The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has played a key part in launching the careers of a glittering list of stars of the stage and screen.
The likes of Michael McIntyre, Graham Norton and Emma Thompson all trod the boards in their early days in the Scottish capital before becoming famous household names.
Now Kieron Riddell, the founder of the inaugural MedFringe, aimed at showcasing grassroots talent, is hoping to put the Medway Towns in the international spotlight.
Kieron, who is director of the Spotlites Theatre Company in Chatham High Street, is confident with his prediction, having worked at the world’s largest arts festival for 10 years.
But he’s the first to admit he’s got a lot to do before curtain up on his 15-day extravaganza staged at 10 venues across the Towns next month.
It’s being launched at Chatham Carnival on Saturday, July 4 with some of the acts represented at the town’s grand parade and family fun day.
The mantra of “We don’t do boring. We do bold” is illustrated in the diverse line-up, with Kieron declaring there’s something for everybody.
Prices are being kept as low as possible, with some free admission, others whatever you can afford and nothing more than £10.
Among those taking part at several venues is award-winning comedian G Watson, who will be performing Gen Axed. It’s a tale of modern Britain with comedy, personal storytelling and biting satire.
For the young members of the audience, there’s Madame Chandelier’s Grand Theft Opera, an acclaimed kids’ show, suitable for all the family.
Spotlites will be putting on its modern take of the Shakespeare classic Macbeth Regenerated.
Kieron has been heavily involved with the performing arts group since joining when he was 12, becoming director in 2019.
Born and bred in Chatham, he has built up a huge number of contacts in the entertainment sector and recognises “so much talent across so many disciplines” in Medway.
The 35-year-old father of three told KentOnline: ”I have had this idea for years, but kept it to myself.
“Last year I mentioned it to a couple of people about putting on something in 2027. But they said, ‘why not sooner?’
“We then reached out and were blown away by the response.
“In just a few weeks we have gone from five venues and 10 acts to 10 venues and 50 acts – and it’s growing all the time.
“We’ve even had interest from as far away as Australia”.
Fringe theatre is known for nurturing unconventional genres often produced outside of mainstream, giving up-and-coming artists the chance to get that big break.
Kieron said funding the event has relied mainly on goodwill, and it’s “performer-led”, although he had received a grant from Medway Council.
He believes that talent thrives in deprived areas, such as the Luton Arches area where the theatre is based and cites his own experience of growing up in the neighbourhood as an example.
The arts enthusiast didn’t enjoy school and only began to “flourish” when he joined the theatre as a lad.
In between he worked as a prison officer at HM Swaleside and as a delivery driver for Sainsbury’s but said his “heart was always in theatre”.
He got an acting part at the Edinburgh festival and took on a role as assistant venue manager before getting involved at the Brighton Fringe, the largest annual arts festival in England.Keiron deliberately sandwiched the Medway event between Brighton in June and Edinburgh in August.
He said: “Brighton will be a work im progress, Medway a preview with the final at Edinburgh.
”We are encouraging the people of Medway to give something new a try.
“We want that homegrown talent to have opportunities locally before they take that talent elsewhere.”
The team overseeing the event with Kieron include David Stokes, chief executive of Nucleus Arts and Sharon Jackson, Medway’s deputy mayor who is a stand-up comedian.
To find our more information about MedFringe click here.
The venues include The Glassbox Theatre, a 400-seater based at MidKent College’s Gillingham campus, Fort Luton, a Victorian fort in Chatham, The Bohemian and Poco Loco in Chatham High Street and the Queen Charlotte and Three Sheets to the Wind in Rochester High Street.
