Sunday at the seaside at Hastings Fringe

Hastings Fringe is now in its third year. With a small but passionate crew of volunteers at its core the fringe runs for five days across a bunch of venues in the town ranging from pub rooms to makeshift stages constructed especially for the event. At a fraction of the price of Brighton Fringe (£35, including posters printed on behalf of the acts) the organisers have created something with the spirit of Merthyr Tydfil but the audience of more established events.

A two hour drive from our East London home and we were walking along a grey seafront. Soon enough, however, we'd entered the old town with its vintage shops and cosy cafes. Stopping by the purpose built Comedy Cabin in a courtyard off the high street to give Aaron Simmonds a nod, we then continued to our more conventional venue - the upstairs room of an unassuming pub called Jenny Lind. The room was packed but then it should have been, the act was a Radio 4 regular and had a sizeable following. We dished out some flyers and took a walk around the local area giving out more bits of shiny paper and taking in a pizza from a cute little diner.

7:15pm rolled around and we were back at our room. Now empty, save MC Bill and another volunteer, we crossed our fingers and set up the disco light. 7.30 hit and we had eight people. Not ideal. We kicked off regardless and found our small number keen and with the energy of many more. Sunday evening was never going to be the white heat of the fringe so it wasn't that surprising. What was surprising was when a good deal more people turned up midway through the first song - plus the now obligatory dog we always seem to get.

From here things got really good and the set shot by. The singing was loud, the laughter was unreserved and the dog even got repeatedly lifted in the air during Clicking Like's middle 8 - "A photo of a dog, a photo of a cat..." With one mic between us, Anna and I really hammed up the battle between rapper and backup dancer with regular bouts of wrestling over who got to hold it. When the last strains of West End had sounded out, the back of the room started shouting for an encore and we obliged with a somewhat rough and ready Selfie Stick. Money-wise the hat took the equivalent of £4 a person, which is pretty good going and ensured that we actually turned a tiny profit.

Of all the fringes we've done so far this one is going top of our return-to list, hopefully with a 2-3 night run and a children's version of FWP in tandem earlier on the Saturday and Sunday. 

What's next? Well here's the list in the run-up to Edinburgh and our escape to life up north...

19.07.18 - FWP @ The Leyton Star (Festival Preview, final Bear Jokes & Farewell to London Party!)
24.07.18 - FWP @ The Star Inn (Guildford Festival), 7.30pm
02 - 26.08.18 - FWP @ Espionage Kasbar (Edinburgh Festival), 2.45pm