Greater Manchester Fringe has opened a brand-new curated branch of the fringe called The Hive for new writers and performers for next year’s festival.
The Hive will help develop three new writers and performers so they are ready to premiere their work at the eighth GMFringe in July 2019.
The deadline for applying with an idea for a show for The Hive is midnight on Monday 10 December.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a pitch night on Wednesday 9 January at The Kings Arms, Salford and the final three will be announced on Wednesday 16 January.
Each artist will work with an industry specific mentor, such as Calendar Girls scriptwriter Tim Firth and comedy writer and performer Ben Moor, to develop the quality of their work, supported by Arts Council England and Write for the Stage.
Greater Manchester Fringe will offer regular consultations, editing help, feedback and production meetings to ascertain progress, offering support where required, and keeping each project on track.
Fringe entry costs, rehearsal space, venue hires, PR, and pay for the performances will also be covered.
GMFringe is an open access arts festival and is inviting venues throughout Greater Manchester that want to take part to get in touch as soon as possible.
Venues that have registered so far include The Eagle Inn, The Kings Arms, Salford Arts Theatre, Footlights, Gullivers, Hatch, the Anthony Burgess Foundation, Lock 91, Miners Community Arts and Music Centre, Moston Small Cinema, Night & Day Café, The Met (Bury), The Peer Hat, The Way Theatre / Studio (Atherton), Tribeca, Twenty Twenty Two Bars, Whitefield Garrick Theatre and Z-arts.
The deadline for registering a show at those venues – and featuring in the A4 colour brochure – is Friday 26 April 2019.
Shows can include new writing, revivals, stand up, sketch shows, clowning, dance, visual arts, live music, magic, poetry, physical theatre, club nights, choirs, children’s shows, new ideas are welcome!
Many past productions have moved onto established theatres, such as Bolton Octagon, Lowry Theatre, Royal Exchange theatre, HOME theatre, national tours and have been recognised at the Manchester Theatre Awards.
Greater Manchester Fringe is organised by Zena Barrie, who also organizes Camden Fringe and has worked for the Etcetera Theatre in London and the Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh; Lisa Connor, landlady of the Kings Arms and former manager of the Lass O’Gowrie; and Iain Scott of Canal Street Online.
It is supported by Write for the Stage, who organize an annual new writing award enabling the winning writer to see their play published.
There are eight free registrations available for people on low incomes that want to take part in GMFringe in July 2019. For more details email gmfringe@gmail.com
For more details visit https://www.greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk
