Our Humans Of Lambeth series celebrates the individuals behind the Lambeth Fringe Festival. Up first are Rebecca, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Bread & Roses Theatre and Velenzia, Artistic Director of Bread & Roses Theatre. Together they are the duo who co-direct the Lambeth Fringe Festival.
“The Lambeth Fringe started as the Clapham Fringe back in 2015, and we rebranded in 2024 to spread across the whole borough. So technically we’re in year ten, but year two of Lambeth Fringe as it stands now. It just felt like time to expand – there’s so much culture here, and Lambeth didn’t have its own fringe festival before. It’s about connecting all the amazing spaces and artists already here and raising the profile of what’s going on locally.”
“Lambeth has so many tucked-away gems - venues you’d never even know existed unless you stumbled across them. You walk down a side street and suddenly there’s a theatre, a gallery, a music venue. It’s incredibly rich in culture, with places like the Cinema Museum and Arts 4 Space. You’ve also got the big names like the National and the Young Vic, but there’s this huge fringe ecosystem bubbling underneath. It’s a borough that surprises you.”
“Edinburgh Fringe is amazing, but it’s just not financially accessible for most people – it’s so expensive. What we’re trying to do with Lambeth Fringe is give artists the space to try, to fail, to grow, without needing to sink £20k into a single project. We want people from all backgrounds to feel they can be part of this, whether it’s performing, producing, or just coming to a show in their local pub or community centre. You shouldn't have to go to the West End to experience live performance – you should be able to find it on your doorstep.”
“There’s so much going on this year—loads more theatre than before, including some really exciting experimental stuff and children’s shows in lovely spaces like Vauxhall City Farm. We’ve also got cabaret, burlesque, comedy, live music… it’s a real mix. What’s been great is how many more people have applied to take part—we’re working with over 20 venues now, which is kind of amazing. Whether you want a fun day out with the family or just fancy stumbling across something new in your neighbourhood, there’s genuinely something here for you.”
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