Tarragon hosts or collaborates on a number of festivals throughout the year that focus on the development of theatre practitioners, audiences and new work. Each event is either free or pay-what-you-can in order to ensure accessibility.

Our festivals include:

Play Reading Week | Paprika Festival | Spring Arts Fair | Youth Reading Series

Andy McKim, Tarragon's associate artistic director, inaugurated this free festival in 1985, and it has grown into an established and keenly awaited event. Scheduled over two days of a spring weekend, the Fair is a celebration of the performing arts and works-in-progress. There are plays in many locations throughout the theatre, as well as dance, a young company, music, visiting companies, kids' programming, readings and street theatre.

This showcase for new works often introduces work that goes on to full production. The acclaimed Tarragon production I, Claudia, had previously been explored through short segments in the 1999 and 2000 Spring Arts Fairs. This is also the venue for the Spring Training Project performances and the reading of the Under 20's playwriting competition winner. Admission to the Tarragon Spring Arts Fair is free, and annual attendance has averaged 1500 people. There will not be a Spring Arts Fair in 2007.

Copyright © Tarragon Theatre, 2007