Overview.
A bold, vibrant website for Guildford’s largest independent arts festival that sells tickets, signs up performers and keeps audiences coming back every September.
Guildford Fringe Festival was founded in 2013 by Nick Wyschna and is now Guildford’s largest independent arts festival. Every September it fills venues across the town with comedy, theatre, cabaret, music, poetry, children’s shows, exhibitions, workshops and plenty of free events. As an open-access festival, it needs to speak to audiences and performers in equal measure. We designed and built a WordPress website that captures the energy of the Fringe and makes it easy to find a show, book tickets or take part.
The Challenge.
Selling a Festival to Two Very Different Audiences.
A fringe festival lives or dies by two groups of people: the audiences who buy tickets and the performers who bring the shows. Guildford Fringe needed a website that would excite theatre-goers and families, explain how dozens of events across several venues fit together, and give comedians, actors and artists a clear way to apply. It also had to look after the sponsors and partners who help the festival happen, and stay fresh from one year to the next.
The Results.
A website with as much personality as the festival itself.
The new website gives Guildford Fringe Festival a lively, recognisable home online. Visitors are greeted by the festival dates and striking show photography, with What’s On and the online brochure just a click away. Performers can find everything they need to enter, audiences have their own FAQs, and Google reviews, sponsors and media partners build confidence throughout. The team refreshes the programme each year through WordPress, keeping the Fringe front of mind all year round.
