Festival hails 'extraordinary support' in 25th year

A community festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary as organisers warn it is "constantly under threat" because of financial pressures.

Frome Festival kicked off its latest edition on Thursday night, with a play written and performed by the previous director of the event.

This year features acts such as Kiki Dee, Tony Robinson and Phil Ellis among a 300-strong line-up.

Event director Adam Broughton said the "extraordinary support across the community" helps the festival survive.

Broughton said the event "was designed to be a community regeneration project".

He added: "Over past 25 years we've seen that potential flourish into a thriving cultural community across our town that takes form in the myriad of venues and organisations, the brilliant people, places and spaces that just make this festival and the arts in Frome so special."

But despite the continued success of the festival, he admitted they "could have thrown in the towel", but keep going due to local support.

The event also benefits from some performers returning, including the likes of comedian Paul Merton, who was said to have adopted it as a "favoured" event in its early days.

Broughton said: "When they come along, they're always greeted with a warm reception.

"There are so many excellent spaces that are so well maintained by the great people across this town, and it just continues to see artists want to come back here."

Former festival director for 15 years and current Green Somerset councillor Martin Dimery agreed, saying it is the arts that are cut first.

"If we could break even most years, we were very lucky and very fortunate. But we did.

"The attendances have been good, and we used what money we had quite wisely, but it did mean reorganising our finances rather than just making cutbacks."

Dimery added: "Thee arts generate money. Festivals and the arts are not draining public purses - they're actually keeping businesses going."

Dimery's play King of Fools opened this year's festival at a gala evening, something he described as a "wonderful achievement".

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