GM Fringe ticket launch

Greater Manchester Fringe is back for its sixth year with a bumper selection of drama premieres, comedy, Edinburgh previews, poetry, music, clowning and children's shows.

Phill Jupitus returns with TWO shows - as Porky the Poet in his new Survivalve show (13 July, King's Arms) and in Achtung! Acting! (14 July, King's Arms), bringing back the stage legend Vernon Herschel Harley and German WW2 U-boat ace Korvettenkäpitan Kurt Schiffer for an hour of improvised comedy driven by questions taken from the audience. Historical accuracy not guaranteed.

Talk Radio presenters Iain Lee and Katherine Boyle invite you to participate in The Rabbit Hole (29 July, King’s Arms), a prerecorded phone in podcast taped in front of a live studio audience. Nothing is planned and anything can happen. 

This year's GMFringe drama premieres include Thorn (24 and 25 July, King’s Arms), written by Rochdale-born Tim Keogh, following the story of Steven Patrick in 1970s Manchester as he wrestles with the problems of his own sexuality, supported by his love of David Bowie and Glam Rock.

Tim has already written two books of Mancunian memoirs entitled Nothing But Blue Skies (2009) and This Was Our City (2013) and attended the second ever gig of The Smiths when the band was on the brink of success. 

Ruth E Cockburn has recorded local stories from all generations of escapades under the pier for Love Letters From Blackpool (6 July, King’s Arms) - and may publish a book after the show that includes the recordings, as well as her own brand of music and comedy.

From Heaven to Hell, written by Danny Clifford and directed by Sue Jenkins, 1-3 July at Salford Arts Theatre, tells the story of the Salford Pals who fought at the Battle of the Somme in WW1. A percentage of every ticket sold will go the the British Legion charity.

Keeping it in the family, Sue’s daughter Rosie Fleeshman has written and performs in the one-woman play Narcissist in the Mirror (15 and 16 July, King’s Arms).

Last year, Abi Roberts (pictured below left) became the first UK comedian to perform in Russia - in Russian! Now she's bringing her experiences in Anglichanka to the King's Arms on Sunday 2 July. Abi has supported Michael McIntyre, Sarah Millican and Jack Whitehall, was a finalist and runner-up in the London Comedy Store’s Costa Light Comedy Competition in 2012 and won the Audience Award at the 2012 Harrogate Theatre’s Comedian of the Year.

People Zoo Productions, who won the Manchester Theatre Award for Best Fringe Production with The Trial, build on that success with the premiere of their new children's show, Planet Caravan at Oldham Library, 27-29 July. 

The award-winning director of The Trial, Craig Sanders, returns with the premiere of Forever Changes, a  multi-media drama by Dave Jones, about domestic abuse at 53two, 17-22 July. Dave has supported and advised a number of people affected by domestic abuse.

Adaptations include Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (Lowhurst Productions), Pinter's The Homecoming (Purple Coat Productions), Brecht's A Respectable Wedding (translated by Rory Bremner and produced by Root & Branch).

French Boutik (pictured above) will be traveling from Paris to join Speed of Sound and The Kite Collectors in a live music extravaganza on Saturday 15 July at The Ruby Lounge.

There's also jazz from Annette Gregory, celebrating Ella Fitzgerald on 8 July at Z-Arts, and the big brass sound from The Radio Kings on 18 July at the King's. 

Some Greater Manchester Fringe shows are FREE, including Wood at the Alan Turning memorial in Sackville Gardens (4-17 July) - a site-specific semi-immersive outdoor performance of queer theatre about sex, friendship and camping.

Other free comedy shows include John Pendal (How To Escape From Stuff), Johnny Kingshott (Alternative 2), Chris Kehoe (Manologue), John Porter (Five Years Time) and Holly Hutchinson (Meet The Stevens). But early booking is recommended as they are very popular.

The Greater Manchester Fringe 2017 programme will be revealed on Saturday 1 April when tickets go on sale via greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk click link below.

Published: 30-Mar-2017: (4199)