The first Greater Manchester Fringe Festival sees former `Allo, Allo' `Good moaning' actor, Arthur Bostrom, as its patron and scores of shows which should help put the county on the national fringe festival map.
In Salford, the Kings Arms is hosting events almost every night throughout July and bar manager, Michelle Flower says, "The time for Greater Manchester to have it's own Fringe festival is ripe as there are now a number of great alternative and pub theatre venues to host shows springing up across Manchester and Salford.
"Prior to running the Kings Arms we ran a pub theatre in London and established the Camden Fringe festival, so we've drawn on our contacts there to bring some performers and shows to Manchester who have not been seen here before" she adds "These include the play Staffroom and comedians Hal Cruttenden and Joe Bor. Our programme for the Greater Manchester Fringe also includes a couple of shows - Dev's Army and The Men Pomes - that are returning after first being performed with Studio Salford."
FULL LISTINGS FOR THE GREATER MANCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL AT THE KINGS ARMS, 11 BLOOM STREET, SALFORD M3 6AN
THURSDAY/FRIDAY 5 and 6 JULY, 9pm
KISS OF THE RED MENACE
Sexy cabaret from Melody La Rouge as she sings Cabaret, Chicago, Funny Lady and more in a tribute to Broadway tunes by Kander & Ebb (also on 15th July see below) £7 (£5 concessions)
FRIDAY 6 JULY, 7.30pm
GARETH MORINAN – THE TRUTH DOODLER
Wit, doodles, animation, data-analysis, anti-heightism and free artwork poster with every ticket. As seen on Life's Too Short, The Culture Show and Vexed.
£5 (£3 concessions)
SUNDAY 8 JULY, 9pm
GARY COLMAN: AND STILL REALLY RONG
Geordie stand-up presents a heart-warming show about the disembowelling horror of family life. (Over 16s only) £5
MONDAY 9 JULY, 7.30pm
KEVIN DEWSBURY IN…SANE
An autobiographical stand-up show about a nervous break-down and a journey to recovery. FREE (Over 16s only)
TUESDAY 10 JULY, 7pm
FUNNY WOMEN STAND UP TO STAND OUT WORKSHOP
Women only two hour comedy workshop, learning self-confidence and enhanced communication skills even if stand up comedy isn't a career option. £45.00
TUESDAY 10 JULY, 9pm
HAL CRUTTENDEN
Comedian who has played Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, The Royal Variety Performance 2009), Comedy Rocks and The Rob Brydon Show. £7 (£6)
WEDNESDAY 11 JULY, 2.30 and 7.30pm
BOTTLED WASPS & AFTERWORDS
Double bill of drama premiering at the Kings. AfterWord, by Michael Hart, charts the journey of Julie, a recent arrival in the afterlife, as she attempts to be reacquainted with her husband Derek. Bottled Wasps, by Paul Buie, sees Grace and Patrick return to the scene of their great romantic adventure where they stayed when they left their respective partners in order to be together. £7
THURSDAY 12 JULY, 7.30pm
ABIE PHILBIN BOWMAN – POPE BENEDICT: BOND VILLAIN
Comedy for over 16s £7
THURSDAY 12 JULY, 9pm
BUNGO MENEBLA
Comedy for over 16s with stand-up Kevin Dewsbury and comedy actor Mark Sparkler. FREE
SATURDAY 14 JULY, 7pm
HIM AND ME: SKETCH CIRCUS
Dick and Dom's Funny Business' Shea Taylor and Steve Langstaff attempt to solve the economic crisis, plan a ghost wedding and delve into the world of street entertainment. (Over 16s) £3
SUNDAY 15 JULY, 7.30pm/MONDAY 16 JULY 9pm/TUESDAY 17 JULY 9pm
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOSHING
Jewish stories, songs and poems of sex, guilt, taxes and food… £5 (£3.50)
SUNDAY 15 JULY, 9pm
KISS OF THE RED MENACE
See above £7 (£5)
MONDAY 16 JULY/TUESDAY 17 JULY, 7pm
STAFFROOM
Dark comedy exploring a year in the life of seven members of staff at a behavioural support unit, written by Rachel Creeger, of Time2Shine Productions, and based on her years of experience working as a School-Home Liaison Officer, Child Protection Specialist and Drugs Worker in Pupil Referral Units. £10
WEDNESDAY 18 JULY, 6pm
TOM GOODLIFFE: ALL IN GOOD TIME
Comedy from Manchester's Beat the Frog World Series winner (over 16s).
£5
WEDNESDAY 18 JULY, 8.15pm
RYANOPOLY
Irishman Andrew Ryan thinks life is one big board game, but are we rolling the dice? Do we need to take back control of our lives? Must see comedy drama according to The Stage £5
THURSDAY 19 JULY, 7.30pm
IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME
TOWIE meets Sophocles, as incest, affairs, violent death and mystical prophecy has digressed to bushtucker trials, boot camps and vajazzling. £5
THURSDAY 19 JULY, 9pm
JAMES CHRISTOPHER: BRING ME THE HEAD OF RUSSELL KANE
Comedy for over 16s FREE with voluntary collection after performance.
FRIDAY 20 JULY, 9pm
THE BOB BLACKMAN APPRECIATION SOCIETY
Tribute to legendary entertainer Bob Blackman, who became a celebrity by banging his head with a tray while singing Mule Train. Apparently. £2
SATURDAY 21 JULY, 7.30pm
DEV'S ARMY
Dark comedy by Stuart D Lee, looking at classic subtleties of Irish allegiances, where `nothing is as black and white as we think when it's coloured green!'
£7 (£5) Over 16s
SATURDAY 21 JULY, 9pm
THE LAND OF NOD
Quick-fire sketch show featuring the topical to the macabre, surreal to the satirical. £6
SUNDAY 22 JULY, 7.30pm
SHYNESS IS NICE
Joseph Ross-Williams and Michael Love seek to overcome the social phobia of shyness with a mixed media show delving into the problem. £5
SUNDAY 22 JULY – WEDNESDAY 25 JULY 9pm
GERRY POTTER: THE MEN POMES
Testosterone and tears as Potter delves into all things male, exploring camaraderie of brothers, abandonment of fathers and the wit and wisdom of Scousers. £7 (£4)
TUESDAY 24 JULY/WEDNESDAY 25 JULY, 7.30pm
JOE BOR: HOARDER
Comedy £5
THURSDAY 26 JULY, 7.30pm
COMEDY AT THE KINGS
Stand ups and speak outs. £3
MONDAY 30 JULY, 9pm
NORRIS & PARKER'S COMEDY WAKE
Comedy
TUESDAY 31 JULY, 7.30pm
HAVE A VERY NICE DAY
Debut comedy drama by Barry Evans set in a call centre selling windows, doors, fascias and soffits. £7
For more details on all these shows see the Kings Arms website www.kingsarmssalford.com
The Kings Arms is just one of eight venues for the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival – others include Fab Café, Lass O'Gowrie, O'Shea's, Sandbar, Satan's Hollow, Taurus Bar and Tiger Lounge in Manchester which also have some great shows. For more details see www.greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterFringe
TWITTER: @GMFringe
EMAIL: GMFringe@gmail.com
Tickets on sale through www.quaytickets.com (search under name of venue)
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