Greater Manchester Fringe 2022

Greater Manchester Fringe 2022 at The Kings Arms, Chapel Street, 1–31 July 2022 - Book now

This July, Greater Manchester Fringe Festival returns for its 11th year. A huge celebration of theatre and performance in the North, we love that the festival offers a fascinating and diverse programme of performance with ticket prices that won’t break the bank.

A diverse programme of performance with ticket prices that won’t break the bank.

A creative hotbed of new work, the festival brings some of the most up-and-coming writers and performers to the region – many to showcase their work ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Springing up in a number of venues across the city, festival-goers will find an eclectic programme of drama, comedy, music, mime, children’s shows, storytelling, visual arts, spoken word and tours on offer. Most pleasingly, the festival comes with affordable ticket prices too – and some of the shows are completely free, offering access to a non-traditional theatre-going audience.

Spilling out across Greater Manchester, performances are taking place in 17 different venues including Chapeltown Picture House, Foundation Coffee House, the Frog and Bucket, International Antony Burgess Foundation, GM Police Museum and The King’s Arms. However, over the years, the Manchester Fringe Festival has also seen people perform shows in more unusual performance settings like camper vans, tents, Roman forts and even in a crypt.

Director of Greater Manchester Fringe Lisa Connor told us, “Some of the greatest performers, actors, poets, bands, artists and creative writers have come from the North West, so it is fitting to have our Fringe Festival in Greater Manchester as a host for exciting, emerging talent. We can’t wait to see all the exciting shows lined up for next month.”

Highlights of this year’s festival include Blue Masque Theatre’s one-woman play Bessie, at Midnight Alone; winner of the Best Comedy Award at the Adelaide Fringe 2022, Garry Starr: Greece Lightning and After Shark by the multi-award-winning writer Lita Doolan.

Manchester Fringe audiences are the first in line to see brand-new theatre by some of the UK’s sharpest creatives.

We’re thrilled that Manchester Fringe audiences are the first in line to see brand-new theatre by some of the UK’s sharpest creatives. Furthermore, many of the Fringe’s past productions have gone on to be performed in some of the North’s established theatres, such as the Royal Exchange, HOME, Octagon Theatre Bolton and The Lowry.

A delightful chocolate box of performance with something for everyone.

Manchester Fringe Festival offers a delightful chocolate box of performance – there really is something for everyone.