Acting up: Nowt Part Of festival at The Black Lion

If there’s only one bi-annual festival in Greater Manchester that you know of, it’s probably not Nowt Part Of. Then again, they probably like it that way – the week long festival of undiscovered writing and acting talent acts as a testing ground for fresh meat, so they can build to one day, maybe, making the move across to MIF or similar. Held at The Black Lion – a lovely pub – it promises 15 performances comprised of 6 new plays. Possible highlight Vienna finds an Ultravox fan wondering ‘What would Midge Ure do?’, whereas Stevie Wonder’s Stern Warning dwells on the manner of loss via the UK’s premier ukelele rock and roll band. Also featured will be Face Value, Squaring The Circle, The Harpington Toad Fanciers Society & Waiting Man Across the programme there is drama, comedy and even a hint of a thriller in Squaring the Circle. While other arts scenes draw the plaudits and concentrate on getting coverage on blogs, the underground theatre scene just keeps rumbling on, more popular than ever.

Mon 8 Jul – Sun 13 Jul, The Black Lion, 65 Chapel Street, Salford, Various times, £6/£5 concs per performance, £10/£8 concs day ticket, http://www.skiddle.com/