Morecambe Bay Fringe Festival

06/05/2026

VOLUNTEERS WANTED – FESTIVALS IN MORECAMBE & THE BAY 🎭

We’re building a brilliant team of volunteers to help bring amazing festivals to life in Morecambe and the Bay – and we’d love you to be part of it!

If you’re friendly, reliable and love the arts, this is for you 🙌

West End Players organise and provide volunteers to support:

🎭 The Bay Fringe Festival | 20 July – 9 August 2026
✍️ Morecambe Poetry Festival | 17–20 September 2026
🎤 Morecambe Comedy Festival | Nov 2026 (dates TBC)

✨ No experience needed – just enthusiasm!
You’ll meet great people, support local arts and help make these festivals unforgettable.

👉 Please fill in this short form and we’ll be in touch with opportunities that match your interests and availability:

https://forms.gle/GKqBLng1FBCweapr9

Feel free to share this with friends who’d love to get involved

We’re building a team of volunteers to help bring amazing festivals to life in Morecambe and the Bay. If you’re friendly, reliable and love the arts, we’d love to hear from you. West End Players organise and provide volunteers to help support: • The Bay Fringe Festival 20th July - 9th August...

26/03/2026

Big wonderful news!

We are happy to announce that Hawkwind will headline the closing weekend of the Morecambe Bay Fringe Festival in August with a celebration at the iconic Winter Gardens.

Two days of Hawkwind Friends and Relations will kick off on the evening of Saturday 8th August with a full Hawkwind concert plus support.

This will be followed by an aftershow party at a nearby venue until 3am.

The festivities will continue from midday on Sunday 9th August with a day of live music featuring a mix of Hawkwind Friends and Relations’ bands, poetry, family friendly activities, and a live Q&A with the Hawkwind team.

The event closes on Sunday evening with a special premiere film screening of a live Hawkwind concert.

Hawkwind Friends and Relations Tickets will be on sale from 10am on Friday 27th March from
https://tinyurl.com/HawkwindFR-AUG26 and are priced at £70 for the two days, including the aftershow party. (Children under 14 are free, but please book their ticket)

Special event camping is available from Sunnyside Campsite. Hard standing and hook ups available. Call 01524418373 to book.

We will also be booking a warm up show for Friday August 7th. More details of that very soon. 😎

16/03/2026

APPLICATIONS CLOSE APRIL 1ST -NO JOKE!!!!
If you'd like to perform at the Morecambe/Bay Fringe Festival Application link in the comments!!

12/03/2026

We are excited to support the bid for Morecambe to become UK Town of Culture 2028

UK Town of Culture is a newly launched national initiative, with the first title set to be awarded for 2028. Three towns will be selected, with two runners-up each receiving £250,000, and the winning town receiving £3 million to invest in a year of culture in 2028.

A group of creative and cultural organisations based in Morecambe are working alongside collaborators from sectors including health, environment, education, young people and the third sector to shape the narrative and build a compelling bid.

We're seeking ideas and input from artists, creatives, businesses and residents from across Morecambe.

You can visit the online portal to share ideas via the link in our bio. https://moremusic.org.uk/news/help-morecambe-become-uk-town-of-culture-2028/

Want to chat in person? A drop-in session will be held at Morecambe Library from 2–4 pm on Monday, 23 March 2026, for anyone interested in finding out more and sharing their vision.

A music and education charity based at the Hothouse in Morecambe

02/03/2026

So very saddened to hear of the passing of Lee Wood. A giant of the punk scene, and a man with a giant heart. He gave invaluable and incalculable help with the very first Fringe and we hoped to work with him again in the future.
Condolences go out to his loving family.
He was punk, in the best sense, to his very core.
❤️
Matt and everyone
(credit Anthony for the pic)

24/02/2026

Make your own fringe show
🎭 Ever fancied making your own Fringe show?
Got an idea, a half-written script, a stand-up set, a story you’ve been dying to tell… or just curious where to start?
✨ Morecambe Fringe Festival is launching a series of workshops to help you craft your own Fringe show from the ground up!
🗓 Starting Tuesday 3rd March 2026
⏰ Every Tuesday, 7pm–9pm
📍 West End Playhouse, Yorkshire Street, Morecambe
Led by seasoned performer & director Matt Panesh, these relaxed, supportive sessions are all about helping you develop your piece, get feedback, build confidence and get your show stage-ready.
👉 You don’t have to come every week – drop in when you need guidance, encouragement, or fresh eyes on your work.
👉 Open to everyone – no experience needed.
👉 Free to attend (suggested donation £10 per session, or whatever you can afford, to keep these community workshops running 💛)
🔥 Bonus: Participants will have the opportunity to be programmed as part of Morecambe Fringe Festival 2026 – yes, this could turn into a real Fringe show!
If you’ve ever thought “I could never do a Fringe show…” – this is your sign.
👉 Sign up here by email: [email protected] with Fringe Workshops in the subject heading.

Tag a mate, share with someone creative and come make something brilliant. 🎤✨

12/02/2026

Applications now open. If you want to take part in Matt’s workshops - make your Fringe Show- please don't apply but pm separately.
All touring shows on a first come first served basis. Fill in the application here.

19/01/2026

Registrations will open Feb 1st and close Apr 1st. Make Your Fringe Show Workshops will run Tuesday nights from March.

09/01/2026

Can anyone whose attended Morecambe Fringe or The Bay Fringe - UK please fill in the following survey. We're doing some work with the university on audience development and this is a vital step. (Or any of the sister projects, eg Morecambe Poetry Festival or West End Playhouse or West End Players

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

06/09/2025

Devastated to hear about Will Nelson. He was there at the beginning of Morecambe Fringe, playing a solid part in its foundation, directing The Entertainer at the first festival, creating DIY West End, the forerunner to the West End Players. He directed Robert Calvert's The Box and The Stars that played with Laughing Sam's Dice for Hawkeaster 2018, and Around the world in 80 days, the first promenade piece that again was the forerunner for the things we do in Morecambe. After moving to Manchester to lecture at The Arden Theatre School, he was always available for advice for our projects here, up to the after school drama club and the drama gcse.
Personally he overcame many obstacles. He found real true love, and tragically they died together in the tram crash in Portugal.
RIP Will.