Peckham Fringe expands across Southwark venues for its fourth year

Returning for its fourth year, Peckham Fringe is back for 2025.

Taking place in venues across the borough from May 1 to June 6, this performing arts festival will showcase a lineup of almost 30 shows curated by the community.

This year’s Fringe marks an expansion into Canada Water Theatre, in  Surrey Quays Road alongside its regular venues of Theatre Peckham’s Main Theatre and Studio 1. 

Suzann McLean MBE, artistic director of Theatre Peckham, said: “Peckham Fringe is one of the annual highlights in Theatre Peckham’s calendar. It is a festival for creatives who have something to say, who want to platform work that is innovative and need the support to do so.

“We are committed to offering an opportunity to see incredible theatre that is reasonably priced. We are doing this because the richness of theatre can only develop by opening our doors to new artists, new work and new voices.”

Peckham Fringe was set up in response to the barriers that artists face to putting on their work. 

By increasing its reach across Southwark, Peckham Fringe will now offer even more emerging and established artists the opportunity to showcase their work.

The festival will open with Tony Craze Award winner Maryam Garad’s solo performance piece, Reparations, which explores the internal world of a young female shoplifter. 

Ms Garad said: “All my stories are influenced by my identity as a Black British Muslim woman. I want to write stories that allow people from similar backgrounds to see themselves on the stage. I hope my work can change the narrative that often sidelines Black and Brown voices.”

Alongside the annual Monologue Showcase, Poetry Foyer and Hatch and Scratch, there will be a range of theatre, dance, comedy and spoken word events covering themes from gentrification to immigration and gendered expression. 

Audiences can enjoy a unique range of stories from Hoodminster following the journey of the UK’s first female Black Prime Minister who migrated to London from Jamaica and Brains, a dark comedy about two zombie apocalypse survivors sheltering in an abandoned pub theatre.

Elsewhere Street Smart will follow Faiza, a single mother from Peckham concealing her extraordinary talent for mathematics, and It’s Your Role in which the audience takes part in an improvised adventure based on the popular game Dungeons and Dragons.

Closing the festival with a return by popular demand is Brother’s Keeper by Selorm Adonu, offering a second chance for those who missed its sold-out run at last year’s Fringe. 

This spoken word piece combines Krump dance within a party atmosphere to explore the complex dynamics of young brotherly relationships. 

Mr Adonu, 21, who only graduated from the Brit School three years ago, said: “Putting on Brother’s Keeper at Peckham Fringe last year has changed the game for me entirely as a creative! 

“It’s taught me how to be a better writer, producer and actor, and overall a better artist. The best thing of all is performing on a stage that is in the ends.”

The festival has been curated by Theatre Peckham’s Ambassadors, a group of dedicated community members who ensure the programme reflects Peckham’s voice.

Peckham writer and performer Jessica Siân said: “As Ambassadors we bring fresh perspectives that shape the festival into a true reflection of the breadth of artistic talent. 

“Our commitment to inclusivity and representation is vital in our mission to amplify underrepresented voices.”

Peckham Fringe was the birthplace of hit shows including NO ID by Tatenda Samisu, winner of the Evening Standard Award for Emerging Talent, and I Love Acting but F the Industry by Faisal Dacosta and Raphel Famotibe which enjoyed a double sold out run at Theatre Peckham last year.

For the full Peckham Fringe 2025 programme, and to book shows, visit: https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/peckham-fringe-2025-shows-events/.

Pictured top: Selorm Adonu in Brothers Keeper at Peckham Fringe 2024 (Picture: Peckham Fringe)