Ventnor Fringe 2024 acts from bawdy bards to albums of new material

We've rounded up just a few of the 150 shows to enjoy over the ten day festival, which runs from July 19 to 28.

Opinionated County Press columnist Catherine 'Cat' James and bawdy bard Steve Taverner are reviving their popular Lucky Dip show.

Spoken word performers Taverner and James invite audience members to draw diverse items out of their 'Lucky Dip'. 

Steve explained, "We use the items as prompts to explore the topical issues which perplex, enrage and entertain us all."

Cat added: "Through our original poems and prose we delve into matters such as biometric surveillance, gender fluidity, cloud storage and free buses for the masses."

Taverner and James (Image: Contributed)

Taverner and James' Lucky Dip is on Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20, at 1pm at the Pier Street Playhouse. Show contains references to nether regions.

Doug Alldred (Image: Julian Winslow)

Island based singer-songwriter Doug Alldred will be at the fringe with his backing band The Silver Lining.

After a hiatus from live appearances which has seen them complete work on a full album of new material, Doug Alldred and The Silver Lining will play on Wednesday, July 24.

The band’s previous appearances in 2017 and 2018 both sold out.

Doug said: “It’s been six years since we last played Ventnor Fringe and it’s great to be coming back this year for a full show ranging from solo acoustic tunes right up to a full seven-piece band, all in one night.

"Performing your own show at an event like Ventnor Fringe really gives you a chance to stretch your legs as an artist and try to showcase a lot more of your material than you usually get a chance to.

As part of a UK tour actor Mark Stratford is bringing his two five-star reviewed solo shows to the fringe.

“As each is set in the Victorian period they can use the same costumes, furniture and props,” explains Mark, “which means I can fit both into the back of my single van. Well, I say ‘van,’ I actually mean my Vauxhall Zafira.”

Actor Mark Stratford (Image: Contributed)

The first show is Macready! Dickens’ Theatrical Friend which tells the fascinating true story of the great Victorian actor-manager, Macready - the man to whom Charles Dickens dedicated Nicholas Nickleby.

The second is The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - a faithful retelling of the classic tale of the inexorable conflict between good and evil. Mark plays all the characters.

The shows are on July 19 and 20 at 2pm at Ingrams Yard.

After their sold-out performances in 2023, Belinda and Elsie are set to return with a new, larger venue. This year's performances promise an even grander spectacle filled with music, humour, and glamour.

Opera diva Belinda and burlesque showgirl Elsie (Image: Contributed)

An administrative mix-up leads to an unexpected pairing on stage; opera diva Belinda and burlesque showgirl Elsie must find a way to share the spotlight.

The show features stunning costumes, operatic favourites, audience interaction, and burlesque striptease.

Belinda and Elsie's mash-up is sure to delight, and can be enjoyed on July 20 and 21, at 7.30pm at The Magpie.

After years of selling out at Edinburgh Fringe, Murder, She Didn’t Write is excited to debut at Ventnor Fringe this year.

From its humble beginnings with rudimentary costumes and minimal set, Murder, She Didn’t Write grew to become an big budget Edinburgh juggernaut and a touring favourite.

Don your deerstalker, grab your magnifying glass and get your 'finger of suspicion' at the ready for your sleuthing pleasure with Degrees of Error. They'll create a classic murder mystery on-the-spot in this original improvised comedy production.

Nana Funk uses her powers of song and hilarity for the forces of good to spread the self-love word. Get taken on an emotional musical rollercoaster as Nana challenges ageism.

From delicate ballads to '90s dance and all the way through to full on rock, Nana gives her not so subtle opinions on what it means to be “age appropriate”.

An evening with Nana Funk (Image: Neil Kendall)

An Evening With Nana Funk is at Ventnor Arts Club on July 19 at 7.30pm and 9.30pm.

Procreate is the debut one-woman show from Bethan Screen.

She said it will probably the last one because "TBH, combining parenthood and performing sounds too hard".

Procreate is a surreal comedy as she imagines impending parenthood. This came from a frustration of not seeing herself, broody feelings and the process of deciding to have children reflected on stage.

It's a show for everyone, including people who are thinking about having children, people who don’t want kids, parents and former babies...

Luc Valvona as Baron Fortitude (Image: Contributed)

Renowned Island comedian, Luc Valvona will be performing as his alter ego, Baron Fortitude: Victorian Rapper.

The award-winning Luc is the founder of the IW School of Comedy and co-founder and regular performer of Ballyrags Comedy Club in Ryde.

His fringe performance is on July 28.