Appeal to take part in Fringe festival

A YORKSHIRE arts event with a national profile is appealing for participants to come forward to take part in a festival later this year.

Ilkley Literature Festival is encouraging local writers, performers and community groups to apply to take part in the 2020 Festival Fringe.

The festival team remains hopeful that the weekend-long Fringe festival will be able to take place as planned Saturday and Sunday October 3 and 4 at venues in Ilkley’s Heritage Quarter, the area around the Manor House and All Saints’ Church.

If public health guidance means this is not possible, then the Fringe will take place in some form, either online or on new dates.

The Fringe organisers say it is “a smorgasbord of local creative talent”, Fringe producing partners Playful Being aim to showcase a diverse range of voices and genres.

Events can include performances, workshops, promenades, flashmobs, 15-minute pop ups and improvised interventions.

The maximum time slot is 45 minutes, and shorter performances or pop-ups could be repeated.

Playful Being’s Jess Penrose and Mel Taylor said in a statement: “We want to encourage people who might not have considered applying for the Fringe before to have a go this year. If you haven’t previously had time due to pressures of work or never thought you were a creative person until lockdown made you pass your time in new ways, we want to hear from you,”

Visit www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk.