INSPIRING stories of Manchester and puppets unite as a Bolton theatre company take to a very different stage.

Grand Dame Theatre is preparing for a second year entertaining audiences at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival next month.

The company of 10 will be staging two very different productions in unusual venues around Manchester city centre.

Stories of Manchester has been written by Boltonian Keziah Lockwood with scenes also devised by the cast.

Coming to Tribeca in Sackville Street on July 24 and 25, it “does exactly what it says on the tin”, Keziah explains.

She said: “For me Manchester has played a huge part in my life. It was my first big city experience and it completely turned my head! It is so diverse and full of culture.

“You have all these communities like gay village, Northern Quarter, China town, Media City. They all have these amazing individual experiences to enjoy but at the same time, band together in this beautiful melting pot. Everyone celebrates their diversity and the diversity in others, a true reflection of British and Northern culture.

“This show is about being proud to be part of Greater Manchester and celebrating all the characters and stories in it. There’s some brilliant things, some humourous things and things which might be a bit unsavoury. They are all there and make up what it is to be part of Manchester.

“It will also bring in historical references like when the Jacobite Rebellion marched in Manchester or the fact Emmeline Pankhurst, a great suffragist, was born in Moss Side. There’s so much going on here!”

Two days later the company returns with a very different performance - this time with puppets!

Family show, The Dale Wingbottom Experience, comes to the The Seven Oaks in Nicholas Street from July 26 to 29.

It will feature puppeteer Matthew Crowther who has worked with Legoland Windsor, The Jim Henson Company and CBBC, and Dale Wingbottom-AKA Mr Showbiz - and friends as they sing songs, tell stories and play games.

However, both shows are also bringing something different to the Fringe with special performances aimed at improving accessibility to the stage, with relaxed performances and signed performances.

Keziah adds: “I recently saw a documentary with Jess Thom a comedian with Tourette’s where she talked about accessibility in theatre, and how there wasn’t enough of that.

“When I really researched, and I mean really researched, we found that you probably got two signed performances of a show, and that was only big productions. This really saddened me. Theatre is for the masses, it’s a space where everyone is accepted and to find that it was in a way inaccessible was just not right in my book.

“We are producing these shows with more accessibility. For example on the opening night we have a show which is a relaxed performance which is open to those who may feel a little bit anxious to go to the theatre, that may find the lights and noise too much.

“We have especially adapted it to have a more relaxed atmosphere as well as those who may at times feel they can’t go to the theatre due to a condition such as Tourette’s or autism.”

For performance times and tickets visit www.grand-dame-theatre.co.uk.