The third Greater Manchester Fringe Festival from July 1-31 is full of world premières and Edinburgh Fringe previews.
It includes the première of The Hacienda Tales at Joshua Brooks, opposite the old Factory Records building, now club FACT251.
This year’s festival patrons are writer Tim Firth, actress Shobna Gulati, comedian Justin Moorhouse and former ‘Allo ‘Allo star Arthur Bostrom.
Tim, who wrote the screenplay for Calendar Girls, said: “The fringe is the most important area of any art form because it is the arena in which risks are taken and challenges set.
“Any festival without a fringe is basically rootless because ultimately it is the fringe which will drive the centre.”
As well as drama, GMFringe features previews of comedy, puppets, performance poetry, children’s events, live music, exhibitions, debate and even a clown workshop.
Venues hosting a wide variety of events during July 2014 include: Albert Square Chop House, Apotheca, Three Minute Theatre, Band on the Wall, The Bay Horse, The Briton’s Protection, Castle Hotel, Contact Theatre, The Dancehouse, The Eagle Inn, Fab Café, Frog and Bucket, Gullivers, The Hatters Hostel, Kraak, Joshua Brooks, Lower Kersal Social Club, O’Shea’s, Salford Arms Hotel, Satan’s Hollow, Taurus Bar, The King’s Arms, The Marble Beerhouse, The Millstone, The Retro Bar, The Roadhouse, The Swan, The Vine Inn, Tiger Lounge, Town Hall Tavern, and TV21 Café bar.