A wealth of entertainment at Stroud (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

A wealth of entertainment at Stroud

STROUD Fringe Festival, now in its eighth year, presents a week of music, dance, drama and comedy, plus street entertainers, a children's festival, a procession, markets and a new Sunday Craft Fair, at various venues in and around the town.

The programme is a fascinating and lively mix of the sort of original entertainment one expects to find in Stroud, kicking off with the Slad Valley Walk through Laurie Lee country and finishing with the Children's Festival weekend of music, arts and crafts, games comedy, a fun fair and fancy dress competition for all ages.

In between there are two late night cabarets, music of every sort including celtic, rock, jazz, folk and punk, from Ireland to Germany.

Plays include John Godber and Jane Thornton's Shakers by the Dead Ernest Theatre Company and an open air production of Dennis Potter's Blue Remembered Hills by the Stonehouse Youth Theatre Company, and there are one-man shows from comedian, adventurer and best selling writer Pete McCarthy and from comic poet John Hegley.

There's also an art exhibition on the theme of Laurie Lee's Gloucestershire by internationally known local artists John and Fiona Owen and their children, Laurie and Merry, in the Town Hall, and street entertainment from clog dancing to break dancing, from circus to samba.

Stroud's certainly the place to be between September 7 and 14.

Ticket information from Stroud Tourist Information Centre on 01453 760900, festival information from www.stroudfestival.co.uk, email: info@stroudfestival.co.uk