Hopes to revive Ludlow's carnival are dashed

More than 100 events at venues across Ludlow have now been organised for the three-week fringe festival, which will include performances from TV comedians, world renowned classical musicians and performers heading for the Edinburgh Fringe.

It had been hoped the town's carnival could be revived to launch the three-week festival on June 13 after being scrapped several years ago. But Anita Bigsby, director of Ludlow Fringe, said the festival had missed out on a £93,000 Arts Council grant which had led to the carnival plans falling through.

Organisers of Ludlow Fringe – a range of theatre, comedy, art and music events held at venues around town – vowed the grassroots celebration would expand to "become the main arts festival" for the town after the collapse of Ludlow's summer Shakespeare and Arts Festival.

Miss Bigsby has confirmed tickets are almost ready to go on sale, and that the festival will include an appearance from award-winning comedian and political activist Mark Thomas.

There will also be a "mini comedy festival" with a range of TV comedians, Edinburgh-bound street theatre and touring plays, and classical music at St Laurence's Church.

A "literary week" with a host of visiting authors, Shakespeare's Tempest performed at Ludlow Brewery, pop-up art galleries across the town, and a folk night at Ludlow Castle will also be held. Miss Bigsby said: "We didn't get the grant of £93,000 that we applied for, which has left us a little 'scrounging around' for money again.

"But we've never had that funding before, we've always done this from nothing.

"It just would have been nice to get well ahead on paying for everything.

"One of the things that fell through because of that was the carnival – but there will still be a carnival atmosphere, with lots of street theatre," she said.

She added feedback from the Arts Council had been positive and organisers had been encouraged to re-apply for the future.

The Ludlow Fringe Festival website will be overhauled for May 1 with full details of this year's events, she said, and a booklet was being produced ready to hand out at the Ludlow Food Spring Festival on May 9 and 10.

Mark Thomas will be at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on June 20. The mini comedy festival will take place shortly after at Ludlow Brewery from June 23 to 25, with names such as Tom Stade, Joe Lycett, Kate Smurthwaite and Gary Delaney.

A classical music "arts festival" will take place at St Laurence's Church in the first week, and literary events are set to take place in the week of June 28. "The Art Trail is really attracting some bigger names this year, and will be in unusual venues such as shops, cafes and abandoned rooms," said Miss Bigsby.