DERBY'S FRINGE
THEATRE FESTIVAL
Departure Lounge is In Good Company and Derby Theatre’s annual summer festival, showcasing the best work being made in the Midlands, nationally and internationally. The festival celebrates the incredible artists in our region, with a packed out programme of fresh new performance, discussions and workshops - creating a space for community and connection.
“Even in the darkest of times, Departure Lounge has always offered a glimmer of optimism, not least in the way it showcases so much great independent work that in the current climate often finds it so difficult to tour”
- Lyn Gardener, The Stage 2024
“Soul fuelling Festival … Grateful for such an amazing event on the doorstep!”
Departure Lounge Festival is programmed by In Good Company. If you would like for us to consider your show for programming at the festival, please submit the form below. We accept submissions year round, make direct approaches and aim to have the festival programmed by the end of March. If you want to talk in more detail about whether your work is the right fit, please email igc@derby.ac.uk to reach out and a member of the team will be in touch.
Departure Lounge Festival's theme is Unity & Community.
Departure Lounge Festival will be on Thursday 2nd - Saturday 4th July 2026.
We programme over multiple spaces in and around Derby Theatre. Derby Theatre’s main stage gets transformed into The Garden Stage, bringing the outdoor festival vibes indoors. We have our versatile studio space, our car-park-turned-hang-spot Derbados, and we love to take over public spaces too. You can see the tech specs for the spaces here. All spaces at Derby Theatre have step free access, and we encourage artists with unique and interesting ways of telling stories to get in touch.
We programme shows, work in development and non-conventional performances. We are looking for contemporary performance, theatre, dance, live art and work that falls between the cracks. We work hard to achieve representation, diversity and a balance of different flavours across the programme. Please note IGC are not a producing company.
ACCESS
We strive to ensure the festival offers a meaningful experience to disabled artists and audiences. Each year we improve on this and welcome any suggestions from the community.
FAIR PAY
We believe in paying artists fairly for their work so our festival model means we pay full fees for programmed events, as well as travel and accommodation costs. Where possible, please include a budget or fees for your work.
PROGRAMMING
THE FESTIVAL
HISTORY
Like most things at In Good Company, Departure Lounge Festival was born from conversations with Midlands artists. Starting in 2012, the festival originally operated as a launch pad to Edinburgh Fringe, hence the quirky name! From the beginning, supporting artists and creating community has been at the heart of the festival, and whilst the landscape of how productions get made has changed, we’re proud to be the home for new work from the Midlands and beyond.
Archive coming soon.