Broadway Baby was delighted to have reviewers at the Prague Fringe Festival for the first time this year.
It was a belter!
Celebrating its 23rd year the Fringe boasted 36 shows with 30 sell out performances and a further 30 sold to over 70 percent full houses and has come a long way from an audience of only 400 people in its first year to its current level of around 6000. But simply getting bigger, like so many Fringes, has never been the aim of its Founder and Director Steve Gove; his intention is to keep it around its present size over six days. “Each year,” he proudly proclaims, “around 150 performances of around 40 different shows are on offer, running from late afternoon into the night”, which means the early hours of the morning and often till dawn. On the last night there is a custom of walking down to the Vltava River to see the sun rises over the Charles Bridge where people take end of Fringe photos.
A few years ago, Jim Haynes, Founder of the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh said, “The Fringe in Prague is just like Edinburgh in the 60s: intimate, friendly and fun. It is a wonderful festival” and that is how Gove intends to keep it. Of this years Fringe he said, “It was a belter!” and those of us who were there can certainly vouch for that. The event fits into seven venues concentrated in the Mala Strana district with a walking distance between the two extremes of only 16 minutes,
Prague Fringe is not a competitive festival, but performers very much appreciate feedback, reviews and recognition of their talents and achievements. To that end, there are various nominations and awards made that artists can use to promote their shows in the future. These are decided by the Fringes own jury of around 40 judges in addition to those made by Binge Fringe, Broadway Baby, Catania (Sicily) and Milano Off Fringe festivals, Fringe Review and The International Fringe Encore Series (Soho Playhouse, Off Broadway, New York). This year’s recipients are as follows:
Creative Award: Given to the company whose production is deemed creatively exceptional.
Joint Winners: The Whisper of the Waves and King John
Inspiration Award: For a new piece of work (no more than two runs previously)
Short List: Let the Bodies Pile Up; The Whisper of the Waves; UnErase Poetry - Stories from India and Getting Over Hugh
Winner: UnErase Poetry - Stories from India
Performance Award: For an individual Artist who has excelled in their performance at the festival.
Shortlist: Christopher Sainton-Clarke - A Year in a Day; Nigel Miles-Thomas - Sherlock Homes the Last Act; Sofia Pauly - Alice no and Alexandra Donnachie - When We Died
Winner: Christopher Sainton-Clarke - A Year in a Day
Brian's Life Award: Established in 2023 for artists who fall under the comedy genre. Special thanks to Vanessa Welsby
Joint Winners: Yozi: No Babies in the Sauna and Russel Hicks: Connects
Prague Fringe Audience Award: Voted for by audience members.
Short List: King John, The Whisper of the Waves, Russel Hicks: Connects
Winner: King John
Best of Prague Catania (Sicily) and Milano Off Fringe Award: Established in 2023 and selected by Francesca Vitale, Director Milano Off and Catania Off Fringes
Winner of the Milano Off Fringe Festival Award: Pip Utton - At Home with William Shakespeare
Winner of the Catania Off Fringe Festival Award: The Whisper of the Waves
Special Mention: King John
International Fringe Encore Series, Soho Theatre, Off Broadway, New York Prague Fringe Nominees: The Whisper of the Waves; Unerase Poetry - Stories from India, When We Died and A Year and a Day
Binge Fringe Pick of Prague Fringe Award: Created this year and selected by the Binge Fringe Team
Winner: UnErase Poetry - Stories from India
Broadway Baby Pick of Prague Fringe Award: Created this year and selected by Richard Beck, Editor-in-Chief, Broadway Baby
Winner: UnErase Poetry - Stories from India
Fringe Review Must See Award: new for 2024
Winner: When We Died
Spirit of the Fringe Award: Given in exceptional circumstances to an individual or company who has truly embraced the spirit of the festival. “This year,” says Steve Gove, “I am delighted to present the 2024 Spirit of the Fringe award to an incredible woman who has been with us for a decade. Rebecca Sweeney joined the Prague Fringe team as a volunteer Festival Assistant in 2014 and has served as our Operations Manager for several years. She has been instrumental in building the festival's volunteer team throughout the year and ensuring the smooth running of the Front of House department during the six days of Prague Fringe. I cannot recall a single show starting late in the past ten years, and much of this is thanks to Rebecca's dedication and hard work. Rebecca, you are truly a cherished member of our wee Fringe family”.
Prague Fringe 2025 runs from 26th - 31st May. See you there!
