Scarborough Fringe

Winter Edition

4 – 7 December 2025

Scarborough Fringe

4 – 7 December

ABOUT SCARBOROUGH FRINGE

Scarborough Fringe features theatre, music, comedy, spoken word, children’s shows, and a variety of other events and performances. Running between Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 December, The Fringe will take over Scarborough and will have something for everyone – from residents and families to students and tourists alike.

With a diverse range of performances, exhibitions, and events, you are sure to find something to enjoy. Don’t miss out on this vibrant and dynamic celebration of the arts that will leave you inspired, entertained, and uplifted. Whether you’re a seasoned culture lover or a curious newcomer, this festival promises an unforgettable experience that will stay with you long after the final curtain falls.

Register to take part

What’s On

Music

Raven Yuletide

29 November, St Mary’s Parish Church

A fusion of irresistible sounds: daring choral, sizzling salsa, whimsical pop, ethereal melodies and rootsy folk”. RAVEN have now been together for nearly 20 years.

Tours

A Scarborough Ghost (Signs) Walk

4 – 5 December, Scarborough Town Centre

A psychogeographic derive across the town centre inspired by ghost signs and making thematic and visual associations to weave together a unique picture of Scarborough where heritage, lived histories, fable and typography interact through connection and juxtaposition.

Workshop

Wizarding Workshops: Glitter Cardboard Sharks

4 – 6 December, Indigo Alley

Come and create a glitter shark from nothing but cardboard and a bit of magic! A two day workshop with Professor Sparklefarts – Chief Wizard at Wizarding Workshops. Feel free to turn up in your best wizarding attire and kindness is key, so leave anything negative at the door and enter with a smile.

Literature & Spoken Word

Gobby Lass

5 December, Beeforth’s Hive

In spite of what their Mum told them, Lizzie Lovejoy has been talking to strangers for the past four years. Listening to their words from the Scottish Border to the edge of Yorkshire. Join Lizzie for this stand-up spoken word performance.

Music

The Lounge

5 December, Beckview Studios

Experience intimate live music in Beckview Studios’ unique studio setting. Discover incredible grassroots talent from the region and beyond while becoming part of a real studio recording and livestream.

Music

Filey Fringe Presents: Saltburn Smugglers

6 December, Filey Evron Centre

The Saltburn Smugglers are a modern shanty group from Saltburn-by-the-Sea, writing new songs and rearranging timeless classics, reflecting the rich maritime heritage of North Yorkshire and Teesside.

Comedy

Instascam: Inside the Murky World of Instagram Scammers

6 December, YMCA Community Room

Join James for a laugh-out-loud adventure as he dives into the wild world of Instagram scammers! In this hilarious new show, James exposes the most outrageous schemes and shady tricks used by online con artists.

Music

Through the Window Cabaret

6 December, Craft Bar

Through the Window Cabaret presents an evening of performances from local talent including poets, writers and musicians.

Literature & Spoken Word

Skysteamer to Athens: Steampunk Storytelling Extravaganza

6 December, YMCA Lloyd Dowson Room

Two musician and one poet combining to create a spontaneous, chilled laid back 2 hour performance of beats, raps, poetry and eclectic music.

Literature & Spoken Word

Unrehearsed Mayhem

7 December, Craft Bar

Two musician and one poet combining to create a spontaneous, chilled laid back 2 hour performance of beats, raps, poetry and eclectic music.

Scarborough Fringe | Summer Season 2025

To get a real feel for the festival, take a look at what happened during Scarborough Fringe and Scarborough Art this summer.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Scarborough Fringe has something for everyone, including families with youngsters. Kathy Seabrook will be staging Art Tunes with visual artist Petra Ingham encouraging children to make music and art in response to it. The Dinosaur Beach is an interactive story for under 5’s. SESKA, who has performed around the world, brings his comedy magic show SESKA: DON’T WEE YOUR PANTS to town and YMCA Yorkshire Coast’s Musical Theatre School debut the Y-Perform Summer Show Case.

COMEDY

A diverse set of comedy acts are bringing their shows to Scarborough Fringe. Go on an adventure through time and space with Any Suggestions, Doctor? The Improvised Doctor Who Parody. Dan Driver shares the soundtrack of his life in Dan Driver: The Sound of Musak. Those who enjoy a murder mystery should seek out It’s Not Cluedo – a nonsensical parody of the great board game. KIZZA: BIGFUNKY-MAGICMAN is a comedy magic show for grown-ups which won Best Act at the Bucharest Comedy Festival.

The Queen, Shakespeare and Me is an affectionate musical comedy tribute. In Jen Strike: Strike by name, the comic takes us on a tour of a northern childhood amidst the backdrop of The Miner’s Strike. Leicester Comedy Festival 2023 nominee Stanley Brooks will be performing his show Stanley Brooks: I Can Make Me Rich. Hollie Noble unveils Janifesto, honouring a powerhouse Mother who defied social norms with empowerment, resilience, and the unconventional. A Fine Line (Work in Progress).

DANCE

The Brave Project will bring their show BOUNCE which aims to make physical expression and dance accessible to boys in Scarborough. WATCHING, Ceci n’est pas de Deux by Ester Natzijl Projects is a solo-duet of puppetry, theatre and dance which has received international acclaim and been performed worldwide.

EVENTS

Daniel Parker-Parker will host Open Mic, and showcase local musical talent. Join the Telegraph’s most listened-to podcast Ukraine: The Latest – LIVE to analyse the conflict and lessons western militaries can learn. Enter the world of two caterpillar men in Waiting (optimistically). At the Whiskyside Festival: The English Spirits Showcase you can step into a world of exquisite flavours celebrating the best of English spirits.

LITERATURE & SPOKEN WORD

Adrian Riley brings Junk Haiku, a daily visual poem which is part performance art and part exhibition. Tales in the Key of Terror: Spooky Storytelling Performance is an immersive readers theatre performance of two spine-chilling horror stories by author C.J.Carter-Stephenson.

MUSIC

Musicians and composers will be sharing their musical talents in venues across the town. From acoustic sets, tea parties and folk music to a live lounge at Scarborough’s newest recording studio. There are big tribute gigs to pop legends Queen and Elton John as well as a celebration of soung and dance from South Africa. In one show Opera is turned on its head whist elsewhere Latin music takes focus. Both international and local talent will be on show during these must-see performances.

Acoustic Music Exposition	Beckview Studios Live Lounge
Beetlebug & Beth’s Tea Time & Tunes	Eliza Carthy
Imbokodo The Musical	Musical Serenade
Opera for the People	Queen UK
Rachel Croft Live	Scarborough Tropicala
Sound of Summer	The Elton John Show

THEATRE

Exciting theatre productions will be staged all over town throughout the Fringe. Capture the Flag! is a talen of fun, friendship and grief. CheapArt bring their show Deck The Stalls, a dark comedy set at a Christmas party. Fresh from Off-Broadway in New York, Esther’s Revenge is an award-winning retelling of the story of Esther Ada Johnson. Sea Wall tells the story of a man cominf to terms with his new reality. CU Scarborugh will bring together new talent from across the region for the first time with Speak Out! Whilst Rachel Fearnehough will take you on a comic and quizzical journey through tough times in Thank you for the Music. The true story of the Guglielmites in 13th century Italy is told in the dark comedy solo-show The Popess: Instructions for Freedom.

TOURS

Scarborough’s Siren Distillers was founded in 2023 but is already causing quite a stir. Join the creators of the two rums produced so far at Siren Rum – Meet the Makers and Tasting to give the product a try for yourself at this free event.

WORKSHOPS

The Sub Rosa collective invite you into their creative process as they develop an immersive installation to the sound of the finest DJs at Secret Sub Rosa. If you want to learn a refreshing approach to performance with this Stanlislavski-inspired technique then Acting and Creating a Character could be for you.