productions who will perform the classic farce The Virtuous Burglar.

Ludum Ludum Troupe from Serbia will be performing at the Wyvern Theatre on Saturday April 11 from 2pm, followed by Swindon Community Opera in partnership with the JTP Trust presenting Nursery Rhymes With A Twist, not just for children.

“From an event which featured seven shows over five days in 2013, the 2015 Mini Fringe hosts 19 different performances from local, national and international companies, plus a week’s residency at Artsite on Theatre Square, where workshops, exhibitions and art installations will be housed for the duration of the festival,” said Matt.

Swindon playwright and manager of the Phoenix Theatre, Matthew Clift, has written a new play for the Fringe entitled Private Riddle’s Rep about the life of Carry On star Charles Hawtrey. It will be performed by Matthew’s own theatre company, Whole Hog Theatre, at Steam on Wednesday, April 8, in a world premier, following a one-woman show from Foulisfair Theatre at 7pm.

Two offerings come from the Chesterfield company, Trick of Light, who perform at the Town Hall with a show entitled, Two, on Saturday, April 7 and again on Tuesday, April 14, giving the Fringe a fitting finale with To Sleep starring the original cast of Peter Hynds and Ellie Lawrence.

For a complete run down of all performances visit www.madamrenards.co.uk - Flicky Harrison