Ludlow’s own arts centre has secured the future of one of the country’s most loved rural fringe festival.

The trustees of Ludlow & District Community Association Ltd, which is the charity behind Ludlow Assembly Rooms, will be delivering Ludlow Fringe 2024. 

After a number of years of developing and delivering the festival, Anita Bigsby, Ludlow Fringe’s managing director, is taking a sabbatical next year. 

“This is a really positive step and I celebrate the collaboration between Ludlow Fringe Festival and Ludlow Assembly Rooms," she said.

"I am confident they will deliver the quality and diversity of events that our friends, patrons and audience members now expect of the Ludlow Fringe.

"I am really looking forward to a break to pursue my own artistic endeavours knowing I have left the festival in safe hands until I return." 

Anita and Jess Laurie, Programming and engagement lead at Ludlow Assembly Rooms, are working together on the programme for 2024. 

June will see ten days of varied events including comedy, dance, spoken word, music and workshops at the Assembly Rooms, while a small number of events may also be held in the town. However, it is unlikely the carnival and street events will take place next year.

Jess added: “We, at Ludlow Assembly Rooms, are incredibly excited to continue the tradition of the Ludlow Fringe and to ensure that Ludlow remains a place where you can enjoy a huge variety of cultural experiences - all year round. 

"We are confident that the Fringe Festival in 2024 (and beyond) will excite and entertain, with our amazing town-centre Assembly Rooms (which Dame Judi Dench described as ‘absolutely wonderful’ when she performed here in the 2023 Fringe) at the heart of it. 

"We have some big names and some intriguing events pencilled in already for next June and look forward to revealing the full, stream-lined 2024 Fringe line-up soon. Watch this space."

Steve Catanach, Interim CEO of Ludlow Assembly Rooms, said: "As a local resident and arts lover, I am delighted that we are able to present Ludlow Fringe Festival 2024.  Despite a background of cuts in grants to the arts in the UK, collaborations such as this prove how committed we are to ensuring Ludlow remains a centre of arts excellence and a place to enjoy diverse cultural experiences."