Returning for its third year, the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival celebrates the best in comedy, music and theatre from across the city as well as further afield. This year hopes to eclipse last year’s 18 venues, all hosting a glut of fine productions. Making his return to the festival is Phill Jupitus (pictured) as he brings two new pieces of work to the Kings Arms in Salford: appearing as both himself with the show Shirking Progress on Tuesday 8 July; and his poetic alter ego Porky the Poet in Juplicity on Wednesday 9 July. Other highlights include the play Finding Me, about one woman’s existential journey, using humour and poetry in her discovery of her own gender and sexuality  (Taurus, Mon 7 Jul). Life Cycle takes inspiration from the forthcoming Tour de France, whcih will have just left Yorkshire by the time the show starts, and uses verbatim interviews with high-profile cyclists to create a physical journey of a lone cyclist’s past, forged into a highly physical and visual theatrical text (The Swan Inn, Saddleworth, Wed 9 Jul). With plenty of other shows already announced, and even more yet to come, make sure you take a ganders at the Fringe website to escape into the creativity of the city while the MIF takes the summer off.

Tue 1 Jul – Thu 31 Jul, Various venues and prices, www.greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk

Tue 1 Jul - Thu 31 Jul
Words:
John Stansfield
Published on:
Mon 30 Jun 2014