BRIGHTON FRINGE’S LARGEST BURSARY OFFERING TO DATE WITH FORTY-THREE BURSARIES AWARDED
INCLUDING BURSARIES FROM DISNEY+ STAR LUKE ROLLASON, NATIONWIDE SUSTAINABLE TEA COMPANY BIRD & BLEND TEA CO., AND BRIGHTON & HOVE PRIDE
Brighton Fringe are thrilled to announce its largest bursary offering to date, with a total of forty-three bursary winners across sixteen bursary schemes. These bursaries cover a wide range of genres from dance to art exhibitions and support various performers such as members of the LGBTQ+ community and women experiencing homelessness. Brighton Fringe’s bursary programme ensures access to the arts for those who ordinarily may not have been able to take part. Each bursary has its own set of criteria and prizes ranging from financial support to mentoring and rehearsal space.
Luke Rollason, star of Disney+ show Extraordinary and long-term Brighton Fringe performer, contributed to this bursary programme by supporting four events. Seeking event from comedians that are underrepresented in the genre and creating alternative comedy, Luke supported events such as Su Mi: Banana Beard at The Actors and Clementineat TheRotunda Theatre.
Bird & Blend Tea Co., an independent tea company on a mission to spread happiness and reimagine tea, supported four events across two bursary schemes. Their SustainabiliTEA Bursary sought events which included sustainability in the event, through educational themes or sustainable event operations. They also offered a CommuniTEA Bursary, which sought events engaging with the local community or focussing on community themes, such as Can I Be Bored Now? at Latest Music Bar and The A Word which has already been rehearsing at a Bird & Blend Tea Co. shop as part of their award.
The Pebble Trust, long-term supporters of Brighton Fringe, once again aided performers through multiple bursary programmes. Their Young People Bursary supported four under 25 participants from Brighton & Hove, offering mentoring sessions and covering production costs. This included events such as Stimmicanto at Presuming Ed’s, which explores hope, new beginnings, and neurodivergence. Pebble Trust also offered an International Touring Bursary, helping Esther’s Revenge to perform at Brighton Fringe 2023 all the way from Nigeria.
Supporting LGBTQ+ performers, with aims to enrich, entertain and educate audiences, Brighton & Hove Pride offered five bursaries. Ranging from comedy events about gender expression and trans masculinity such as It’s A Boy? at Laughing Horse, to murderous theatre events from award-winning performers such as Blue Blood at Ironworks Studios.