by Ed Fortune
The English city of Manchester has a famously irrepressible arts and culture scene. The city is well known for being the place where many adventures begin, and that includes all sorts of music and theatre. Two major arts festivals run throughout July this year; the more mainstream Manchester International Festival 2023 and the inevitable response to such a thing, The Greater Manchester Fringe.
The Fringe is filled with new talent and experimental acts, many of which can be seen after work for about a tenner. Don’t forget to visit STARBURST’s favourite bar, Fab Café, for pre-show drinks beforehand.
Let’s look at some of the cult entertainment-style shows on offer in 2022.
Awkward Re-Entry – A night of weird sci-fi comedy The Fitzgerald: Fri 14th Jul – Sat 15th Jul 18:30
Instagram: @realphillipcarter More: linktr.ee/Phillipcarter
Author, comedian and poet Phillip Carter’s new show, Awkward Re-Entry, is an exploration of science fiction and how we use the genre to explore ourselves. Hear the cracking tale of Phillip’s crash landing on Earth, encounters with parallel universes, ghost crab cakes and Tin Foil Tim. Sounds like a great evening to us.
Ahoy! Ballad of the Time Kraken The Salford Arts Theatre: Fri 28th Jul – Sat 29th Jul 19:30,14:00
Instagram: @rocket_whip More: linktr.ee/rocketwhip
From the folk who brought us “Communism: The Musical” and “Skedaddle: A Space Opera”, Rocket Whip Productions return to the Greater Manchester Fringe with our brand new comedy musical Ahoy: Ballad of the Time Kraken!, featuring time travelling pirates and music!
Foxdog Studios: Robo Bingo The Kings Arms Theatre: Mon 31st Jul 19:30
Instagram: @foxdogstudios More: foxdogstudios.com/gigs
Bingo meets tech. Join comedy IT consultants Lloyd and Pete in this interactive show (so bring your phone). Expect chaos. This show will also be at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The Magic Bookmark The Salford Arts Centre: Sun 16th Jul 14:00
Instagram: @MamaGStories. More: linktr.ee/MamaGStories
Honestly, if you don’t love Mama G, then we don’t know what to say. The nation’s beloved Pantomime Dame and storyteller, Mama G, is back with this wholesome story about the magic of reading and the wonder of understanding as they take a family-friendly audience on a journey to discover the Magic Bookmark.
Neil Harris: CODEBREAKER The Vault @ Fierce bar: Thu 20th Jul 19:00
Twitter: @neildownstandup More: neilharrisonline.com
Join comedian Neil Harris on a journey through historical events. Join him and Helpy the Lion as he looks at the Enigma machine and how Alan Turing and Bletchley Park were able to crack it. Neil can also be found at the Edinburgh Fringe later this year.
Glad To Be Dead? Gullivers Lounge: Mon 17th Jul – Wed 19th Jul 19:00
Instagram: @mimtheatre. More: linktr.ee/mimtheatre
A journey into gothic morality and philosophy, with plenty of dark humour, Glad To Be Dead? gives voice to the dead as we hear from fictional beings, historical figures, murderers and victims in this tale of regret and social commentary.
Lucifer Speaks The Fitzgerald: Mon 24th Jul – Tue 25th Jul 19:00
Twitter: @NORTHERNPOETSSOCIETY
Spoken Word poetry from THE DEVIL HIMSELF. Probably the most Manchester and the most fringe theatre act we’ve heard of this year.
Feast- An evening of folk horror and storytelling The Peer Hat: Tue 11th Jul 19:00
Instagram: @feastmcr. More: The Peer Hat
Feast is Manchester’s latest spoken-word folk-horror-themed event. Food-themed also, which sounds like a good idea for supper to us.
