The first weekend of Ventnor Fringe Festival was a roaring success, with more than 50 shows attracting Islanders, and visitors alike, to soak up the V-Fringe experience.
Monday was a rest day for the team, giving almost everyone involved a chance to take a breather, but shows start up again today (Tuesday), with more than 100 performances still ready to take place.
Whether it’s theatre, comedy, music, visual arts, dance cabaret that tickles your fancy, there truly is is something for everyone to see and do.
OnTheWight Picks
Below are some OnTheWight picks for the 2025 Ventnor Fringe Festival.
Paul Armfield
Fresh back from his two month tour promoting his latest album 9 Songs For Bibliophiles, Paul Armfield has added a last minute gig to Ventnor Fringe Festival.
Paul Armfield performed at the first ever Fringe and many in-between, so help to welcome him back by booking your tickets now.
Paul Armfield will be performing at 2.30pm on Tuesday 22nd July at Ingram’s Yard, Dudley Road.
Harpist Pippa Reid-Foster
Island-based promoters Vaguely Sunny are supporting the return of leading Scottish harpist, Pippa Reid-Foster. Pippa previously performed at the 2022 Fringe as part of a duo with Finnish musician Eva Alkula, earning a warm reception from local audiences.
The concerts, titled Undercurrents, explore themes of resilience and recovery. Pippa will perform a new suite, her own original pieces, and arrangements of works by contemporary composers including Philip Glass, Max Richter and Ludovico Einaudi.
Pipps is performing at St Catherine’s Church on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd July at 7.30pm each day. Book now.
Second Time Around: Across The Pond
Beloved Isle of Wight folk trio, Second Time Around, achieved notable success with their debut performance last year. This year, the accomplished musicians present ‘Across The Pond’, an innovative performance that examines the fascinating relationship between English and American folk traditions.
The show explores both the divisions and similarities that exist between these two rich musical heritages.
Second Time Around: Across The Pond takes place at Ventnor Arts Club on Saturday 26th July at 4.45pm. Book now.
Claudwick
Royal Exit Productions brings a unique theatrical experience to this year’s Ventnor Fringe Festival with Claudwick, a sharp, satirical one-man show tackling themes of gentrification and privilege.
The story follows Claudwick, a wealthy young baron from a remote German town who trades aristocratic comfort for an urban life in Camden. Drawn by the promise of gritty authenticity, he purchases a loft in a renovated warehouse. However, he soon finds the city does not meet his expectations.
The show is described as “a Bouffon-Show on the choking reality of gentrification and the intellectual bewilderments of obscene wealth”.
Claudwick takes place on 26th and 27th July at The Bijou @ Fringe Village at 8.45pm each day. Book now.
Whine List
The ever-sardonic Frenchman, Marcel Lucont, brings not one but two highly acclaimed performances to this year’s Ventnor Fringe Festival.
Known for his world-weary charm, Marcel Lucont presents Whine List, an interactive comedy experience where audience members submit their most ridiculous grievances to be dissected with withering finesse.
Combining these with his signature “erotic poetry”, Lucont draws on packed-out performances across the globe – from Soho Theatre in London to New York and Melbourne – to deliver a masterclass in deadpan comedy.
Whine List takes place at Bosco Theatre, Fringe Village, Ventnor Park on Sunday 27th July 2025 at 5pm. Book now.
Les Enfants Terribles: A gameshow for awful children
Earlier the same weekend, Lucont hosts Les Enfants Terribles, a riotous gameshow where children compete in challenges to be crowned the most dreadful child. Witty, fast-paced and utterly absurd, this family show flips the usual rules on their head.
Children become pests, politicians and even pétomanes in a contest that entertains adults as much as the little ones. It’s already a firm favourite at the Edinburgh Fringe and beyond.
Les Enfants Terribles: A gameshow for awful children takes place at Bosco Theatre, Fringe Village, Ventnor Park on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July 2025 at 11am each day. Book now.
The Book Bus
Finally, don’t forget The Book Bus will be rolling into Ventnor Fringe Festival once again, bringing its distinctive 1935 Parisian flair to the Fringe Square (24th to 26th July).
Inside The Book Bus, visitors will discover a collection of books carefully curated by Jen and Tom, ranging from rare and hard-to-find editions to well-loved paperbacks.
Tucked between its worn original seats, Art Deco sconces and vintage route maps, the selection includes titles on travel, nature, history, art, plays and poetry.
Lots to choose from
There are more than 150 free or ticketed shows to choose from, so head over to the Ventnor Fringe website and see what takes your fancy.
