At First Draft, we feel pretty bloody lucky to be surrounded by so such a buzzing creative scene in Manchester. Iain Scott, co-founder of currently ongoing Greater Manchester Fringe Festival brings us a guest blog about how it all began.

Four years ago a small team of committed individuals, came together and set up The Greater Manchester Fringe Festival. The Kings Arms, Taurus Bar and The Lass O’Gowrie trail-blazed the initiative and invited a number of other businesses to join them in the newly named Greater Manchester Fringe Festival. In its first year some 12 venues joined and programmed approximately 30 separate performances encompassing theatre, music and poetry.

Mouth – Taurus Bar

The inaugural event was totally self funding by applying a modest, nominal charge of just £10 to be involved, as well as an initial grant of £1,000 from the Manchester Council’s Leader’s Budget. A…