Reading Fringe 2020 begins this week entirely online

The event which will start on Friday, July 17, is the eighth edition of the festival and will be the first to take place entirely online.

The launch event on Friday at 7pm will feature comedy songs from Jollyboat Pirates and all-female improv with Hell Yeah!

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Organisers said after this there will be more than 35 prerecorded shows – covering cabaret, children’s entertainment, dance, film, music, theatre and much more – available to stream from 8.30pm for the duration of Reading Fringe Digital (July 17-26).

Across the next nine days there will be around 30 live events to watch via the Fringe’s website, from garden gigs to solo stand-up.

More than half of the shows will be either live-captioned or have transcripts provided.

Reading Fringe producer, Steph Weller, said: “We strive to make each festival more accessible than the last, in terms of programming, venue locations and adapting to our audience and artists’ needs.

"This time around the challenges of taking the Fringe digital were offset by the opportunities it gives us to reach a broad audience and to work with our artists for greater access. "We're pleased to confirm that this year 60 per cent of our programme is in an accessible format or has accessible provision."

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Organisers said the vast majority of the line-up is free with the option to donate, alongside a few pay-to-view events – in both cases the money donated or ticket income goes direct to the artists involved.

Recently added shows include a series of theatre pieces filmed in 360 degrees, Mischief & Mystery in Moominland, audio drama Natalie Barney’s Last Salon first seen at The Globe and a virtual club night with Reading’s own Twin Sun.

To watch Reading Fringe Digital audiences simply register at readingfringefestival.co.uk.