Fringe Benefits: Our Picks of the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

Last July, the Manchester International Festival descended on the city in a whirl of ballet, bonhomie and the Bard, but there was little room for comedy at such a highbrow event. To plug this gap in the marketplace the Greater Manchester Fringe was borne, and comics from the city and beyond packed into pubs and crannies to entertain those who couldn’t afford to watch Kenneth Branagh expectorate. It was such a success that they’ve decided to do it again this year, despite there being no head of hair to chop into a fringe; like the minor characters from This is England, the fringe carries on even though the main player has departed. Spanning the whole month of July, there are shows from some of the brightest on the Northwest comedy scene, including past Spotlight dwellers and Skinny faves Gein’s Family Giftshop (The King's Arms, 7 Jul), as well as the Parker half of Norris & Parker in An Evening of Filth & Despair (The King's Arms, 30 Jul).

With over 30 shows to choose from we thought we’d, rather boldly, choose a top three you must see.

James Acaster

Bridesmaid in the Foster’s Comedy Award for Best Show in both 2012 and 2013, James Acaster must be hoping that third time is the charm when he takes his new show up to Edinburgh in August. Before then, though, the whitest comedian around brings his no doubt D’Lo Brown inspired show Recognise to the GM Fringe. Dealing in whimsy and with the utmost commitment to the dissection of any of life’s modern problems, Acaster is one of the finest minds in comedy and one to watch in the intimate surrounds of Salford’s finest drinking hole.

Thu 24 Jul, 7.30pm at King Arms, Salford. £5

Harriet Dyer

There’s a fine line between eccentric and insane. One man’s colourful idiosyncrasies is another man’s pooping in a storm drain. Harriet Dyer sets out on a quest to discover why her unconventional adventures lead to people questioning whether or not she needs sectioning. Show title Barking at Aeroplanes suggests that she may in fact be certifiable, but that’s not to say she isn’t also funny in a good way. An infinitely loveable performer, let’s hope she’s not straitjacketed and carted away before her show is finished.

Thu 3 Jul, 9pm at King's Arms, Salford. £5

Joel Dommett

At Joel Dommett’s Edinburgh show last year he finished proceedings with a dual audio visual attack, where he made everyone in his audience call his teenage tormentor a twat, and then claimed back his youth with the visceral nunchaku performance he never got to show off as a child. Now a successful comedian, host of MTV news and somewhat of a dreamboat, Dommett still seems intent on making up for the difficulties of his nerdy formative years. This time he is going to try to reform the awful EMO group he was in when he was 15, who disbanded after just one gig. His manic energy and embarrassing past have served him well in shows before, so this should be a cringeworthy glimpse into the life of awkward teens everywhere.

Fri 4 Jul, 7.30pm at King's Arms, Salford. £5