A major Shropshire festival has made an important appointment as it looks to welcome a record number of visitors this summer.
Ludlow Fringe Festival is celebrating its 10th birthday this year and has appointed a Community and Education Coordinator to its growing team for the first time – a move made necessary by the ongoing growth and development of the event.
Jess Laurie is engaging with the local community, liaising with schools and making sure everyone in and around Ludlow knows how they can get involved in the festival and get the most out of it.
The appointment comes as this year’s festival, which runs from June 18 to July 10, promises to be bigger than ever as people find a renewed enthusiasm to get out and fully enjoy events again following the restrictions of Covid.
Anita Bigsby, Fringe Festival Director, said: “Interest in this year’s festival is already very high and we are anticipating a massive turnout which could easily be our best yet.
“I think people are only too aware of what they missed during Covid and are keen to make up for it now by getting out and about as much as they possibly can.
“We have been able to host the festival over the last two years, albeit online in 2020, but this year promises to be something really special.
“Jess has come on board as our Community and Education Coordinator and has already done an amazing job. It has been a voluntary post previously but this was a necessary step and one which will help us meet the demands and growth of the festival moving forward.
“It has become such a bigger role now and one of the most important. Our goal is to engage the community more in the festival and get our town and local people to really own it themselves.
“People are realising what the festival is all about and while we may be the umbrella, it’s important for people to understand that they can also get under it and become involved too.”
The festival kicks-off on June 18 with the return of Ludlow Carnival after a 15-year absence, which has the eco theme of Our Beautiful Earth.
Performers at this year’s three-week event include impressionist Alistair McGowan, dance performances and classes, the Big Sing will include more than 180 singers from local choirs, there’s storytellers, young musicians, TV comedians and a production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in Ludlow Castle.
Ahead of the festival free workshops and activities will take place across the town for people of all ages and abilities to create costumes, carnival sculpture and musical accompaniments.
People can also still get involved in backing the event through sponsorship of individual events or elements of events during the festival. There will be stickers to display in shops, cars and windows from £30 and sponsorship packages begin at £250 – providing an excellent opportunity for businesses to be promoted through one of the biggest events in the area this year.
For more about the festival and tickets, visit: www.ludlowfringe.co.uk and anyone interested in attending free workshops or sponsoring Ludlow Fringe Festival should email Jess on jess@ludlowfringe.co.uk.
