THE co-creator of Alan Partridge and stars from Ru Paul’s Drag Race are highlights of Bradford Fringe Festival, taking place in city venues this summer.

The festival has a packed programme of theatre, comedy, dance and poetry from July 3 to August 1, headed by Oscar-nominated writer and satirist Armando Iannucci, in virtual conversation with Bradford film-maker Javaad Alipoor discussing film, screen and politics followed by an audience Q&A. Armando Iannucci has written, directed, and produced critically acclaimed films and TV and radio comedy shows including In The Loop, nominated for an Oscar in 2009, and Bafta-winning BBC comedy The Thick of It. He’s the co-creator and writer of Steve Coogan’s hugely popular Alan Partridge and his HBO comedy Veep has won four Emmys. Armando also wrote The Personal History of David Copperfield and HBO series Avenue 5, starring Hugh Laurie.

Drag Race UK Stars Tayce and A’Whora will be at the Fringe for an evening of “cheek, nerve, gall and gumption”. Welsh ‘lip-sync assassin’ and season 2 finalist Tayce will share the stage with Final 5 ‘Shade Slaying Fashionista’ A’Whora. The festival is collaborating with Bradford and Keighley Pride, with profits going to both events, and festival funds are also going to Bradford homeless charity Nightstop.

Bradford Fringe is led by a team including event managers and performing arts students. It supports early career and entry level artists and this year is working with assistant producers from Bradford College.

The line-up also includes Laugh-Able, the UK’s leading showcase for comedians with disabilities and mental health conditions; ‘radical mathematical theatre’; a night dedicated to supporting male mental health with theatre piece A Mighty Fall From Grace; an evening of entertainment spanning the decades, with a 70s Disco Diva Show and an 80s-themed immersive theatre experience; and a five-day outdoor Arts in the Park tour of Keighley, Saltaire, West Bowling, Manningham and Bradford Moor, featuring dance performances, puppetry and The Rubbish Clowns getting sustainably creative.

Festival director Laura Brooks said: “We are really looking forward to Bradford Fringe 2021 and hoping that Covid doesn’t get in the way of us providing what we think is going to be a hilarious and electrifying month of pure comedy, theatre and performance delight. The festival is a grassroots event, self-organised by volunteers in Bradford, by and for the people, and we hope people will be excited and inspired by the programme.”

* Visit bradfordfringe.co.uk