OUTLINE plans are already emerging for a new-look Ludlow Festival next year after the cur rent event called it quits after 53 years amid crippling losses.

Anita Bigsby, who organised a highly successful ‘Ludlow Fringe’ this year, is calling a public meeting to put together a project that would see a phoenix rising from the ashes.

“The Fringe was highly successful because we used a lot of indoor venues and were not as affected by the weather of the main event,” said Anita.

As revealed by the Advertiser last week, the festival in its current form is finished, broken by the huge loses of a wet summer after years of living hand to mouth.

This week Anita confirmed talks are underway over a smaller event at the venue, there is already an acceptance that a major Shakespearean set piece is a thing of the past.

“The problem is that the Shakespeare play was hugely expensive to stage and with an outdoor venue extremely vulnerable to the weather never mind the economic situation,” she added.

“But I believe there could be a successful and inclusive festival using smaller venues that could focus on local talent. It is time to take a fresh look but we do not want to lose the Festival which is so important to Ludlow and the local economy.”

The 2012 Ludlow Fringe involved more than 400 events, covering jazz and folk, street theatre, poetry and comedy, performed at pubs, clubs and the Quaker Meeting House.

The hope is that as well as local performers, businesses and other organisations would support a new-style festival.

Individuals will also be encouraged to offer their skills in administration, marketing and fund-raising.

􀁥 A public meeting takes place at Ludlow Brewery on Thursday, November 22, starting at 7.30pm.