Queer cabaret, comedy and theatre at Wandsworth Arts Fringe 2024

Wandsworth Arts Fringe (WAF) has welcomed a fresh cohort of Associate Producers in a new initiative designed to bring new artists into the borough and attract new audiences.

Each Associate Producer brings with them a network of exciting artists new to Wandsworth Arts Fringe this summer for a revamped programme of performances across theatre, comedy, and cabaret.

Comedian, author and producer, Rosie Wilby, has organised a programme with a particular focus on the LGBTQ+ community.  

Shows include Boyz Nite, an hour of cabaret celebrating trans men, trans masc and non-binary performers presented by comedian Cerys Bradley, Kate Cheka the Funny Women Award winner for 2023 who unpacks a tendency towards saviourism in her debut work-in-progress A Messiah Comes and comedian James Barr presents outrageous punchlines and unapologetic storytelling in a preview of his new show Sorry I Hurt Your Son. 

Catch Ms Wilby’s programme at The Bedford in Bedford Hill, Balham, and The Exhibit in Station Road Balham, from June 13 to 16.

Alongside Ms Wilby, Martin Willis will host a line-up of comedy work-in-progress shows for acts that are either going out on national tours or building towards a run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Mr Willis founded comedy production company Objectively Funny in 2017. Since then, the organisation has run three 42-show comedy festivals and produced 20 full Edinburgh Fringe runs, as well as programming a central London comedy club. 

Acts include those with some major TV credits to their name including Live at the Apollo and Taskmaster as well as some up-and-coming performers that are set to take the comedy industry by storm. 

There will be eight shows in total, two double-headers at The Half Moon in Putney, featuring Ania Magliano and Harriet Kemsley and Sophie Duker and Celya AB, and a four-show all-dayer at The Exhibit in Balham featuring Kiran Saggu, Alex Franklin, Rosalie Minnitt and Lorna Rose Treen.

Mr Willis said: “It’s been really exciting to put together a bunch of shows that reflect the diversity of talent in the industry at the moment, with an array of comedic styles in there too. 

“I can’t wait to show off the new pieces these artists are putting together and share them with the people of South-West London.”

Wandsworth Arts Fringe will take place from June 7 to 23, 2024, with more than 100 events happening across 40 venues including parks, streets, churches, estates, libraries, pubs, and dedicated performance spaces all across the borough. 

Full details for Wandsworth Arts Fringe performances, workshops and events will be announced on April 24, 2024.

Pictured top: Sophie Duker and Ceyla AB of Objectively Funny, performing at WAF this summer (Picture: Objectively Funny)