Guildford Fringe: 5th – 20th Sept 2025
What’s On.
Line-up announced for 2025 Guildford Fringe Festival
Over 50 events from West End stars and free family entertainment to comedy, drag, theatre, live music and much more.
The full 2025 programme has been unveiled for the 12th year of Guildford’s largest independent arts festival – Guildford Fringe Festival – which runs from 5 until 20 September, preceded by The Big Free Fringe Weekend on 9 and 10 August.
The Fringe is an open access, multi-arts celebration featuring comedy, poetry, music, theatre, visual arts, cabaret, exhibitions, children’s shows, workshops, talks and more. Venues range from traditional pubs and historic churches, to a community library and tranquil nature reserve.
The Big Free Fringe Weekend
The action kicks off with The Big Free Fringe Weekend, a weekend of free, family-friendly events, starting with an open-air evening performance on Saturday 9 August by theatrical supergroup The Barricade Boys performing for all to enjoy from the iconic Guildhall Balcony.
On Sunday 10 August, Guildford High Street will come alive with further free family entertainment, including a Rock Choir performing at 11am and 1pm, Guildhall balcony performances throughout the day from Charlotte Hillman, Karl Sonoy, Majella Yorston and others, Distinguished Gentleman walk-about circus workshops, bubble making from Storm in a Teacup, face painting, a crafts tent, a vintage ice cream van and delicious street food stalls.
Guildford Fringe Festival
Then from 5 September onwards, audiences can choose from a wide array of live entertainment as follows, with ‘Free Fringe’ events marked* and family-friendly events marked +.
Comedy:
A Broken Man’s Guide to Fixing Others; Twidow Twankey’s Dirty Panto; Emperor Graham’s New Clothes+; The Red Balloon+; The Secret Society; CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation; Juliette Burton: ExperiMental (work in progress); “A Companion” by Emma McQuillen; Joseph Emslie: Splish-Splosh; James Dowdeswell: Beers of a Clown; Screw Upz; Marc Burrows: The Britpop Hour; Harun Musho’d: A History Of The Last Conservative Government, In Their Own Stupid Words; A Political Brunch; Improv Wolves; Near Mrs; Clare Summerskill presents Why God Created Lesbians!; Boy Band; New Choice Improv Comedy; The Comedy Shomedy; Alcohol, Meat and Cigarettes; Juliette Burton: Best of Burton; Paul F Taylor – Off The Paul (work in progress)
Theatre/Spoken Word:
Mr Merrick, The Elephant Man; Meet the Booming Lovelies; Fiction Romance; Toby Belch is Unwell; Change is Coming; Freud, Erikson and Me; LIV: Sapphic Shakespeare; ‘Call Yourself an Irishman?’; Lettice & Lovage; A Little Part Play
Cabaret/Drag/Entertainment:
Cabaret Drag Night with Will Power; Drag Story Time with That Girl*+; Cabaret Drag Night with That Girl; Drag Bingo at the Fallen Angel; Cabaret Drag Night with Janine the Queen; Drag Bottomless Brunch; Cabaret Drag Night with Aura Gasm; Ada Campe: Big Duck Energy; An Evening with Nana Funk; Cabaret Drag Night with Topsie Redfern; Alex McAleer – Mind Reader; Magic Faraway Cabaret
Live Music:
The Barricade Boys on the Balcony*+; Opera on the Balcony*+; Hot Wires: An Evening of Lively Blues Music; Café de Swing+; Singalonga Pub Quiz
Other events:
Fringe Family Fun Day*+; The Ultimate Bubble Show+; Movie and a Meal: The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Fallen Angel
Charlotte Wyschna, Managing Director of Guildford Fringe Festival, said:
“Another joy of a Festival is ahead of us with a jam-packed three weeks of fun. We have everything from theatre right through to circus and street entertainers with a fantastic amount of comedy and cabaret thrown in as well, and lots more! Programming this festival is always so exciting, getting the applications in from artists and venues and matching them up is a puzzle I look forward to. I think we have the perfect mix of entertainment for you all and I am looking forward to seeing you there.”
Booking Information
For more information and to book tickets, visit: https://guildfordfringe.com or call the Box Office on 01483 361101.
During the Festival, there will also be a daily Box Office at The Star Inn, Quarry Street, from 6-7pm – a great place to catch the Festival team for their top tips on what’s taking place.