New comedy festival for Rye

Wry Rye will see several theatre companies pewrforming various plays and sketches in the town from Friday, March 17 to Tuesday, March 21 inclusive.

Eurohouse, in its UK national tour, will be at Rye Creative Centre on March 17 from 7.30pm. Sunday, March 19 at the same venue sees The Starship Osiris from 5pm.

The play is a comedy sci-fi farce about an arrogant theatre maker’s failed attempts to put on a show.

On March 21, Police Cops visits Rye as part of its UK Spring Tour, again at Rye Creative Centre from 7.30pm.

Sam Williams, responsible for marketing, events and theatre at ARRCC, said: “The concept of this series of events is to bring new theatre companies into the area that have amassed an incredible plethora of awards at international festivals over the past couple of years and continue to celebrate the rich comic history that the area has. I am very excited each of these companies has chosen to include Rye on their tours of the UK.”

On Monday (February 13), ARRCC had applied for a £2,800 grant for the festival from the Rye New Events Fund, which Rye Town Council distributes on behalf of Rother District Council (RDC), but was unsuccessful.

The town council said it would have liked to have seen an itemised breakdown of proposed expenditure and more information on how the festival would be marketed.

Sam added: “I fully respect the comments made by the town council and feedback will always be taken on board for future applications. We applied for an amount that we feel would enable us to reach audiences further afield thus bringing more and different people into Rye and to support an outreach programme of accompanying comedy workshops for disabled people and students at local schools.

“The scheduled evening performances will still be going ahead but we will of course have to attempt this in a smaller way.

“I am confident we can kick start what we see as a vibrant and valuable addition to the Rye suite of festivals.

“We are disappointed not to receive this RDC funding from Rye Town Council but are thrilled to have the support and backing of the Rye Arts Festival.”

Tickets are available via www.ryeartsfestival.co.uk, from Grammar School Records or on the door.

For more information ring 01797 226827.

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