New venue for the Isle of Wight, Ventnor Exchange Arena, announces ‘Preview Season’ as part of Ventnor Fringe 2025
Ventnor Exchange has revealed details of its new touring venue for the Isle of Wight, which will be hosting a ‘Preview Season’ at this year’s Ventnor Fringe from 18th–27th July 2025, ahead of its official opening next year.
The new Ventnor Exchange Arena is a touring, multi-purpose ‘Big Top’ tent that will complement the arts organisation’s existing building, bringing an innovative, exciting programme of theatre, circus, cabaret and music direct to audiences across the Isle of Wight.
The ten-day Preview Season will feature West End and Edinburgh Fringe smash hit, Murder, She Didn’t Write which turns the classic murder mystery into a hysterical improvised comedy riot, while Finnish clown Kallo Collective prove language is no barrier in their physical comedy about customer service and hospitality, Receptionists.
Acrobatics, adrenaline-pumping street dance and breath-taking roller skating, set on a giant moving treadmill, brings the awe in Gorilla Circus’ RPM, while Northern Rascals tackle moving themes in Sunny Side, a raw portrayal of the modern young male experience, informed by over 750 young people from across the UK. Cabaret legend Le Gateau Chocolat, comedians Simon Brodkin and Geoff Norcott, and Ventnor Fringe favourites Night Owl Shows, this year with The Elton John Story, are among others to feature.
Creative and Development Director Jack Whitewood explained,
“We hope this will be transformative for the Island, a professional venue that can move between all of our towns and villages, giving every community, especially those without a theatre, an opportunity to see and host incredible live events.”
The bespoke tent, currently under construction, has been especially designed to be multi-purpose and will be able to host both seated and standing events for audiences of between 200–1,000. The venue has been made possible following a £225,000 award from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme.
Tickets for these and over 60 other shows are now on sale at Ventnor Fringe, with the full programme for this year’s festival due to be unveiled at the end of April.
News shared by Jack on behalf of Ventnor Exchange. Ed
