How not to apply to the Free Fringe; a genuine email received today:

Phil , I represent a Sketch Comedy group and we are interested in possibly being a part of your free festival during this years fringe. I was wondering if you could let me know what information you would require to consider us?

OK, chaps:..

1. Get my name right...

2. Get the name of our organisation right..

3. "we are interested in possibly being a part of...": well, whoopee.  Coming down from Olympus to grace our shabby ranks?..

Moral: research before writing, and check what you write.  If you can't get the details of your enquiry right, how can you cope with the myriad details of the Fringe itself?..

Well, when we say special, it doesn't mean to imply that the people already on the bill are not special.  Indeed, their specialness is beyond reproach.  They have a track record of being special, and a track record which is a better track than Raltrack.  Specialness oozes from their every pore. So, if I suggest that the special last minute addition is in any way more spacial than they, I shall be demeaning their specialness, and this I would not wish to do under any circumstances. 

So, with that very important reservation, the special last minute addition is....

... Daniel Kitson.

I trust this meets with your approval.  Because it does mine.

In addition to the acts previously announced, we will also have (in alphabetical order):

Wil Hodgson
Tony Law
Gavin Osborn
Lucy Porter
Waen Shepherd

which is rather splendid, really.

Glad to announce that the Free Fringe's weekly shows at The Lamb Tavern, Leadenhall Market, will start again on January 12th. 

We will be running on Mondays (7pm) and Wednesdays (7.30pm) until the end of July, except Bank Holidays.

Look forward to seeing you there.  Free, of course (with a collection, of course).

Interested acts should contact Danny Worthington (dannyworthington (at) btinternet.com) for Mondays and PBH (pbh (at) buckers.co.uk) for Wednesdays.

Don't forget our star-studded benefit show on January 13th -- see below.

As it says in the headline, Dave Gorman and Milton Jones will both be playing at the 13th January Free Fringe benefit show at the Bloomsbury, in addition to Robin Ince and Sean Lock.

Need any more be said?

Hope to see you there.

Tuesday 13th January 2009

at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London WC1H 0AH

the FREE FRINGE BENEFIT

starring Sean Lock, Robin Ince and more to be announced.

Oh, how nice it would be if this were free like the Free Fringe.  But it's not.  It's £20 (concessions £15); tickets available from the Bloomsbury http://www.thebloomsbury.com/ .  All profits will be used to support the Free Fringe and make it happen for the future.  It'll be a good show.

Many, many thanks to Sean for offering his services and, of course, to Robin for offering his and being a Free Fringer himself.

Watch this space, or a similar one, for news of the rest of the bill.  But even with those two alone, it's well worth the money.  And it'll ease our financial pressure a little, and help us build, especially in the new Theatre and Spoken Word sections.

From 15th September every Monday to end November:
PBH's Free Fringe comedy night
7pm to 9.30pm

From 17th September every Wednesday to end November
Peter Buckley Hill and Some Comedians
(admission £5 for Free Fringe funds)
7.30pm to 9.30pm

Both events at The Lamb Tavern
10-12 Leadenhall Market, City of London, London, EC3V 1LR

We look forward to seeing old and new friends, and fans of comedy, there.

This is less a blog than a plug, really.