Latest 2026 Shows
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Greater Manchester Fringe Programme
Will Danes: Presented by Mental Illness
Darkly funny musical cabaret from debut performer Will Danes. Original comic songs, theatrical storytelling and cutting satire to cover topics from performative politics and masculinity to relationships, religion, billionaires, and the struggle to appear remotely well-adjusted. Inspired by performers such as Tom Lehrer and Flanders and Swann, while shaped by Danes’ background as a classical […]
One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven
Immerse yourselves in two of Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre classics. Arguably Poe’s darkest tale, The Black Cat documents an alcoholic’s last confession on the eve of his death. A story not for the faint-hearted. Then, the poem that made Poe famous: The Raven. In the midnight hour, as an elderly man laments the loss of […]
The Probability of a Dog Becoming a Receptionist
Redundancy. Scary, right? Well there’s one particular receptionist working at Bolton Risk Consultancy, and he’s scared for a slightly different reason than most; he’s scared a dog will take his job. He’s prepared to show you all just how hard he’s fought for his spot, through a rather passive aggressive PowerPoint presentation. Only, this process […]
Grapple
Grapple. Performed by FlippantRemarks 40 minutes of poetry and storytelling in a number of moods and genres: humour-pathos-weird. An aging man still trying to make sense of reality. Join me on my journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RURhTFOzPc&t=56s
Every Single Sound In The World
An alien arrives on Earth with a simple task: collect every single sound on the planet. Unfortunately, humans and their animals, vegetables and minerals make a lot more sounds than she anticipated. Please help her! She can’t go home until she’s collected them all. In this live, reactive show, Natalie Patuzzo uses voice, objects, and […]
Mat Smith: The Middle (WIP)
After 15 years of playing with gadgets and video games and calling it a real job, Mat (as heard on BBC Radio 4) is throwing his savings at this, instead of going on holiday. (He really wanted to go to Japan.) The Middle is a witty, and hopeful look at almost middle-age, being a bad […]
FLIGHT: One Man’s Journey
FLIGHT: One Man’s Journey is a powerful and intimate one-man play exploring identity, belonging, fear, and hope through vivid storytelling and rich theatrical imagery. The story follows Maneek, a boy raised in a remote village on stilts, shadowed by tigers and governed by a strict, emotionally distant father. As his world expands beyond the boundaries […]
Bróccán Tyzack-Carlin: Good News! It’s Been Destroyed – Edinburgh Fringe Preview
A brand new hour of comedy and poetry about the state of the nation, everything changing a bit too quickly, and the rumours that my dad’s a dog, he’s not a dog stop saying he is. From Saboteur Award Winner (nice) and Greater Manchester Fringe Awards’ only 5x nominee and 0x winner (cowards) Bróccán Tyzack-Carlin. […]
Grapple
Grapple. Performed by FlippantRemarks 40 minutes of poetry and storytelling in a number of moods and genres: humour-pathos-weird. An aging man still trying to make sense of reality. Join me on my journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RURhTFOzPc&t=56s
FLIGHT: One Man’s Journey
FLIGHT: One Man’s Journey is a powerful and intimate one-man play exploring identity, belonging, fear, and hope through vivid storytelling and rich theatrical imagery. The story follows Maneek, a boy raised in a remote village on stilts, shadowed by tigers and governed by a strict, emotionally distant father. As his world expands beyond the boundaries […]
One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven
Immerse yourselves in two of Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre classics. Arguably Poe’s darkest tale, The Black Cat documents an alcoholic’s last confession on the eve of his death. A story not for the faint-hearted. Then, the poem that made Poe famous: The Raven. In the midnight hour, as an elderly man laments the loss of […]
Every Single Sound In The World
An alien arrives on Earth with a simple task: collect every single sound on the planet. Unfortunately, humans and their animals, vegetables and minerals make a lot more sounds than she anticipated. Please help her! She can’t go home until she’s collected them all. In this live, reactive show, Natalie Patuzzo uses voice, objects, and […]
Mat Smith: The Middle (WIP)
After 15 years of playing with gadgets and video games and calling it a real job, Mat (as heard on BBC Radio 4) is throwing his savings at this, instead of going on holiday. (He really wanted to go to Japan.) The Middle is a witty, and hopeful look at almost middle-age, being a bad […]
The Divine Move
In the suffocating world of Victorian high society, the Blackwood family stands on the brink of inheritance. Augustus has spent his life preparing for the moment his father places the future in his hands, while his brother, Arthur, longs for a freedom he may never be granted. The arrival of the Prescott sisters and their […]
Grapple
Grapple. Performed by FlippantRemarks 40 minutes of poetry and storytelling in a number of moods and genres: humour-pathos-weird. An aging man still trying to make sense of reality. Join me on my journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RURhTFOzPc&t=56s
One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven
Immerse yourselves in two of Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre classics. Arguably Poe’s darkest tale, The Black Cat documents an alcoholic’s last confession on the eve of his death. A story not for the faint-hearted. Then, the poem that made Poe famous: The Raven. In the midnight hour, as an elderly man laments the loss of […]
Shaun Guff: Enuff is Enuff
My name is Shaun Guff and I’ve hit rock bottom so you don’t have to. My sensational, self-funded seminar promises* to give you the metaphorical hammer to start nailing your life. (*No promises.) Join Clementine Bogg-Hargroves with her ‘Yorkshire-based robustness and sunny charm’ ★★★★(Scotsman), in this very serious seminar filled with pyrotechnics, PowerPoint presentations and […]
Baby Brain
A new play about motherhood, giving birth, postpartum psychosis and stand-up comedy! A new mother, Cass, tackles her mental health crisis, with dark humour, bright wit, brutal honesty and dreams of becoming a comic. A ‘slightly true story’ starring BAFTA winner Kimberley Nixon (C4’s Fresh Meat, Wild Child). “A brilliant piece of writing and performance. […]
Two Bozos in a Van
‘Two Bozos in a Van’ is a zany comedy centred around two larger than life (lesser intelligent) moving men as they navigate a job gone wrong for a large scale crime boss. Get ready to laugh at the clownish antics of Greg and Denis (yeah spelt like that), two totally inept Bozos who have bitten […]
The Divine Move
In the suffocating world of Victorian high society, the Blackwood family stands on the brink of inheritance. Augustus has spent his life preparing for the moment his father places the future in his hands, while his brother, Arthur, longs for a freedom he may never be granted. The arrival of the Prescott sisters and their […]
Shaun Guff: Enuff is Enuff
My name is Shaun Guff and I’ve hit rock bottom so you don’t have to. My sensational, self-funded seminar promises* to give you the metaphorical hammer to start nailing your life. (*No promises.) Join Clementine Bogg-Hargroves with her ‘Yorkshire-based robustness and sunny charm’ ★★★★(Scotsman), in this very serious seminar filled with pyrotechnics, PowerPoint presentations and […]
Baby Brain
A new play about motherhood, giving birth, postpartum psychosis and stand-up comedy! A new mother, Cass, tackles her mental health crisis, with dark humour, bright wit, brutal honesty and dreams of becoming a comic. A ‘slightly true story’ starring BAFTA winner Kimberley Nixon (C4’s Fresh Meat, Wild Child). “A brilliant piece of writing and performance. […]
Unmasked
Boundless. Limitless. Fluid. Eternal. Sounds peaceful, doesnt it? Like Hell. A writer, backstage during the première of their first ever play. A darkly humorous presence, sheltered by a sunny disposition. A witness. There will be secrets. There will be signs. There will be ringing phones, and peering mannequins, and a sense of slow, creeping dread […]
Baby Brain
A new play about motherhood, giving birth, postpartum psychosis and stand-up comedy! A new mother, Cass, tackles her mental health crisis, with dark humour, bright wit, brutal honesty and dreams of becoming a comic. A ‘slightly true story’ starring BAFTA winner Kimberley Nixon (C4’s Fresh Meat, Wild Child). “A brilliant piece of writing and performance. […]
The Divine Move
In the suffocating world of Victorian high society, the Blackwood family stands on the brink of inheritance. Augustus has spent his life preparing for the moment his father places the future in his hands, while his brother, Arthur, longs for a freedom he may never be granted. The arrival of the Prescott sisters and their […]
The Probability of a Dog Becoming a Receptionist
Redundancy. Scary, right? Well there’s one particular receptionist working at Bolton Risk Consultancy, and he’s scared for a slightly different reason than most; he’s scared a dog will take his job. He’s prepared to show you all just how hard he’s fought for his spot, through a rather passive aggressive PowerPoint presentation. Only, this process […]
Shaun Guff: Enuff is Enuff
My name is Shaun Guff and I’ve hit rock bottom so you don’t have to. My sensational, self-funded seminar promises* to give you the metaphorical hammer to start nailing your life. (*No promises.) Join Clementine Bogg-Hargroves with her ‘Yorkshire-based robustness and sunny charm’ ★★★★(Scotsman), in this very serious seminar filled with pyrotechnics, PowerPoint presentations and […]
Luna, Luna
LUNA, LUNA is a new musical fairy tale about hope and loss. A girl who has grown content with loneliness must team up with the village witch to return the moon to the sky before magic and mayhem unravel.
Baby Brain
A new play about motherhood, giving birth, postpartum psychosis and stand-up comedy! A new mother, Cass, tackles her mental health crisis, with dark humour, bright wit, brutal honesty and dreams of becoming a comic. A ‘slightly true story’ starring BAFTA winner Kimberley Nixon (C4’s Fresh Meat, Wild Child). “A brilliant piece of writing and performance. […]
Unmasked
Boundless. Limitless. Fluid. Eternal. Sounds peaceful, doesnt it? Like Hell. A writer, backstage during the première of their first ever play. A darkly humorous presence, sheltered by a sunny disposition. A witness. There will be secrets. There will be signs. There will be ringing phones, and peering mannequins, and a sense of slow, creeping dread […]
Baby Brain
A new play about motherhood, giving birth, postpartum psychosis and stand-up comedy! A new mother, Cass, tackles her mental health crisis, with dark humour, bright wit, brutal honesty and dreams of becoming a comic. A ‘slightly true story’ starring BAFTA winner Kimberley Nixon (C4’s Fresh Meat, Wild Child). “A brilliant piece of writing and performance. […]
East
EAST by Steven Berkoff Before Eastenders, there was EAST. Ever wondered what Shakespeare would have written had he grown up in the visceral East End of London in the early 1970s? Steven Berkoff’s masterpiece offers a fearless look into that world through the eyes of an everyday family. It is a story exploding with rage, […]
The Probability of a Dog Becoming a Receptionist
Redundancy. Scary, right? Well there’s one particular receptionist working at Bolton Risk Consultancy, and he’s scared for a slightly different reason than most; he’s scared a dog will take his job. He’s prepared to show you all just how hard he’s fought for his spot, through a rather passive aggressive PowerPoint presentation. Only, this process […]
Luna, Luna
LUNA, LUNA is a new musical fairy tale about hope and loss. A girl who has grown content with loneliness must team up with the village witch to return the moon to the sky before magic and mayhem unravel.
Baby Brain
A new play about motherhood, giving birth, postpartum psychosis and stand-up comedy! A new mother, Cass, tackles her mental health crisis, with dark humour, bright wit, brutal honesty and dreams of becoming a comic. A ‘slightly true story’ starring BAFTA winner Kimberley Nixon (C4’s Fresh Meat, Wild Child). “A brilliant piece of writing and performance. […]
Baby Brain
A new play about motherhood, giving birth, postpartum psychosis and stand-up comedy! A new mother, Cass, tackles her mental health crisis, with dark humour, bright wit, brutal honesty and dreams of becoming a comic. A ‘slightly true story’ starring BAFTA winner Kimberley Nixon (C4’s Fresh Meat, Wild Child). “A brilliant piece of writing and performance. […]
East
EAST by Steven Berkoff Before Eastenders, there was EAST. Ever wondered what Shakespeare would have written had he grown up in the visceral East End of London in the early 1970s? Steven Berkoff’s masterpiece offers a fearless look into that world through the eyes of an everyday family. It is a story exploding with rage, […]
Are Musical Comedians a Chinese Psyop?
A mild-mannered Mandarin tutor by day, The Kev was a satirist in China. After writing two albums of Chinese-language songs and going viral, he decided that this wasn’t edgy enough. He subsequently decided to beat the bland out of the British and Irish music scene. His work is characterised by a mix of bottomless cynicism […]
Baby Brain
A new play about motherhood, giving birth, postpartum psychosis and stand-up comedy! A new mother, Cass, tackles her mental health crisis, with dark humour, bright wit, brutal honesty and dreams of becoming a comic. A ‘slightly true story’ starring BAFTA winner Kimberley Nixon (C4’s Fresh Meat, Wild Child). “A brilliant piece of writing and performance. […]
Mr Boy: The Beauty Contest for Boys
A one-man beauty contest in which I play all the parts and the audience pick the winner. What is a boy meant to be? It’s a question on everyone’s lips, and one I intend to answer once and for all in the fairest way I can think of: a beauty pageant. Over one hour, the […]
This Machine Kills Fascists
This Machine Kills Fascists is a stage spectacle inspired by the life and work of Woody Guthrie, the legendary American folk singer and civil rights activist. The production is neither musical, nor a classic biographical performance. It is Epic after the ideas formulated by Bertolt Brecht and his collaborators.
East
EAST by Steven Berkoff Before Eastenders, there was EAST. Ever wondered what Shakespeare would have written had he grown up in the visceral East End of London in the early 1970s? Steven Berkoff’s masterpiece offers a fearless look into that world through the eyes of an everyday family. It is a story exploding with rage, […]
A Punk Opera
A Punk Opera is a reimagining of Bertolt Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera, with references to the government of Margaret Thatcher and the advent of the punk rock era, defined by a rejection of core British values: minor strikes, race riots, football hooligans and garbage strikes. A great tale with all of the usual suspects and […]
Mr Boy: The Beauty Contest for Boys
A one-man beauty contest in which I play all the parts and the audience pick the winner. What is a boy meant to be? It’s a question on everyone’s lips, and one I intend to answer once and for all in the fairest way I can think of: a beauty pageant. Over one hour, the […]
Unmasked
Boundless. Limitless. Fluid. Eternal. Sounds peaceful, doesnt it? Like Hell. A writer, backstage during the première of their first ever play. A darkly humorous presence, sheltered by a sunny disposition. A witness. There will be secrets. There will be signs. There will be ringing phones, and peering mannequins, and a sense of slow, creeping dread […]
East
EAST by Steven Berkoff Before Eastenders, there was EAST. Ever wondered what Shakespeare would have written had he grown up in the visceral East End of London in the early 1970s? Steven Berkoff’s masterpiece offers a fearless look into that world through the eyes of an everyday family. It is a story exploding with rage, […]
Are Musical Comedians a Chinese Psyop?
A mild-mannered Mandarin tutor by day, The Kev was a satirist in China. After writing two albums of Chinese-language songs and going viral, he decided that this wasn’t edgy enough. He subsequently decided to beat the bland out of the British and Irish music scene. His work is characterised by a mix of bottomless cynicism […]
In Good Conscience
Relationships and morality. Love and ethics. At what point do good deeds become dangerous? And what do you do when your partner disagrees on how to make the world a better place? In Good Conscience is a brand-new two-hander play grappling the perils of protest, polarity, and grassroots politics. Audiences can expect dark comedy, tension, […]
Betty used to say…
Betty Used to Say is a one-woman spoken word show celebrating an extraordinary friendship with an extraordinary woman. Betty lived to be 100 years old, and over the course of a twelve-year friendship she taught lessons that will last a lifetime.Through poetry, monologues and heartfelt anecdotes, this warm and intimate show brings Betty vividly to […]
You Oughta Be in Pictures
“Keep your pretty head, son, or you’ll lose it.” Hollywood, the 1940s. A charismatic film director auditions a young actor for a horror film whose lead has died under mysterious circumstances. As he shares tales of exploitation, broken promises, sex, cults, and the fine line between artifice and truth, it transpires there may be a […]
Samy R’s Standup Comedy Show
Star of BBC’s Gentleman Jack Changed My Life, Samy is the breakout talent who even won over narrator Miriam Margolyes (“I love Samy!”). From a rough council estate to training as a barrister, Samy realised she’s actually just a clown destined to bring cheer to the miserable. Through hilarious jokes and impressions, she tackles life […]
In Good Conscience
Relationships and morality. Love and ethics. At what point do good deeds become dangerous? And what do you do when your partner disagrees on how to make the world a better place? In Good Conscience is a brand-new two-hander play grappling the perils of protest, polarity, and grassroots politics. Audiences can expect dark comedy, tension, […]
Jonny Brook: This Isn’t The Life I Expected
Jonny Brook, he’s really good at being disabled. He’s so truly awful at being a capable adult, at dealing with people he has to talk to as a disabled sort. GP’s, Family, Empathetic Drug Users, Heart of Gold Working Girls, he’s hopeless and hilarious about all of them. What you’ll see as part of this […]
Double Bill: Adam Wilson and lucy
A must see double bill of comedy and live art. Adam Wilson brings you a debut of his new stand up set; a gritty and hilarious show full of refreshing new comedy. “Adam Wilson; like Prince.” Following Adam, lucy offers “I will be dead in 10 minutes.” to the masses once again- a live art […]
In Good Conscience
Relationships and morality. Love and ethics. At what point do good deeds become dangerous? And what do you do when your partner disagrees on how to make the world a better place? In Good Conscience is a brand-new two-hander play grappling the perils of protest, polarity, and grassroots politics. Audiences can expect dark comedy, tension, […]
I Think I’ve Made A Terrible Mistake
Cast out by the cult he devoted his life to, “lost puppy” Wes struggles to win back the favour of his former guru, all the while attempting to navigate the unsettling reality of ordinary life. It’s intimate, sharp, and sometimes shocking, but always human. You’ll laugh. You’ll cringe. You’ll wonder how far someone can go […]
In Good Conscience
Relationships and morality. Love and ethics. At what point do good deeds become dangerous? And what do you do when your partner disagrees on how to make the world a better place? In Good Conscience is a brand-new two-hander play grappling the perils of protest, polarity, and grassroots politics. Audiences can expect dark comedy, tension, […]
The Probability of a Dog Becoming a Receptionist
Redundancy. Scary, right? Well there’s one particular receptionist working at Bolton Risk Consultancy, and he’s scared for a slightly different reason than most; he’s scared a dog will take his job. He’s prepared to show you all just how hard he’s fought for his spot, through a rather passive aggressive PowerPoint presentation. Only, this process […]
Two Bozos in a Van
‘Two Bozos in a Van’ is a zany comedy centred around two larger than life (lesser intelligent) moving men as they navigate a job gone wrong for a large scale crime boss. Get ready to laugh at the clownish antics of Greg and Denis (yeah spelt like that), two totally inept Bozos who have bitten […]
The Probability of a Dog Becoming a Receptionist
Redundancy. Scary, right? Well there’s one particular receptionist working at Bolton Risk Consultancy, and he’s scared for a slightly different reason than most; he’s scared a dog will take his job. He’s prepared to show you all just how hard he’s fought for his spot, through a rather passive aggressive PowerPoint presentation. Only, this process […]
The Adventures of the Pheasant, the Peasant and the Pilgrim
‘The Adventures of the Pheasant, the Peasant and the Pilgrim’ is a bonkers comedy that tells the story of a lonely man’s journey to discover what love means to him. Mysteriously transported to a magical land, he is ordered to ‘find love, before it’s too late,’ and is joined along the way by a sex-obsessed […]
Saltwater Shanties
Do you know your halyards from your capstans? Or your skippers from your boatswains? Come watch a motley crew of singers and folk musicians take you through an evening of Sea Shanties and Folksongs of the Sea. BYOG (bring your own grog) and see you on deck!
lovemaking to an inappropriate soundtrack
Welcome to an unexpected exploration of love, ‘lovemaking to an inappropriate soundtrack’, by Jenny Bushell, is a theatre production that subtly weaves the humour, emotions, and realities of young love into the audiences’ hearts. This one-act vignette style production dips into the kaleidoscope of affection, seamlessly blending the sweet, the bitter, and the utterly ridiculous […]
The Confession
This 45 minute play follows Hector who reaches the end of his employment as a spy for a dangerous organization and must confess his sins. This surreal psychological thriller follows Hector navigating his psyche and traversing the line between life and death. As we follow Hector’s trials and tribulations, this piece is designed to entertain […]
Will Davies: Heroic Scale
In the depressing gloom of the second millennium, there is only disappointment. Why is that? How did it get that way, and can we do anything about it? When is someone going to come along and sort this all out? What does any of this have to do with the world’s most popular (and most […]
I’ve Been Expecting You
What if destiny had an entry-level position?Henry and Jay, the two lowest ranking members of a supervillain’s criminal organisation, learn the true meaning of a dead-end job when they are pitted against the world’s greatest superspy. It is only once their boss utters the immortal words “Ah, Mr Jones. I’ve been expecting you”, do they […]
lovemaking to an inappropriate soundtrack
Welcome to an unexpected exploration of love, ‘lovemaking to an inappropriate soundtrack’, by Jenny Bushell, is a theatre production that subtly weaves the humour, emotions, and realities of young love into the audiences’ hearts. This one-act vignette style production dips into the kaleidoscope of affection, seamlessly blending the sweet, the bitter, and the utterly ridiculous […]
REFLECTION or How I suspect Theseus felt about the ship.
REFLECTION is informed by a lived experience of obsessive-compulsive disorder.The play text was created during an episode of Severe OCD between 2021 and 2023. During this time, I kept a journal of the progress of the play along with my experience. After taking a year-long break from writing the material, I returned to it to […]
Mitch Benn: Asking Elvis
Mitch Benn is Asking Elvis The King is back! Mitch Benn resurrects Elvis from BBC Radio 2’s legendary “Steve Wright in the Afternoon” show, to answer hunks of burning questions about life, death, cheeseburgers and everything in between… including the story of how Mitch managed to be possibly the most popular thing on the most […]
I’ve Been Expecting You
What if destiny had an entry-level position?Henry and Jay, the two lowest ranking members of a supervillain’s criminal organisation, learn the true meaning of a dead-end job when they are pitted against the world’s greatest superspy. It is only once their boss utters the immortal words “Ah, Mr Jones. I’ve been expecting you”, do they […]
lovemaking to an inappropriate soundtrack
Welcome to an unexpected exploration of love, ‘lovemaking to an inappropriate soundtrack’, by Jenny Bushell, is a theatre production that subtly weaves the humour, emotions, and realities of young love into the audiences’ hearts. This one-act vignette style production dips into the kaleidoscope of affection, seamlessly blending the sweet, the bitter, and the utterly ridiculous […]
Joe Cuckold
The brand new Theatre of Cowards debuts at their first ever fringe festival with Sylvia Gardner’s absurd three-hander: a morbid, hilarious, and racy rundown of the highs and lows that come with opening your relationship to alluring homosexuals. One of the most exciting companies in the North-East, featuring some of the most controversial amateur theatre-makers […]
The Adventures of the Pheasant, the Peasant and the Pilgrim
‘The Adventures of the Pheasant, the Peasant and the Pilgrim’ is a bonkers comedy that tells the story of a lonely man’s journey to discover what love means to him. Mysteriously transported to a magical land, he is ordered to ‘find love, before it’s too late,’ and is joined along the way by a sex-obsessed […]
Alice Keys: Rocket Fan
Following a run of sold-out London shows, musical comedy star Alice Keys brings her One Woman-Elton John-Singalong-Romcom to Manchester. Expect silliness, glittering glasses and plenty of (optional) singalongs drawn from Elton’s iconic back catalogue. Where will Alice’s yellow brick road lead her? Will her story end happily ever after? Will her costumes fit behind the […]
REFLECTION or How I suspect Theseus felt about the ship.
REFLECTION is informed by a lived experience of obsessive-compulsive disorder.The play text was created during an episode of Severe OCD between 2021 and 2023. During this time, I kept a journal of the progress of the play along with my experience. After taking a year-long break from writing the material, I returned to it to […]
Mitch Benn: The Lehrer Effect
When, years ago, a teenage Mitch discovered American comic songwriting legend Tom Lehrer, the course of his life was changed forever. Mitch looks at the legacy of the elusive Lehrer, the creative debt he, and all those who mix humour and melody, owe to him and performs some of the more Lehreresque of his own […]
I’ve Been Expecting You
What if destiny had an entry-level position?Henry and Jay, the two lowest ranking members of a supervillain’s criminal organisation, learn the true meaning of a dead-end job when they are pitted against the world’s greatest superspy. It is only once their boss utters the immortal words “Ah, Mr Jones. I’ve been expecting you”, do they […]
Two Bozos in a Van
‘Two Bozos in a Van’ is a zany comedy centred around two larger than life (lesser intelligent) moving men as they navigate a job gone wrong for a large scale crime boss. Get ready to laugh at the clownish antics of Greg and Denis (yeah spelt like that), two totally inept Bozos who have bitten […]
The Boys We Were
What happens when the best thing that will ever happen to you happened before you were even 20? Twenty years after a boyband with one album, a handful of singles and a lot of unfinished business quietly disappeared, its former members are invited to reunite for a one-off television special. As old friendships, rivalries and […]
Saltwater Shanties
Do you know your halyards from your capstans? Or your skippers from your boatswains? Come watch a motley crew of singers and folk musicians take you through an evening of Sea Shanties and Folksongs of the Sea. BYOG (bring your own grog) and see you on deck!
Little Deaths
Spanning over 5 years the play focuses on SHE’S memories of her relationship with JACK from ages 16-22. Jumping back and forth in time, we witness how JACK’s behaviour effects SHE’s relationship with her MUM and her friends RACHEL and CARRIE. Like a disease, JACK spreads into every corner of SHE’S life until there’s no […]
The Boys We Were
What happens when the best thing that will ever happen to you happened before you were even 20? Twenty years after a boyband with one album, a handful of singles and a lot of unfinished business quietly disappeared, its former members are invited to reunite for a one-off television special. As old friendships, rivalries and […]
ill.
ill. is experienced, written and performed by Rebecca Wilson. Wilson’s one-person, multi-tonal show combines her unparalleled wit, keen intellect, and all-consuming empathy to tell the tales of caregiving for her mother (currently battling ovarian cancer for the third time since her original diagnosis in 2019), family dynamics while caring for both her mother and father […]
paywall
They say you should never meet your hero. My hero should never have met me. Lizzy is 27 years old and packing up her Dublin hovel to move back in with ‘Daddy Dearest’, which was not the plan. Inspired by the feared and radical investigative journalist Margo Murphy, Lizzy has only ever wanted one thing: […]
The Boys We Were
What happens when the best thing that will ever happen to you happened before you were even 20? Twenty years after a boyband with one album, a handful of singles and a lot of unfinished business quietly disappeared, its former members are invited to reunite for a one-off television special. As old friendships, rivalries and […]
Freya Parker: An Hour Of Decay! (Work-In-Progress)
Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and modern, normal person mines for LOLs in her sophomore solo show. Expect the most hilarious topics of all: ageing, Vinted and AI. Never heard of her? She’s popped up in: Jurassic World: Dominion, Wonka, One Day (Netflix), Mash Report (BBC), Deep Cover (Amazon) & Smoggie Queens (BBC). Still never heard […]
The Probability of a Dog Becoming a Receptionist
Redundancy. Scary, right? Well there’s one particular receptionist working at Bolton Risk Consultancy, and he’s scared for a slightly different reason than most; he’s scared a dog will take his job. He’s prepared to show you all just how hard he’s fought for his spot, through a rather passive aggressive PowerPoint presentation. Only, this process […]
Name. Song. Artist.
Hosting a karaoke night can’t be that hard? Unless you have a secret that might just derail the whole night. Name. Song. Artist. Is a new one man comedy, join Jack as he attempts to host the best karaoke night of his life. But it all falls to pieces as his addiction becomes impossible to […]
ill.
ill. is experienced, written and performed by Rebecca Wilson. Wilson’s one-person, multi-tonal show combines her unparalleled wit, keen intellect, and all-consuming empathy to tell the tales of caregiving for her mother (currently battling ovarian cancer for the third time since her original diagnosis in 2019), family dynamics while caring for both her mother and father […]
paywall
They say you should never meet your hero. My hero should never have met me. Lizzy is 27 years old and packing up her Dublin hovel to move back in with ‘Daddy Dearest’, which was not the plan. Inspired by the feared and radical investigative journalist Margo Murphy, Lizzy has only ever wanted one thing: […]
Condoms & Cucumbers
Condoms & Cucumbers is a bold, witty solo show exploring the messy contradictions of modern masculinity. Blending spoken word, theatre, comedy, and audience interaction, it invites you to help rewrite the rules of “being a man.” From locker rooms to leotards, sex ed to Brits abroad, it unpacks the pressures and stereotypes that shape male […]
The Probability of a Dog Becoming a Receptionist
Redundancy. Scary, right? Well there’s one particular receptionist working at Bolton Risk Consultancy, and he’s scared for a slightly different reason than most; he’s scared a dog will take his job. He’s prepared to show you all just how hard he’s fought for his spot, through a rather passive aggressive PowerPoint presentation. Only, this process […]
Pub?
Pub? follows the staff at the newly reopened Legless Lamb Inn, as they debrief after the world’s worst shift. Together they recount the errors of the night, sorting over-enthusiastic teenage waitresses, sexually charged chefs, and creepy customers, all to get an answer to that all important question: who’s to blame for everything that went wrong?
Name. Song. Artist.
Hosting a karaoke night can’t be that hard? Unless you have a secret that might just derail the whole night. Name. Song. Artist. Is a new one man comedy, join Jack as he attempts to host the best karaoke night of his life. But it all falls to pieces as his addiction becomes impossible to […]
ill.
ill. is experienced, written and performed by Rebecca Wilson. Wilson’s one-person, multi-tonal show combines her unparalleled wit, keen intellect, and all-consuming empathy to tell the tales of caregiving for her mother (currently battling ovarian cancer for the third time since her original diagnosis in 2019), family dynamics while caring for both her mother and father […]
Marathon! The Musical
Earth. A vague point in the not so distant future. The world has been taken over by ankle biting lizards. How do we cope? We create a lizard free zone and host a marathon of course! Commentated by local news presenters, original comedy musical Marathon! The Musical tells the stories of those running the marathon […]
Finding FAULT
Whitley Bay singer/songwriter and out-of-the-fog adoptee Carmen Curran presents a selection of songs, stories and poetry based around her debut album FAULT and her play of the same name which was longlisted for the North East Playwriting Award 2026. Exploring themes of race, class, ethics and morals against a backdrop of shocking and painful discoveries, […]
Condoms & Cucumbers
Condoms & Cucumbers is a bold, witty solo show exploring the messy contradictions of modern masculinity. Blending spoken word, theatre, comedy, and audience interaction, it invites you to help rewrite the rules of “being a man.” From locker rooms to leotards, sex ed to Brits abroad, it unpacks the pressures and stereotypes that shape male […]
Awkward Re-Entry – Sci-Fi standup!
Beam yourself up for hilarious answers to cosmic questions: Why don’t aliens visit us any more? Where would people -really- go if they could go back in time? And can a Chewbacca impression save, and then ruin, a ‘situationship’? This Sci-Fi inspired stand-up show is all about what it means to be human, and how […]
Awkward Re-Entry, weird Comedy from Outer Space!
Beam yourself up for hilarious answers to cosmic questions: Why don’t aliens visit us any more? Where would people -really- go if they could go back in time? And can a Chewbacca impression save, and then ruin, a ‘situationship’? This Sci-Fi inspired stand-up show is all about what it means to be human, and how […]
Pub?
Pub? follows the staff at the newly reopened Legless Lamb Inn, as they debrief after the world’s worst shift. Together they recount the errors of the night, sorting over-enthusiastic teenage waitresses, sexually charged chefs, and creepy customers, all to get an answer to that all important question: who’s to blame for everything that went wrong?
The Augur
You’re going to die.* The crow cries out in the depths of the inkwell night. The moon is kept prisoner behind the thunderous clouds. From deep within a mossy mausoleum of crumbling stone something ancient stirs. The Augur has awoken. So HARK! Look to the birds and journey deep within the den of the osseous […]
The Augur
You’re going to die.* The crow cries out in the depths of the inkwell night. The moon is kept prisoner behind the thunderous clouds. From deep within a mossy mausoleum of crumbling stone something ancient stirs. The Augur has awoken. So HARK! Look to the birds and journey deep within the den of the osseous […]
The Love We Think We Deserve
‘The Love We Think We Deserve’ @ The Kings Arms Theatre, Salford24th July Friday 2:30pm and 9pm, 25th July Saturday 5pm75 minutes, no interval “We accept the love we think we deserve.”- Stephen Chbosky Around 1 in a 100 people live with Borderline Personality Disorder, yet it is one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized […]
Licking Your Feet, Feeding You Grapes.
Madchester 1991, Afflecks Palace, The Hacienda, Eighth Day T-Shirts and…Discotheque Royale! Manchester 2021, fake news spreads of the passing of an icon. In the confusion “Hitman And Her” videos flood You Tube: THE best late night pop music T. V programme to hit Discotheque Royale’s Manchester. It’s bright, bold and better than that, there’s a […]
No Photos
No Photos is a spoken word show that explores social anxiety, self-image, and visibility through the lens of a man who never wants to be in the picture. Rooted in humour, rhyme, and storytelling, the show explores the inner life of a young man who avoids the camera at all costs. What starts as social […]
MISTRANSLATED
“MISTRANSLATED: How to learn a language (badly) in 60 minutes” is an interactive stand-up comedy show about the absurd and hilarious side of speaking (and misspeaking) languages – delivered by a polyglot comedian who does comedy in 7 languages and has studied bits and bobs of a dozen others – you know, just enough to […]
The Love We Think We Deserve
‘The Love We Think We Deserve’ @ The Kings Arms Theatre, Salford24th July Friday 2:30pm and 9pm, 25th July Saturday 5pm75 minutes, no interval “We accept the love we think we deserve.”- Stephen Chbosky Around 1 in a 100 people live with Borderline Personality Disorder, yet it is one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized […]
The Love We Think We Deserve
‘The Love We Think We Deserve’ @ The Kings Arms Theatre, Salford24th July Friday 2:30pm and 9pm, 25th July Saturday 5pm75 minutes, no interval “We accept the love we think we deserve.”- Stephen Chbosky Around 1 in a 100 people live with Borderline Personality Disorder, yet it is one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized […]
Licking Your Feet, Feeding You Grapes.
Madchester 1991, Afflecks Palace, The Hacienda, Eighth Day T-Shirts and…Discotheque Royale! Manchester 2021, fake news spreads of the passing of an icon. In the confusion “Hitman And Her” videos flood You Tube: THE best late night pop music T. V programme to hit Discotheque Royale’s Manchester. It’s bright, bold and better than that, there’s a […]
MISTRANSLATED
“MISTRANSLATED: How to learn a language (badly) in 60 minutes” is an interactive stand-up comedy show about the absurd and hilarious side of speaking (and misspeaking) languages – delivered by a polyglot comedian who does comedy in 7 languages and has studied bits and bobs of a dozen others – you know, just enough to […]
F**K ME TO DEATH
F**K ME TO DEATH offers an uncompromising glimpse into the lives of three young creatives battling to survive in a hostile cultural landscape. It captures the modern epidemic of isolation and the fierce competition among a generation of dreamers fighting over a finite number of opportunities. At the heart of the story is Oliver, a […]
‘Year of The Thingy’ – Premiere of The 6th Thingy by Daniel Hutchings
In 2024, Daniel Hutchings began screening his five feature-length art comedies, or Thingys, for the general public in Manchester to see if he could increase his audience numbers. Finding a home at The Eagle Inn in Salford, Hutchings documented who came to his Thingy events and what they thought of them. ‘2024: The Year of […]
F**K ME TO DEATH
F**K ME TO DEATH offers an uncompromising glimpse into the lives of three young creatives battling to survive in a hostile cultural landscape. It captures the modern epidemic of isolation and the fierce competition among a generation of dreamers fighting over a finite number of opportunities. At the heart of the story is Oliver, a […]
MISTRANSLATED
“MISTRANSLATED: How to learn a language (badly) in 60 minutes” is an interactive stand-up comedy show about the absurd and hilarious side of speaking (and misspeaking) languages – delivered by a polyglot comedian who does comedy in 7 languages and has studied bits and bobs of a dozen others – you know, just enough to […]
The Augur
You’re going to die.* The crow cries out in the depths of the inkwell night. The moon is kept prisoner behind the thunderous clouds. From deep within a mossy mausoleum of crumbling stone something ancient stirs. The Augur has awoken. So HARK! Look to the birds and journey deep within the den of the osseous […]
The Augur
You’re going to die.* The crow cries out in the depths of the inkwell night. The moon is kept prisoner behind the thunderous clouds. From deep within a mossy mausoleum of crumbling stone something ancient stirs. The Augur has awoken. So HARK! Look to the birds and journey deep within the den of the osseous […]
Stevie Parker: Comedy – Big Bloke with Big Jokes
Stevie Parker – Stand Up Comedy Event Above Title: My Birthday Production, in conjunction with Darth Vader Felt My, Presents Main Title: Stevie Parker…. Big Bloke with Big JokesBelow Title: Expect something old, something new, something borrowed, nothing (ish) blue Short description:And NOT ONLY THAT, you will experience a world record attempt of 1001 jokes […]
Joe Cuckold
The brand new Theatre of Cowards debuts at their first ever fringe festival with Sylvia Gardner’s absurd three-hander: a morbid, hilarious, and racy rundown of the highs and lows that come with opening your relationship to alluring homosexuals. One of the most exciting companies in the North-East, featuring some of the most controversial amateur theatre-makers […]
There Is a Light and a Whistle for Attracting Attention
A woman looks back on a relationship, sifting through love, doubt, and the romantic stories she grew up believing. Funny and unflinching, this one-woman play traces a journey from self-doubt to clarity. Written and performed by Henri Merriam. ★★★★★ “Nothing less than a triumph” (Broadway Baby).
Rachel Creeger: “Queen Of The Jews!” (WIP)
A while ago, someone sent her a poisonous message on social media that concluded with “and who do you think you are, the Queen of the Jews?” but she’s not sure that’s quite the hostile flex they think it is! After the dramatic cancellation of her show at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, multi-award-winning comedian […]
After 4am
Thea is freshly 18 and eager to work as a bartender at her local nightclub. Nike is the head bartender with dreams of spreading her wings and seeing the world but is burdened with responsibility and financial troubles. Dion, the general manager of the venue, has his eyes set on Thea, while Lachie, a fellow […]
Stevie Parker: Comedy – Big Bloke with Big Jokes
Stevie Parker – Stand Up Comedy Event Above Title: My Birthday Production, in conjunction with Darth Vader Felt My, Presents Main Title: Stevie Parker…. Big Bloke with Big JokesBelow Title: Expect something old, something new, something borrowed, nothing (ish) blue Short description:And NOT ONLY THAT, you will experience a world record attempt of 1001 jokes […]
Will Danes: Presented by Mental Illness
Darkly funny musical cabaret from debut performer Will Danes. Original comic songs, theatrical storytelling and cutting satire to cover topics from performative politics and masculinity to relationships, religion, billionaires, and the struggle to appear remotely well-adjusted. Inspired by performers such as Tom Lehrer and Flanders and Swann, while shaped by Danes’ background as a classical […]
The Birds of Grave River
“We are not in the business of killing.” On the American Frontier, young cowboy Harrison wishes to settle down and build a life with his love Daisy, an ambitious woman looking to please her uncle, the Marshal of Thomasville. But Harrison and his brother moonlight as stagecoach robbers to survive, which puts his plans in […]
Offgridland
Flight. Mode. The two most wonderful words…but even with his mobile blocking the outside world, can our desperate, overworked hero ever switch off? It’s time to go to his favourite place: Offgridland. Just ignore the knocks on the door. And the constant ringing of his landline – a phone he can’t even find because he […]
Joe Cuckold
The brand new Theatre of Cowards debuts at their first ever fringe festival with Sylvia Gardner’s absurd three-hander: a morbid, hilarious, and racy rundown of the highs and lows that come with opening your relationship to alluring homosexuals. One of the most exciting companies in the North-East, featuring some of the most controversial amateur theatre-makers […]
There Is a Light and a Whistle for Attracting Attention
A woman looks back on a relationship, sifting through love, doubt, and the romantic stories she grew up believing. Funny and unflinching, this one-woman play traces a journey from self-doubt to clarity. Written and performed by Henri Merriam. ★★★★★ “Nothing less than a triumph” (Broadway Baby).
Rachel Creeger: “Queen Of The Jews!” (WIP)
A while ago, someone sent her a poisonous message on social media that concluded with “and who do you think you are, the Queen of the Jews?” but she’s not sure that’s quite the hostile flex they think it is! After the dramatic cancellation of her show at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, multi-award-winning comedian […]
After 4am
Thea is freshly 18 and eager to work as a bartender at her local nightclub. Nike is the head bartender with dreams of spreading her wings and seeing the world but is burdened with responsibility and financial troubles. Dion, the general manager of the venue, has his eyes set on Thea, while Lachie, a fellow […]
The Birds of Grave River
“We are not in the business of killing.” On the American Frontier, young cowboy Harrison wishes to settle down and build a life with his love Daisy, an ambitious woman looking to please her uncle, the Marshal of Thomasville. But Harrison and his brother moonlight as stagecoach robbers to survive, which puts his plans in […]
Wilder!
Welcome to Newport, a picture-perfect slice of suburbia where appearances are everything, and the Newport Village Garden Club, a community of housewives, fiercely rules the town. At the centre of it all are the Wilders, a young, glamorous couple with a deadly secret who seem to have it all. But when one of them begins […]
Out of The Blue
In a world that has failed to come together to protect itself, humanity is now facing an extinction event. When a strange life-form begins colonising our planet, can a couple of mismatched students really be Earth’s last hope against the creeping, alien menace? How can they succeed where entire armies have failed – and what […]
Joe Cuckold
The brand new Theatre of Cowards debuts at their first ever fringe festival with Sylvia Gardner’s absurd three-hander: a morbid, hilarious, and racy rundown of the highs and lows that come with opening your relationship to alluring homosexuals. One of the most exciting companies in the North-East, featuring some of the most controversial amateur theatre-makers […]
There Is a Light and a Whistle for Attracting Attention
A woman looks back on a relationship, sifting through love, doubt, and the romantic stories she grew up believing. Funny and unflinching, this one-woman play traces a journey from self-doubt to clarity. Written and performed by Henri Merriam. ★★★★★ “Nothing less than a triumph” (Broadway Baby).
After 4am
Thea is freshly 18 and eager to work as a bartender at her local nightclub. Nike is the head bartender with dreams of spreading her wings and seeing the world but is burdened with responsibility and financial troubles. Dion, the general manager of the venue, has his eyes set on Thea, while Lachie, a fellow […]
The Birds of Grave River
“We are not in the business of killing.” On the American Frontier, young cowboy Harrison wishes to settle down and build a life with his love Daisy, an ambitious woman looking to please her uncle, the Marshal of Thomasville. But Harrison and his brother moonlight as stagecoach robbers to survive, which puts his plans in […]
Out of The Blue
In a world that has failed to come together to protect itself, humanity is now facing an extinction event. When a strange life-form begins colonising our planet, can a couple of mismatched students really be Earth’s last hope against the creeping, alien menace? How can they succeed where entire armies have failed – and what […]
There Is a Light and a Whistle for Attracting Attention
A woman looks back on a relationship, sifting through love, doubt, and the romantic stories she grew up believing. Funny and unflinching, this one-woman play traces a journey from self-doubt to clarity. Written and performed by Henri Merriam. ★★★★★ “Nothing less than a triumph” (Broadway Baby).
Out of The Blue
In a world that has failed to come together to protect itself, humanity is now facing an extinction event. When a strange life-form begins colonising our planet, can a couple of mismatched students really be Earth’s last hope against the creeping, alien menace? How can they succeed where entire armies have failed – and what […]
BAD HABITS
BAD HABITS“Amen, B*tch.” Welcome to St Magdalene’s: a convent where the communal wine is Waitrose Essentials, choir rehearsals are TikTok bootcamps, and the Mother Superior has a direct line to the local gin distillery. But the sanctuary is under siege. When the sisters learn of a “divine” mandate to flip the holy ground into luxury […]
The Party of
The Decade
Greater Manchester Fringe 2026
1st to 31st July
A Milestone
Month of Magic
In 2026, we are not just running a festival; we are throwing a month-long birthday party for the entire region. 15 years of discovery, rebellion, and pure creative joy.
Join thousands of artists and audiences across Greater Manchester from 1st to 31st July as we transform pubs, theatres, and basements into the heartbeat of the North.
The 2025 Roll of Honour
A Legacy of Excellence
Overall Festival Winner
Railway 200
The Big Things
Jennifer Jordan O'Neil
Nuns of Fury
Elysium
The Mourning After
Varnish
Jonathan Mayor
Under the Lamp Post
Ilaria Passeri
