Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - Final night! - 30th Oct
And so the last day... sniff. I'll miss all this bodding between all the different venues across the city. Though of course there's comedy every night in Manchester so no excuse for not going to see some the rest of the year.
Anyway it was back to Apotheca tonight to catch an early show, Ivor Dembina's Stand Up Jewish Comedy. First of two performances of the show, the latter being at 8pm. As you might have gathered by the title the show is a journey through Dembina's life as a Jewish man – of course with plenty of jokes along the way. From joining the synagogue where he was presented with the gifts of an orange and a new name, through his Bar Mitztvah, starting stand up, and travels to America, Australia and Israel where he and his settler cousin disagree as to where in the world exactly the promised land of the Jews is. His is a measured performance that evocatively conjures his life story and frequently pauses to poke fun at Jewish stereotypes along the way.
And on to the Comedy Store for New Stuff their regular twice a month night where comedians try out new material (though you'd probably worked that out from the title). It's another of Toby Hadoke's regular gigs where he gathers together largely professional comedians to test out their new gags. It works surprisingly well with local acts Mike Wilkinson (though technically he lives in Cumbria now), Ciamh McDonnell, improv troupe Comedy Sportz, Daliso Chaponda, Katie Mulgrew, Eddie Hoo and Vinca Atta. Plus dropping in were Stuart Mitchell from Glasgow, Latin American/Chinese Javier Jarquin and the London based Thom Tuck after finishing the second outing of his solo over at Soup Kitchen.
And so after a cheeky glass of red and a slice of pizza at the end of festival party I'm off to bed... night.
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Anyway it was back to Apotheca tonight to catch an early show, Ivor Dembina's Stand Up Jewish Comedy. First of two performances of the show, the latter being at 8pm. As you might have gathered by the title the show is a journey through Dembina's life as a Jewish man – of course with plenty of jokes along the way. From joining the synagogue where he was presented with the gifts of an orange and a new name, through his Bar Mitztvah, starting stand up, and travels to America, Australia and Israel where he and his settler cousin disagree as to where in the world exactly the promised land of the Jews is. His is a measured performance that evocatively conjures his life story and frequently pauses to poke fun at Jewish stereotypes along the way.
And on to the Comedy Store for New Stuff their regular twice a month night where comedians try out new material (though you'd probably worked that out from the title). It's another of Toby Hadoke's regular gigs where he gathers together largely professional comedians to test out their new gags. It works surprisingly well with local acts Mike Wilkinson (though technically he lives in Cumbria now), Ciamh McDonnell, improv troupe Comedy Sportz, Daliso Chaponda, Katie Mulgrew, Eddie Hoo and Vinca Atta. Plus dropping in were Stuart Mitchell from Glasgow, Latin American/Chinese Javier Jarquin and the London based Thom Tuck after finishing the second outing of his solo over at Soup Kitchen.
And so after a cheeky glass of red and a slice of pizza at the end of festival party I'm off to bed... night.
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Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - Soup Kitchen - 29th Oct
So the penultimate night of the festival and a return visit to the lovely Soup Kitchen venue. After some actual soup – I can recommend the beetroot and horseradish, lovely. In fact the recommendation comes from Nick Sun last weekend so you can thank him.
Anyway back to the comedy I'd popped in to catch Manc based Preston comic Phil Ellis' tea time show and bumped into comedian Susan Vale beforehand in the bar/café upstairs. Armed with a cream cake she was to have a small part in Ellis' show. Come show time, though the number in for the teatime show was reasonable many already knew Ellis. His shtick is largely to chat to the crowd and improvise off them little difficult if you last saw said audience member last Tuesday. So gathering together his pink post sticks everyone retired to the bar instead. I never did find out what the cake was for.
Thom Tuck's show however went ahead as planned. This year at the Edinburgh Fringe the acclaimed Victorian gentlemen sketch troupe The Penny Dreadfuls parted company to put on solo shows. Each of their shows garnered great acclaim too and Tuck was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for best newcomer (as it was his first solo show it still counts as a debut solo). It's easy to see why. Like Goldstein's show here the week before, Tuck draws on his theatre training for a show that mixes stand up with relatively straight theatre. On one hand Tuck chats to his crowd about the 'Straight to DVD' of the title Disney films; those extra flicks made by the company to squeeze as much money as possible out of the original cinema released movie. Then he pauses to withdraw into a series of poignant monologue pieces about all the girls that have broken his heart. It's a effective and moving device making for a show that's not simply about trawling through a load of largely bad animated DVDs. Though I do worry for his sanity after all that research.
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Anyway back to the comedy I'd popped in to catch Manc based Preston comic Phil Ellis' tea time show and bumped into comedian Susan Vale beforehand in the bar/café upstairs. Armed with a cream cake she was to have a small part in Ellis' show. Come show time, though the number in for the teatime show was reasonable many already knew Ellis. His shtick is largely to chat to the crowd and improvise off them little difficult if you last saw said audience member last Tuesday. So gathering together his pink post sticks everyone retired to the bar instead. I never did find out what the cake was for.
Thom Tuck's show however went ahead as planned. This year at the Edinburgh Fringe the acclaimed Victorian gentlemen sketch troupe The Penny Dreadfuls parted company to put on solo shows. Each of their shows garnered great acclaim too and Tuck was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for best newcomer (as it was his first solo show it still counts as a debut solo). It's easy to see why. Like Goldstein's show here the week before, Tuck draws on his theatre training for a show that mixes stand up with relatively straight theatre. On one hand Tuck chats to his crowd about the 'Straight to DVD' of the title Disney films; those extra flicks made by the company to squeeze as much money as possible out of the original cinema released movie. Then he pauses to withdraw into a series of poignant monologue pieces about all the girls that have broken his heart. It's a effective and moving device making for a show that's not simply about trawling through a load of largely bad animated DVDs. Though I do worry for his sanity after all that research.
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Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - Frog and Bucket - 28th Oct
Tonight wasn't an extra show for the festival though there have been plenty of them across the fortnight but a trip to the Frog and Bucket was overdue and dropping in at their regular weekend show seemed like a good thing to me. Of course the Frog and Bucket alongside the Comedy Store are the city's only dedicated comedy venues and a regular night is every much a part of the festival as the special solo shows they've played host to from the likes of Brendon Burns and Richard Herring.
Tonight's was a fine and worthy line up too. Manchester's adopted Preston fella (what do you call someone from Preston anyway?) Phil Ellis was compering and clearly thoroughly enjoying chatting to and riffing off the crowd. Up first was a set from Paul Kerensa the Cornish comic now based in London with a love of algebraic equations. He's even had some slogan t-shirts made up with them on. Kerensa's also got an intriguing bodily secret but if you haven't seen him before we're not going to give it away, you'll just have to go and see.
Another adopted Manc, Sam Gore - this time from Yorkshire, he moved across the Pennines a couple of years ago - filled the second section. His is a solid set with some trademark close to the bone gags sprinkled amongst his regular observations providing some catch-your-breath/I-can't-believe-he-just-said-that moments.
And to round off the night a fine set of material from the one time Manchester based Canadian Jason John Whitehead (we really are that popular in this city). He's selling a DVD at the moment and you'd be recommended to buy it as over the years he's honed a brilliant style that is simultaneously laid-back and gently irritated as he tells of his previous, somewhat unfaithful girlfriend, the hazardous experience that is drinking in the UK and tripping a small child in Toys R Us.
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Tonight's was a fine and worthy line up too. Manchester's adopted Preston fella (what do you call someone from Preston anyway?) Phil Ellis was compering and clearly thoroughly enjoying chatting to and riffing off the crowd. Up first was a set from Paul Kerensa the Cornish comic now based in London with a love of algebraic equations. He's even had some slogan t-shirts made up with them on. Kerensa's also got an intriguing bodily secret but if you haven't seen him before we're not going to give it away, you'll just have to go and see.
Another adopted Manc, Sam Gore - this time from Yorkshire, he moved across the Pennines a couple of years ago - filled the second section. His is a solid set with some trademark close to the bone gags sprinkled amongst his regular observations providing some catch-your-breath/I-can't-believe-he-just-said-that moments.
And to round off the night a fine set of material from the one time Manchester based Canadian Jason John Whitehead (we really are that popular in this city). He's selling a DVD at the moment and you'd be recommended to buy it as over the years he's honed a brilliant style that is simultaneously laid-back and gently irritated as he tells of his previous, somewhat unfaithful girlfriend, the hazardous experience that is drinking in the UK and tripping a small child in Toys R Us.
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Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - O2 Apollo Manchester - 27th Oct
Though the comedy festival is about all the acts and shows whatever their experience or notoriety - the newcomers and the circuit acts as well as the household names - it's always nice to have a big name on the programme to highlight the festival as a whole. Aside from Rob Brydon at the Royal College of Music the biggest name this year has to be Stephen Merchant and his three nights at the Apollo.
The Office and Extras co-writer has been on a nationwide tour for a few weeks now and most reports have told of a good show. Yet it still feels weird that Merchant is out performing solo without his sidekick Gervais, particularly as Gervais is the one that you think of as the performer of the two writers.
However Merchant had first tried stand up in 1998 and it was only the swift success of the Office in 2001 and subsequent writing accomplishments that have kept him away from the circuit. Keen to get back he booked in to do some dates despite still having plenty of writing work to do.
And what a show it is. He can certainly back up the three nights at the Apollo and his apparent popularity. The first night was almost full, the Friday sold out and a third date, Saturday was added.
The premise to Merchant's show, entitled Hello Ladies is that he's on the look out for a wife. But of course there are things that get in the way – largely his life long membership of geek club and his love of pedantry. He likes nothing more than to work out everyone's exact restaurant bill on his Casio Calculator watch. Elsewhere he pokes fun at Venn diagrams but it's a running gag in the show that he seems to enjoy using a little too much just to be simply poking fun...
We've only really seen his appearance as Darren Lamb, Andy Millman's hapless agent in Extras but on that big stage by himself he's a skilled performer of his own material, it's a wonder he hasn't done this earlier. Much of the material is accompanied by mimed actions to enhance the humour – a favourite is his imagining of the scenario when a gynaecologist asked out one of his patients.
Also another special mention for the support act. This time the fine talent that is Josh Widdicombe. Since winning the Leicester Comedian of the Year in 2010 he's been making steady headway out there on the circuit with a solid set of gags amusingly middle aged pedantry – lovely compliment to Merchant's act – can't be too long before his work's all over the telly too.
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The Office and Extras co-writer has been on a nationwide tour for a few weeks now and most reports have told of a good show. Yet it still feels weird that Merchant is out performing solo without his sidekick Gervais, particularly as Gervais is the one that you think of as the performer of the two writers.
However Merchant had first tried stand up in 1998 and it was only the swift success of the Office in 2001 and subsequent writing accomplishments that have kept him away from the circuit. Keen to get back he booked in to do some dates despite still having plenty of writing work to do.
And what a show it is. He can certainly back up the three nights at the Apollo and his apparent popularity. The first night was almost full, the Friday sold out and a third date, Saturday was added.
The premise to Merchant's show, entitled Hello Ladies is that he's on the look out for a wife. But of course there are things that get in the way – largely his life long membership of geek club and his love of pedantry. He likes nothing more than to work out everyone's exact restaurant bill on his Casio Calculator watch. Elsewhere he pokes fun at Venn diagrams but it's a running gag in the show that he seems to enjoy using a little too much just to be simply poking fun...
We've only really seen his appearance as Darren Lamb, Andy Millman's hapless agent in Extras but on that big stage by himself he's a skilled performer of his own material, it's a wonder he hasn't done this earlier. Much of the material is accompanied by mimed actions to enhance the humour – a favourite is his imagining of the scenario when a gynaecologist asked out one of his patients.
Also another special mention for the support act. This time the fine talent that is Josh Widdicombe. Since winning the Leicester Comedian of the Year in 2010 he's been making steady headway out there on the circuit with a solid set of gags amusingly middle aged pedantry – lovely compliment to Merchant's act – can't be too long before his work's all over the telly too.
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Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - The Lass O'Gowrie - 26th Oct
And back to Lass O'Gowrie tonight for their annual comedian of the year competition. Unlike some comps in the city this one's not regional and gathers in contestants from all over the country. It's a great opportunity to see what burgeoning talent is out there. I'd also been honoured with the task of judging alongside last year's winner Scott Bennett and club promoter Mike Taylor.
The heats of this, the fourth competition, had whittled the players down to a neat eight. Compere The One Like Fish popped up to warm the crowd through with some gags and a quiz prize of some furniture touch up pens (really, you can't go wrong with that). Then, with the unenviable task of going on first was Rob Coleman whose set contains an impressive amount of puns. He also has the kind of wild hair that is a gift to comedy – as Charlie Chuck would bear out. Up next was Big Lou, with big support in the crowd. He's got an amiable stage presence with which he couples some deceptively close to the bone material – he pulls no punches with polar bear material and his mum's rosewood dildo/ashes urn. Third in the first section was the impeccably turned out Helen Keeler (I wouldn't normally mention a lady's attire but it is part of her set and she obviously sets out to dress well). Her material was just as carefully crafted with with some nicely turned one-liners and wryly delivered punchlines. Rounding off the first bit was Sir Reginald Tweedy Duffer a lovely and uncannily accurate portrayal of an out of touch Tory MP who likes nothing more than to quote the Beastly Boys and Mr Morris of The Smiths.
Into the second section and Karl White. His stage presence is quiet and unassuming but belies a amusing anti-comedy device – 'I don't know where that one was going...' he says of a number of gags without delivering a punchline. Whether he's doing it on purpose frankly it's difficult to tell but nevertheless it makes for a beguiling and humorous set. David Stainer was thrown a little by an inconsiderate pissed up bloke who didn't get the concept of not heckling people in a comedy competition and so unsurprisingly seemed a little nervy but given some work his off-the-wall material could be on to something. Nick Cranston had a confident presence and opened his set doing stuff covering the fact that he is deaf, '1st rule of deaf club you don't talk about deaf club...'
Then last up was Justin Palmer with some smut, thus making a lady at the front blush and armed with his forensic torch he checked the audience for unseemly stains.
Following a second beer break Scott Bennett did a 15 minute set demonstrating why he won last year. He's got a great stage presence and his gag about his Yorkshireman Dad 'building' his meal at a pub carvery is a fab routine. And thus it was revealed that we'd decided that the winner was Helen Keeler with Sir Reginald Tweedy Duffer in second place and Karl White in third.
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The heats of this, the fourth competition, had whittled the players down to a neat eight. Compere The One Like Fish popped up to warm the crowd through with some gags and a quiz prize of some furniture touch up pens (really, you can't go wrong with that). Then, with the unenviable task of going on first was Rob Coleman whose set contains an impressive amount of puns. He also has the kind of wild hair that is a gift to comedy – as Charlie Chuck would bear out. Up next was Big Lou, with big support in the crowd. He's got an amiable stage presence with which he couples some deceptively close to the bone material – he pulls no punches with polar bear material and his mum's rosewood dildo/ashes urn. Third in the first section was the impeccably turned out Helen Keeler (I wouldn't normally mention a lady's attire but it is part of her set and she obviously sets out to dress well). Her material was just as carefully crafted with with some nicely turned one-liners and wryly delivered punchlines. Rounding off the first bit was Sir Reginald Tweedy Duffer a lovely and uncannily accurate portrayal of an out of touch Tory MP who likes nothing more than to quote the Beastly Boys and Mr Morris of The Smiths.
Into the second section and Karl White. His stage presence is quiet and unassuming but belies a amusing anti-comedy device – 'I don't know where that one was going...' he says of a number of gags without delivering a punchline. Whether he's doing it on purpose frankly it's difficult to tell but nevertheless it makes for a beguiling and humorous set. David Stainer was thrown a little by an inconsiderate pissed up bloke who didn't get the concept of not heckling people in a comedy competition and so unsurprisingly seemed a little nervy but given some work his off-the-wall material could be on to something. Nick Cranston had a confident presence and opened his set doing stuff covering the fact that he is deaf, '1st rule of deaf club you don't talk about deaf club...'
Then last up was Justin Palmer with some smut, thus making a lady at the front blush and armed with his forensic torch he checked the audience for unseemly stains.
Following a second beer break Scott Bennett did a 15 minute set demonstrating why he won last year. He's got a great stage presence and his gag about his Yorkshireman Dad 'building' his meal at a pub carvery is a fab routine. And thus it was revealed that we'd decided that the winner was Helen Keeler with Sir Reginald Tweedy Duffer in second place and Karl White in third.
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Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - The Lass O'Gowrie - 25th Oct
Lee Fenwick has stepped out onto the comedy stage in many different incarnations since he started out. But none have been as beautifully crafted as Mick Sergeant, the long term unemployed shipbuilder from Tyneside whose wife has left him. Ok, so writing that sentence I'm aware that it doesn't sound like the proverbial barrel of laughs but that's the beauty of the character, for every laugh Fenwick creates there's a bittersweet pang of pathos too.
The latest show tells where he's at years after losing his job... and that's well... still unemployed. Though not his fault the job centre will insist on sending him to any old job interview as the short film at the top of the show indicates. But he's not defeated, Sergeant's not about to retrain as a plumber like his mates just yet and replace the pictures of ships they used to build with pictures of a gas boiler. After all he's got his new career as a stand up to concentrate on. The bitterness may seep through the comedy though - aimed largely at his ex-wife Donna and her new lover, the shedless (lost in a mysterious fire...) chemist Arthur. But elsewhere in his life he's exercising – he displays his push ups on stage - and he's writing a Roald Dahl tribute the Big Friendly Shipbuilder. Plus there's his regular diary entries, albeit inspired somewhat by Apocalypse Now.
It's a brilliant portrayal and one that has, quite rightly, garnered him acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe and indeed was one of the comedy previews in this week's Guardian Guide. I don't want to give too much away as much of this work is sheer poetry but a favourite line has to be that his wife Donna was going to pick up her stuff in a van but as most of it was hers 'she stayed in the house and the van took me away instead.' All plaudits are truly well deserved.
The show was in The Lass O'Gowrie's upstairs room, another venue with plenty of festival shows. There are several little spaces tucked away in the old Victorian pub playing host to a variety of shows and events at this year's festival and in the rest of the year too. Tonight there was a monster quiz going on in the main bar (as part of the Science Festival), retro computer games in the parlour plus mind reading and comedy upstairs. In fact I'm back tomorrow for the Lass' competition final.
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The latest show tells where he's at years after losing his job... and that's well... still unemployed. Though not his fault the job centre will insist on sending him to any old job interview as the short film at the top of the show indicates. But he's not defeated, Sergeant's not about to retrain as a plumber like his mates just yet and replace the pictures of ships they used to build with pictures of a gas boiler. After all he's got his new career as a stand up to concentrate on. The bitterness may seep through the comedy though - aimed largely at his ex-wife Donna and her new lover, the shedless (lost in a mysterious fire...) chemist Arthur. But elsewhere in his life he's exercising – he displays his push ups on stage - and he's writing a Roald Dahl tribute the Big Friendly Shipbuilder. Plus there's his regular diary entries, albeit inspired somewhat by Apocalypse Now.
It's a brilliant portrayal and one that has, quite rightly, garnered him acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe and indeed was one of the comedy previews in this week's Guardian Guide. I don't want to give too much away as much of this work is sheer poetry but a favourite line has to be that his wife Donna was going to pick up her stuff in a van but as most of it was hers 'she stayed in the house and the van took me away instead.' All plaudits are truly well deserved.
The show was in The Lass O'Gowrie's upstairs room, another venue with plenty of festival shows. There are several little spaces tucked away in the old Victorian pub playing host to a variety of shows and events at this year's festival and in the rest of the year too. Tonight there was a monster quiz going on in the main bar (as part of the Science Festival), retro computer games in the parlour plus mind reading and comedy upstairs. In fact I'm back tomorrow for the Lass' competition final.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - The Lowry - 24th Oct
The Lowry plays host to many touring shows all year round so it's not surprising that the festival line up is impressive. Indeed tonight occupying the big room at the venue is East ender Cockney done good Micky Flanagan but I'm here to check out someone a little closer to home performing a lovely one man show in the studio space – Toby Hadoke. As you'll already know if you've been reading this blog Hadoke runs XSMalarkey (along with the rest of the team) and has done for many years. He's a comedian and an actor so a few years ago he performed his first solo show (I shared a flat with him and can divulge that he paces in the kitchen when learning his lines.) That show was Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf and revealed his love of the long running sci-fi TV series – not that anyone who has ever engaged him in a Doctor Who conversation would be surprised at his obsession, nor his impressive encyclopedic knowledge of the subject. The show also delved into his difficult childhood years - his father left when he was four - and how Doctor Who gave him something of his own, and how he then bonded with his own son watching the new series.
His second solo show Now I Know My BBC expands on the BBC's influence on Hadoke, in fact it didn't stop at Doctor Who but most of the BBC's output as he discovered it at an early age having spent six months indoors wearing a crash helmet after he fell and cracked his skull. For anyone the same age as Hadoke like me - give or take a year (not telling you which way) - his thirty something evocations of the simpler days of television will strike a chord. When there were only three channels and two of them were BBC ones and when you had to get up to turn the TV over. Hadoke recalls the beautiful elementary qualities of Take Hart with artist Tony Hart and plasticine Morph and his ongoing dispute with Chaz, he shares what Grange Hill taught him about drugs and how Top of the Pops encouraged deferred gratification in kids. Again Hadoke revisits that tricky bullied childhood of the posh pov that lived on a hill called 'hill' in rural Shropshire. And he tells of his long lost friend Catherine. For those that aren't the same age Hadoke handily describes everything in terms of how like Hollyoaks it was. Thankfully, not at all.
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His second solo show Now I Know My BBC expands on the BBC's influence on Hadoke, in fact it didn't stop at Doctor Who but most of the BBC's output as he discovered it at an early age having spent six months indoors wearing a crash helmet after he fell and cracked his skull. For anyone the same age as Hadoke like me - give or take a year (not telling you which way) - his thirty something evocations of the simpler days of television will strike a chord. When there were only three channels and two of them were BBC ones and when you had to get up to turn the TV over. Hadoke recalls the beautiful elementary qualities of Take Hart with artist Tony Hart and plasticine Morph and his ongoing dispute with Chaz, he shares what Grange Hill taught him about drugs and how Top of the Pops encouraged deferred gratification in kids. Again Hadoke revisits that tricky bullied childhood of the posh pov that lived on a hill called 'hill' in rural Shropshire. And he tells of his long lost friend Catherine. For those that aren't the same age Hadoke handily describes everything in terms of how like Hollyoaks it was. Thankfully, not at all.
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Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - Apotheca - 19th Oct
You think you know someone eh? Then it turns out back in their teens they were in a heavy metal band, signed to a major label and supported Motorhead and Ice T. Who da thought it?
Sam Avery has been around on the comedy scene for some time now, but his debut solo show reveals his showbiz secret - he was the bass player in the only slightly known but promising metallers dBh. Gaining notoriety before they'd even finished their A'levels, the youngsters found themselves catapulted into a rock 'n' rock lifestyle, then just as quickly after they were almost bottled off by punks they were dropped by the record label and fleeced by their manager. It's an engaging tale, entertainingly told and that he hopes to take to Edinburgh and possibly on tour but not with Ice T this time.
It's just one of the shows on a busy programme of events at Apotheca. The Northern Quarter bar proved a popular spot last year both for its shows and after-show drinks. This year looks to be no exception.
Scottish legend and the alter ego of Paul Sneddon, Vladimir McTavish was also on the bill the night I popped in and rounded off the evening with his latest solo show A Scotman's Guide to Betting. McTavish opens the show confessing that he's not a betting man, or at least he wasn't until a year ago when he discovered that bookies Paddy Power offer odds on almost anything. It got McTavish wondering if it was possible to win enough money to pay for his Edinburgh show this August. It's a great hook on which to hang some fine stand up on - the sheer diversity of those bets allows for plenty of scope on the material without ever actually straying off topics. A canny and gag filled move.
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Sam Avery has been around on the comedy scene for some time now, but his debut solo show reveals his showbiz secret - he was the bass player in the only slightly known but promising metallers dBh. Gaining notoriety before they'd even finished their A'levels, the youngsters found themselves catapulted into a rock 'n' rock lifestyle, then just as quickly after they were almost bottled off by punks they were dropped by the record label and fleeced by their manager. It's an engaging tale, entertainingly told and that he hopes to take to Edinburgh and possibly on tour but not with Ice T this time.
It's just one of the shows on a busy programme of events at Apotheca. The Northern Quarter bar proved a popular spot last year both for its shows and after-show drinks. This year looks to be no exception.
Scottish legend and the alter ego of Paul Sneddon, Vladimir McTavish was also on the bill the night I popped in and rounded off the evening with his latest solo show A Scotman's Guide to Betting. McTavish opens the show confessing that he's not a betting man, or at least he wasn't until a year ago when he discovered that bookies Paddy Power offer odds on almost anything. It got McTavish wondering if it was possible to win enough money to pay for his Edinburgh show this August. It's a great hook on which to hang some fine stand up on - the sheer diversity of those bets allows for plenty of scope on the material without ever actually straying off topics. A canny and gag filled move.
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Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - Pub Zoo - 23rd Oct
It's been a regular fortnightly event during Uni term time since 2008 but for some reason I'd never got myself down to Slap and Giggle, the comedy night at Club Zoo. Now that I have been, it's a wonder it took me so long. Sid Wick and James Bennison perform as Slap and Giggle and ran the comedy night of the same name at Zoo, though they've technically handed over the reins to the guys running Funbox they're back here for a festival special. And what a special it is. As Bennison explained after the gig they'd been trying to get Clare Lomas and Frimston and Rovett to their gig for some time after meeting them at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's rare that all the acts on the bill are as slick as this lot, particularly in a student run gig where you have to cut them a bit of slack as most are still learning their trade.
First up was musical comedian Lomas. Originally from Wilmslow – Dad was in – she now resides in Holloway, but not the high security bit. Lomas combines banter – she ably does the job of warming the crowd up at the beginning rather than there being a compere - and songs that frequently concerned with what's currently getting her goat. She's an accomplished performer - deft at piano and vocals and wittily gripes about Ellie Goulding's cover versions and the merits of Primark on a budget to music. Plus there's a bit of audience participation with the 'I never...' drinking game set to music.
Slap and Giggle began their set with their Morecambe and Wise meets Vic and Bob double act dynamic then moved on to showcase their skits, mostly new with a couple of old ones in there too. There are many running gags here as the humour from one sketch to the next criss cross each other. It always heightens the humour when a sketch scenario is returned to and here Sid and James' include run through a series of famous 'Kens' getting dumped by their other halves. Their stand alone sketches are equally as well crafted too, the Cluedo one particularly sharply penned.
Rounding off the evening was another two man sketch troupe (well apart from when they draft in a couple of able helpers) Frimston and Rowett. They too employ the running gags/sketches device; avian birthday present disasters was nicely surreal and the unwelcome old school mate Topper proved an effective running gag as you learnt to see it coming. The performances and jokes were polished and barely put a foot wrong, it can't be long before they get a leg up to radio or TV.
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First up was musical comedian Lomas. Originally from Wilmslow – Dad was in – she now resides in Holloway, but not the high security bit. Lomas combines banter – she ably does the job of warming the crowd up at the beginning rather than there being a compere - and songs that frequently concerned with what's currently getting her goat. She's an accomplished performer - deft at piano and vocals and wittily gripes about Ellie Goulding's cover versions and the merits of Primark on a budget to music. Plus there's a bit of audience participation with the 'I never...' drinking game set to music.
Slap and Giggle began their set with their Morecambe and Wise meets Vic and Bob double act dynamic then moved on to showcase their skits, mostly new with a couple of old ones in there too. There are many running gags here as the humour from one sketch to the next criss cross each other. It always heightens the humour when a sketch scenario is returned to and here Sid and James' include run through a series of famous 'Kens' getting dumped by their other halves. Their stand alone sketches are equally as well crafted too, the Cluedo one particularly sharply penned.
Rounding off the evening was another two man sketch troupe (well apart from when they draft in a couple of able helpers) Frimston and Rowett. They too employ the running gags/sketches device; avian birthday present disasters was nicely surreal and the unwelcome old school mate Topper proved an effective running gag as you learnt to see it coming. The performances and jokes were polished and barely put a foot wrong, it can't be long before they get a leg up to radio or TV.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - Kro Bar - 22nd Oct
There's just one show in the upstairs room at Kro Bar on Oxford Road this year, a shame as it makes a nice little venue. Do Not Adjust Your Stage are used to performing in such impromptu pub spaces as the improv troupe did a stint at the Edinburgh Fringe this year performing as part of the Peter Buckley's Free Fringe. So now on tour to the Manchester festival.
Unlike many improv troupes whose format consists of the games of the type seen on Whose Line Is It Anyway? on Channel 4 in the 1990s, DNAYS structure is one that uses TV genres to construct their parodies. Splitting the hour long show into sections that create a soap, a documentary, an American drama and a quiz show all interspersed with short news items. They do however maintain the traditional element of improv - that the topics and story lines for each section are suggested by the audience. Consequently we have a man who likes punching people in a post office as the theme of the soap, a documentary about how cannabis leads to dogging (if you don't know what it is google it, on second thoughts you'd best not...), an American drama about playing the lottery and a quiz show called Kiss My Ass – it's hard to believe that no one has dreamt this up as a quiz master catch phrase before...
Overall it's good fun, the crowd are up for it in fact I suspect some might have been on the lash for most of the day but they're all good natured and forthcoming with suggestions. The troupe look like they're having a laugh too, essential for an enjoyable improv show and they run with the suggestions running about gurning, churning out accents and creating off the wall scenarios where Frank Skinner ends up speaking with the voice of Macy Gray. Of course things occasionally go a bit pear shaped, which is one of the fun bits of improv, you're never quite sure what's going to happen next.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Unlike many improv troupes whose format consists of the games of the type seen on Whose Line Is It Anyway? on Channel 4 in the 1990s, DNAYS structure is one that uses TV genres to construct their parodies. Splitting the hour long show into sections that create a soap, a documentary, an American drama and a quiz show all interspersed with short news items. They do however maintain the traditional element of improv - that the topics and story lines for each section are suggested by the audience. Consequently we have a man who likes punching people in a post office as the theme of the soap, a documentary about how cannabis leads to dogging (if you don't know what it is google it, on second thoughts you'd best not...), an American drama about playing the lottery and a quiz show called Kiss My Ass – it's hard to believe that no one has dreamt this up as a quiz master catch phrase before...
Overall it's good fun, the crowd are up for it in fact I suspect some might have been on the lash for most of the day but they're all good natured and forthcoming with suggestions. The troupe look like they're having a laugh too, essential for an enjoyable improv show and they run with the suggestions running about gurning, churning out accents and creating off the wall scenarios where Frank Skinner ends up speaking with the voice of Macy Gray. Of course things occasionally go a bit pear shaped, which is one of the fun bits of improv, you're never quite sure what's going to happen next.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - The Dancehouse - 21st Oct
Tiernan's one of the big names of the festival yet not a household name – over here at least. As a friend noted as we walked out of the venue, by rights Tiernan should be playing to 10,000 people like Peter Kay across the city. Back in his native Ireland he probably does, but we're glad that he isn't here. The Dancehouse's 300 seat auditorium is cosy, making for a far better and intimate experience. There would be something too corporate about Tiernan playing a larger venue, it would risk the rawness being soothed.
Tiernan is probably one of the most innovative and exciting comedians around, he won the Perrier award back in 1998 and though now over forty, hasn't lost any of his edge. If anything he's got sharper and spikier. The range of subjects in Poot (slang for fart, a nod to the childlike silliness that pervades Tiernan's outlook) is epic, he kicks off with a deconstruction of the bible takes in a couple of other religions, ponders deaths both lengthily drawn out and swiftly sudden, his own diagnosis of borderline personality disorder which leaves him 'not good on his own or with people' and pauses for some domesticity with material on his wife and family.
What pervades in a typical Tiernan set is the sense that he doesn't care what anyone thinks leaving him free to joke about whatever takes his fancy – tonight he spent the opening 20 minutes poking fun at most of the major religions. The couldn't care less attitude isn't dismissive though, instead it seems to exist somewhere between the madman and the child. In fact embracing the lunacy in the world is the main unifying theme of the show. His performance is peppered with pacing, dancing, accents, whispering close to the mic and generally accentuating the glorious madness.
As ever his is an inventively evoked interpretation of the world, a simple child's bubble machine depicts the big bang as overseen by god who is subsequently left morose and alone when all the 'worlds' die when they hit the ground. The man has such a magnificent way with words, the show featuring descriptions such as that of his mental state being like 'watching a film with a tin of Pringles and you've got so many in your mouth you can't hear the film.' Sublime.
Special mention too for Hannah Gadsby a delightful surprise in the support slot. Though not greatly known on the local circuit she's made her mark at the Edinburgh Fringe with a truly dry and sharp wit. From Tasmania originally, she talks candidly about how it is to come out as a lesbian in one of the most narrow minded communities in the western world and all to hilarious effect.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Tiernan is probably one of the most innovative and exciting comedians around, he won the Perrier award back in 1998 and though now over forty, hasn't lost any of his edge. If anything he's got sharper and spikier. The range of subjects in Poot (slang for fart, a nod to the childlike silliness that pervades Tiernan's outlook) is epic, he kicks off with a deconstruction of the bible takes in a couple of other religions, ponders deaths both lengthily drawn out and swiftly sudden, his own diagnosis of borderline personality disorder which leaves him 'not good on his own or with people' and pauses for some domesticity with material on his wife and family.
What pervades in a typical Tiernan set is the sense that he doesn't care what anyone thinks leaving him free to joke about whatever takes his fancy – tonight he spent the opening 20 minutes poking fun at most of the major religions. The couldn't care less attitude isn't dismissive though, instead it seems to exist somewhere between the madman and the child. In fact embracing the lunacy in the world is the main unifying theme of the show. His performance is peppered with pacing, dancing, accents, whispering close to the mic and generally accentuating the glorious madness.
As ever his is an inventively evoked interpretation of the world, a simple child's bubble machine depicts the big bang as overseen by god who is subsequently left morose and alone when all the 'worlds' die when they hit the ground. The man has such a magnificent way with words, the show featuring descriptions such as that of his mental state being like 'watching a film with a tin of Pringles and you've got so many in your mouth you can't hear the film.' Sublime.
Special mention too for Hannah Gadsby a delightful surprise in the support slot. Though not greatly known on the local circuit she's made her mark at the Edinburgh Fringe with a truly dry and sharp wit. From Tasmania originally, she talks candidly about how it is to come out as a lesbian in one of the most narrow minded communities in the western world and all to hilarious effect.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - Soup Kitchen - 20th Oct
Back in the Northern Quarter again tonight for a couple of gigs at Soup Kitchen. Despite it having been open in the NQ for a while I'd never been in so next time will sample the food there I reckon too. But tonight just the comedy.
First up was another show I missed at the Edinburgh Fringe, Brett Goldstein Grew Up In A Strip Club. Despite the slightly salacious sounding title this one man comedic monologue is a sensitively written story of the year he came of age. In 2001 Goldstein's father had a spectacular mid life crisis leaving Goldstein's mother and buying a strip club in Marbella with a friend. At a loose end after University Brett found himself installed as the junior manager and having to 'man up' pretty quickly when things got a touch hairy on the Costa Del Crime. It's a thoroughly engaging hour and Goldstein's background as a trained actor shows in his use of theatrical nuances. The narrative itself is well written with frequent repetition of phrases to emphasise a point. Goldstein effortlessly conjures empathy and evokes the tale so effectively you can picture it – strippers and all.
Also with a beautifully crafted turn of phrase is Nick Sun, watching him is a unique and utterly unpredictable experience. I saw him in Edinburgh last year and he amused and scared me in almost equal measure – as all good comedy should. He won So You Think You're Funny back in 2004 and it's easy to see why. In Golden Showers of Love Sun cuts a misanthropic figure, one who likes nothing more than to disconcert, provoke and his audience rather. He creates an atmosphere where anything could happen - though it will probably involve him asking you to look into his belly button as it can see into the future. At his most conventional he offers helpful tips on how to keep nutters away on the bus and offering himself as a human exhibit at the zoo, elsewhere he rails into the mic, full of self loathing and if the gig's going too well he plonks himself down in the front row to heckle himself. Playing around with notions of race (he's of mixed ethnicity and origin) he eventually declares himself a black woman. Brilliant, rule breaking comedy.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
First up was another show I missed at the Edinburgh Fringe, Brett Goldstein Grew Up In A Strip Club. Despite the slightly salacious sounding title this one man comedic monologue is a sensitively written story of the year he came of age. In 2001 Goldstein's father had a spectacular mid life crisis leaving Goldstein's mother and buying a strip club in Marbella with a friend. At a loose end after University Brett found himself installed as the junior manager and having to 'man up' pretty quickly when things got a touch hairy on the Costa Del Crime. It's a thoroughly engaging hour and Goldstein's background as a trained actor shows in his use of theatrical nuances. The narrative itself is well written with frequent repetition of phrases to emphasise a point. Goldstein effortlessly conjures empathy and evokes the tale so effectively you can picture it – strippers and all.
Also with a beautifully crafted turn of phrase is Nick Sun, watching him is a unique and utterly unpredictable experience. I saw him in Edinburgh last year and he amused and scared me in almost equal measure – as all good comedy should. He won So You Think You're Funny back in 2004 and it's easy to see why. In Golden Showers of Love Sun cuts a misanthropic figure, one who likes nothing more than to disconcert, provoke and his audience rather. He creates an atmosphere where anything could happen - though it will probably involve him asking you to look into his belly button as it can see into the future. At his most conventional he offers helpful tips on how to keep nutters away on the bus and offering himself as a human exhibit at the zoo, elsewhere he rails into the mic, full of self loathing and if the gig's going too well he plonks himself down in the front row to heckle himself. Playing around with notions of race (he's of mixed ethnicity and origin) he eventually declares himself a black woman. Brilliant, rule breaking comedy.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - XSMalarkey - 18th Oct
It's the second day of the festival and a Tuesday so where to call but XSMalarkey? Fallowfield's own comedy gig is legendary and puts on a top night each week regardless of whether it's festival fortnight or not. It's also recently moved into its new venue, the beautiful Platt Chapel on the edge of Platt Fields park. The building remained largely unused for many years until Laughing Cows' Hazel O'Keefe took it over a few months back and as XSMalarkey was looking for a new home in the area, they moved in too. My initial thoughts on entering the building were that it looks like a perfect fit to me.
Though never having been before I still managed to quickly locate comedian's corner at the back of the room – the venue may have changed but visiting comedians as well as the ones on the bill always gravitate to the darkest back corner, which seems like a perfectly reasonable place to me and where I found the likes of Seymour Mace, Phil Ellis, Dave Williams and Jonathan Paylor. All there just for the comedy.
Compere, comedian, actor and all round local legend Toby Hadoke took to the stage to berate the front row of probable students for being so young and optimistic in one of his typical humorously irascible grumbles. Then up first on the bill was open spot and complete newcomer Alex Mettrick with a deadpan delivery and plastic bags of props. It's early days for him but there were some inadvertently funny logistical problems - while trying to read an audience member's mind Mettrick has to ask him 'can you hold my saucepan?'
Next up doing a ten minute spot was the considerably more experienced Simon Fielder, he's performed on the Edinburgh Fringe and at many clubs elsewhere around the country. The experience shows as his is a confident performance featuring enjoyable material that manages to be both self-deprecating and assured. Plus Fielder employs just the right amount of filth.
In the second section was very tall Dutchman Wouter Meijs with a laid back mischief filled set pushing boundaries of insult and prodding a cheeky finger at the crowd to humorous effect.
The headliner was Danny Ward welcoming us into his bargain basement world where he wears cheap shirts with the t-shirts sewn in. He divulges his love of tat and displays his great line of gadgets of the type that you never knew you needed until you've got one, ones invariably fitted with a torch attached. Really, how can you resist one of those? And for just a pound too?
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Though never having been before I still managed to quickly locate comedian's corner at the back of the room – the venue may have changed but visiting comedians as well as the ones on the bill always gravitate to the darkest back corner, which seems like a perfectly reasonable place to me and where I found the likes of Seymour Mace, Phil Ellis, Dave Williams and Jonathan Paylor. All there just for the comedy.
Compere, comedian, actor and all round local legend Toby Hadoke took to the stage to berate the front row of probable students for being so young and optimistic in one of his typical humorously irascible grumbles. Then up first on the bill was open spot and complete newcomer Alex Mettrick with a deadpan delivery and plastic bags of props. It's early days for him but there were some inadvertently funny logistical problems - while trying to read an audience member's mind Mettrick has to ask him 'can you hold my saucepan?'
Next up doing a ten minute spot was the considerably more experienced Simon Fielder, he's performed on the Edinburgh Fringe and at many clubs elsewhere around the country. The experience shows as his is a confident performance featuring enjoyable material that manages to be both self-deprecating and assured. Plus Fielder employs just the right amount of filth.
In the second section was very tall Dutchman Wouter Meijs with a laid back mischief filled set pushing boundaries of insult and prodding a cheeky finger at the crowd to humorous effect.
The headliner was Danny Ward welcoming us into his bargain basement world where he wears cheap shirts with the t-shirts sewn in. He divulges his love of tat and displays his great line of gadgets of the type that you never knew you needed until you've got one, ones invariably fitted with a torch attached. Really, how can you resist one of those? And for just a pound too?
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Marissa's Manchester Comedy Festival Diary - The Comedy Store - 17th Oct
So to kick off the Comedy Festival to the festival HQ, The Comedy Store who happen to be putting on two shows I wanted to see but sadly missed at the Edinburgh Fringe this year - the acclaimed Jason Cook's fifth show The Search for Happiness and the show he directed for his friend and fellow North Easterner Chris Ramsey, Offermation, which was nominated for the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy award.
Cook's latest show looks at what makes us happy. Cook's shows have become well known for being from the heart, concerned with whatever it is that's dominating his life and emotions. The first solo show My Confessions told of his father's stroke, the second - Joy - his father's death, Fear dipped back into his past exploring his many phobias and neurosis and The End (Part 1) told of a close shave with death (that may have just been a panic attack) and his impending fatherhood. Somehow Cook manages to not be sentimentally saccharine whilst still tugging at the heartstrings. Probably because his heartfelt shows are punctuated by his mischievous wit. In The Search For Happiness, now a husband and dad of one, Cook ponders what constitutes happiness and conjures images such as that of his middle aged, widowed mum dressed as a Disney Fairy Godmother told with mock indignation preventing a lovely image becoming too twee.
Cook's hallmark can be seen in Ramsey's show too, Cook having encouraged him to go all out with the emotion on his show too. It's a feel-good affair celebrating 'offermation,' that information that you didn't ask for but people supply you with all the same. It's what makes us human and keeps the wheels of conversation turning. Ramsey's idea stems from round-robin letters he and his family were receiving from his mother's cousin who she hadn't seen in fifty years and Ramsey himself had never met. The three letters are full of irrelevant info about the minutiae of their lives but over time Ramsey finds himself warming to the couple.
It's a top start to the festival and an indication of the great shows to come. Watch this space.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Cook's latest show looks at what makes us happy. Cook's shows have become well known for being from the heart, concerned with whatever it is that's dominating his life and emotions. The first solo show My Confessions told of his father's stroke, the second - Joy - his father's death, Fear dipped back into his past exploring his many phobias and neurosis and The End (Part 1) told of a close shave with death (that may have just been a panic attack) and his impending fatherhood. Somehow Cook manages to not be sentimentally saccharine whilst still tugging at the heartstrings. Probably because his heartfelt shows are punctuated by his mischievous wit. In The Search For Happiness, now a husband and dad of one, Cook ponders what constitutes happiness and conjures images such as that of his middle aged, widowed mum dressed as a Disney Fairy Godmother told with mock indignation preventing a lovely image becoming too twee.
Cook's hallmark can be seen in Ramsey's show too, Cook having encouraged him to go all out with the emotion on his show too. It's a feel-good affair celebrating 'offermation,' that information that you didn't ask for but people supply you with all the same. It's what makes us human and keeps the wheels of conversation turning. Ramsey's idea stems from round-robin letters he and his family were receiving from his mother's cousin who she hadn't seen in fifty years and Ramsey himself had never met. The three letters are full of irrelevant info about the minutiae of their lives but over time Ramsey finds himself warming to the couple.
It's a top start to the festival and an indication of the great shows to come. Watch this space.
Visit marissaburgess.wordpress.com website here
Xfm Manchester - Stephen Merchant show Winner!
Congratulations to Holly – the Stephen Merchant winner this week.
Also, we have an Xfm Manchester Comedy Festival Pubcast now up and running for you. Please feel free to spread the work and get the world listening!
Also, we have an Xfm Manchester Comedy Festival Pubcast now up and running for you. Please feel free to spread the work and get the world listening!
VLADIMIR MCTAVISH: A SCOTSMAN'S GUIDE TO BETTING. 19th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
Vladimir McTavish, Comedian. I’ve appeared at numerous festivals in the UK and abroad and in 2008 I was the only UK act to appear at the Aspen Comedy Festival in Colorado.
What’s your show about?
It’s a sideways look at the culture of gambling, and at the darker side of compulsive behaviour. In the 12 months leading up to this year’s Fringe, despite being a complete gambling novice, I placed a series of outrageous bets every month, in an attempt to finance my Edinburgh run. This is the story of whether I succeeded or not, and also a tale about human stupidity and of everyone’s desire to make a quick buck.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No. I’ve been playing gigs in Manchester since appearing at the old Buzz Club in Chorlton in the mid-1990′s. I always love coming to the city, in spite of a woman in the audience at the Frog & Bucket once assaulting me with her handbag while I was on stage.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Since the 1990′s which is rather a scarily long time to be doing the same job. I reckon I’ve been in the business for nearly twenty years. The same amount of time as you used to get for murder.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Word, English and Language
Anything else you want to add?
Funny is also quite a funny word.
Oh and the show sold out at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and picked up some brilliant reviews.
“For his intelligence and showmanship this is compulsory viewing” The List
“Nothing short of superb” **** The Scotsman
“Masterful” Metro
“Compellingly intelligent… a born raconteur” **** One4Review
Show starts at 9:45PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit VLADIMIR MCTAVISH : A SCOTSMAN'S GUIDE TO BETTING page here
Vladimir McTavish, Comedian. I’ve appeared at numerous festivals in the UK and abroad and in 2008 I was the only UK act to appear at the Aspen Comedy Festival in Colorado.
What’s your show about?
It’s a sideways look at the culture of gambling, and at the darker side of compulsive behaviour. In the 12 months leading up to this year’s Fringe, despite being a complete gambling novice, I placed a series of outrageous bets every month, in an attempt to finance my Edinburgh run. This is the story of whether I succeeded or not, and also a tale about human stupidity and of everyone’s desire to make a quick buck.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No. I’ve been playing gigs in Manchester since appearing at the old Buzz Club in Chorlton in the mid-1990′s. I always love coming to the city, in spite of a woman in the audience at the Frog & Bucket once assaulting me with her handbag while I was on stage.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Since the 1990′s which is rather a scarily long time to be doing the same job. I reckon I’ve been in the business for nearly twenty years. The same amount of time as you used to get for murder.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Word, English and Language
Anything else you want to add?
Funny is also quite a funny word.
Oh and the show sold out at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and picked up some brilliant reviews.
“For his intelligence and showmanship this is compulsory viewing” The List
“Nothing short of superb” **** The Scotsman
“Masterful” Metro
“Compellingly intelligent… a born raconteur” **** One4Review
Show starts at 9:45PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit VLADIMIR MCTAVISH : A SCOTSMAN'S GUIDE TO BETTING page here
WE’RE SORRY but there have been some last minute show time changes at the Lass O’Gowrie
Please double check times of shows you want to see – they are correct on this website.
Visit The Lass O'Gowrie listings page here
Visit The Lass O'Gowrie listings page here
EXTRA STEPHEN MERCHANT SHOW ADDED
A third night has been added to the run! You can now see Stephen on Saturday 29th October.
Visit STEPHEN MERCHANT: HELLO LADIES... page here
Visit STEPHEN MERCHANT: HELLO LADIES... page here
THE HALLOWEEN COMEDY SHOW. 31st October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
I’m Paul Savage. I’m a comedian primarily, but I do hundreds of other things to fill the days and pay the bills. Youth worker, pub quiz setter, radio host, gig promoter, comic book writer, and on and on.
What’s your show about?
It’s the Halloween Comedy Show: It’s basically me and 4 acts (Chris norton Walker, Aaron Twitchen, Masai Graham, Tom Roche) dicking about, just like a comedy club, but on a pagan holiday that’s been appropriated by corporate America and filtered into English culture because it worked out a great way to combine booze and slutty costumes. None of the acts will be wearing slutty costumes, but we will do material about the undead.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No. the first time was a gig called beyond a joke, which was legendarily bad. The week before we played it, the acts had a whip-round for the audience that had endured it. It’s restarted now and is apparently lovely. I’ve played Manchester a bunch of times and really enjoyed it.
How long have you been doing comedy?
4 and a half years. With the possible exception of school and, perhaps, the scouts, it is the longest I’ve ever stuck anything out.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
A lot depends on context, but on their own, I’d go for Plethora, ramshackle and masticate.
Show starts at 8:15PM runs until around 10:45PM (2 intervals).
Tickets are £5 and can be bought by clicking the link below. £3 if you’re in Halloween costume.
Visit THE HALLOWEEN COMEDY SHOW page here
I’m Paul Savage. I’m a comedian primarily, but I do hundreds of other things to fill the days and pay the bills. Youth worker, pub quiz setter, radio host, gig promoter, comic book writer, and on and on.
What’s your show about?
It’s the Halloween Comedy Show: It’s basically me and 4 acts (Chris norton Walker, Aaron Twitchen, Masai Graham, Tom Roche) dicking about, just like a comedy club, but on a pagan holiday that’s been appropriated by corporate America and filtered into English culture because it worked out a great way to combine booze and slutty costumes. None of the acts will be wearing slutty costumes, but we will do material about the undead.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No. the first time was a gig called beyond a joke, which was legendarily bad. The week before we played it, the acts had a whip-round for the audience that had endured it. It’s restarted now and is apparently lovely. I’ve played Manchester a bunch of times and really enjoyed it.
How long have you been doing comedy?
4 and a half years. With the possible exception of school and, perhaps, the scouts, it is the longest I’ve ever stuck anything out.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
A lot depends on context, but on their own, I’d go for Plethora, ramshackle and masticate.
Show starts at 8:15PM runs until around 10:45PM (2 intervals).
Tickets are £5 and can be bought by clicking the link below. £3 if you’re in Halloween costume.
Visit THE HALLOWEEN COMEDY SHOW page here
ERIC MUTCH: MONEY. 31st October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
I am a positive capitalist, anarchist and fool. I changed my name by deed poll to “None Of The Above”, turning myself into a genuine “None Of The Above” box on the general election 2010 ballot paper (I promised to resign immediately if elected). I am researching the possibility of making myself into a charity, so that I can stop paying tax by claiming it all back as gift aid, not because I’m greedy, but because I object to paying for bombs. I have also been punched as a banana.
What’s your show about?
Money. I’m fascinated by the stuff, so my show is just a foolish look at Money. I’ll even prove the link between this so-called national debt and the birth of Jesus.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No, I’m planning on coming up for the Tory party conference as well.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Not as long as Cameron’s nose when he says “we’re all in this together”.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Modern Compassionate Conservatism.
Anything else you want to add?
The show is free entry, but there will be the chance for donations at the end. I use the profit from these donations to fund my campaign for the “Basic Income Guarantee” by placing the money in a chalk circle on the streets of Manchester, stating “a fool and his money are easily parted, but a wise fool gives all of his money away…………help yourself”.
So come and see the show, and become a part of the revolution……………
Quotes about Eric’s shows:
“endearing charm” 3 Weeks
“funny, touching, emotional” Total Theatre
“a very different way to spend an hour” Audience Review
Show starts at 7PM.
This show is free with an optional collection at the end.
Visit ERIC MUTCH: MONEY page here
I am a positive capitalist, anarchist and fool. I changed my name by deed poll to “None Of The Above”, turning myself into a genuine “None Of The Above” box on the general election 2010 ballot paper (I promised to resign immediately if elected). I am researching the possibility of making myself into a charity, so that I can stop paying tax by claiming it all back as gift aid, not because I’m greedy, but because I object to paying for bombs. I have also been punched as a banana.
What’s your show about?
Money. I’m fascinated by the stuff, so my show is just a foolish look at Money. I’ll even prove the link between this so-called national debt and the birth of Jesus.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No, I’m planning on coming up for the Tory party conference as well.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Not as long as Cameron’s nose when he says “we’re all in this together”.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Modern Compassionate Conservatism.
Anything else you want to add?
The show is free entry, but there will be the chance for donations at the end. I use the profit from these donations to fund my campaign for the “Basic Income Guarantee” by placing the money in a chalk circle on the streets of Manchester, stating “a fool and his money are easily parted, but a wise fool gives all of his money away…………help yourself”.
So come and see the show, and become a part of the revolution……………
Quotes about Eric’s shows:
“endearing charm” 3 Weeks
“funny, touching, emotional” Total Theatre
“a very different way to spend an hour” Audience Review
Show starts at 7PM.
This show is free with an optional collection at the end.
Visit ERIC MUTCH: MONEY page here
GARY COLMAN IS... STILL RARELY RONG. 30th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
Gary Colman, stand up comedian. I was recently a finalist in three national comedy competitions. I’m also an award nominated comedy actor my version of Macbeth was described by critics as hilarious.
What’s your show about?
I used to believe all men are born equal, then I had kids. Now whatever I do I seem to be the idiot, certainly in the eyes of my wife, my brood and my dog. This show is a chance for me to stand up and share my true inner wisdom, hence the title, ‘Gary Colman is… Still Rarely Rong’.
There isn’t really a ‘theme’ to the comedy as such, unless you count painful and bitter recrimination’as a ‘theme’.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No. I’ve played two dates in last year’s Manchester Comedy Festival and I had a blast. The audiences were great and I’ve been looking forward to coming back with a new show all year. And this is without a doubt one of the best Comedy Festivals in the North West of England, certainly within the greater Manchester area.
What did you do before comedy?
I Served 14 years in the Army, working as a snowboard instructor and teaching SCUBA diving, not so much a life, more an overly elaborate suicide attempt.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Even though I’d always wanted to do comedy I only ever got around to doing my first gig about 7 years ago. I was still in the army back then – and loving it – I did a 5 minute unpaid spot at a small comedy club in Soho. It went really well… I was getting really big laughs… and I thought, “here we go Gaz, a star is born!” It was also the most terrifying and exhilarating thing I’d ever done. After the gig I had to head straight back to my unit as that night we were deploying out on a jungle warfare exercise in West Africa – I was a medic serving with Special Forces. I spent the next couple of months living in the jungle with spiders, snakes and the SAS but all I could think about was getting back up on stage.
The day I got back to the UK I requested an interview with my Commanding Officer and handed in my resignation. Later that month I did my second ever gig… and died a million deaths. I was so nervous I couldn’t remember my name and as I left the stage to silence I heard the young female emcee say, “ah… bless”. Luckily the other gigs have been a better since.
Anything you want to add?
I’ve got a couple of nice press quotes I’m really proud of.
‘...FEARLESSLY FUNNY... HE’S THE BEST DEADPAN ACT SINCE JACK DEE SO IT’S UNSUPRISING THAT FRANK SKINNER IS A FAN...’ GQ
‘...HIGHLY INVENTIVE AND VERY FUNNY...’ Frank Skinner
‘...A FINE SOLO SHOW FROM AN UTTERLY CHARMING PERFORMER...’ Time Out
Shows start at 7PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit GARY COLMAN IS... STILL RARELY RONG page here
Gary Colman, stand up comedian. I was recently a finalist in three national comedy competitions. I’m also an award nominated comedy actor my version of Macbeth was described by critics as hilarious.
What’s your show about?
I used to believe all men are born equal, then I had kids. Now whatever I do I seem to be the idiot, certainly in the eyes of my wife, my brood and my dog. This show is a chance for me to stand up and share my true inner wisdom, hence the title, ‘Gary Colman is… Still Rarely Rong’.
There isn’t really a ‘theme’ to the comedy as such, unless you count painful and bitter recrimination’as a ‘theme’.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No. I’ve played two dates in last year’s Manchester Comedy Festival and I had a blast. The audiences were great and I’ve been looking forward to coming back with a new show all year. And this is without a doubt one of the best Comedy Festivals in the North West of England, certainly within the greater Manchester area.
What did you do before comedy?
I Served 14 years in the Army, working as a snowboard instructor and teaching SCUBA diving, not so much a life, more an overly elaborate suicide attempt.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Even though I’d always wanted to do comedy I only ever got around to doing my first gig about 7 years ago. I was still in the army back then – and loving it – I did a 5 minute unpaid spot at a small comedy club in Soho. It went really well… I was getting really big laughs… and I thought, “here we go Gaz, a star is born!” It was also the most terrifying and exhilarating thing I’d ever done. After the gig I had to head straight back to my unit as that night we were deploying out on a jungle warfare exercise in West Africa – I was a medic serving with Special Forces. I spent the next couple of months living in the jungle with spiders, snakes and the SAS but all I could think about was getting back up on stage.
The day I got back to the UK I requested an interview with my Commanding Officer and handed in my resignation. Later that month I did my second ever gig… and died a million deaths. I was so nervous I couldn’t remember my name and as I left the stage to silence I heard the young female emcee say, “ah… bless”. Luckily the other gigs have been a better since.
Anything you want to add?
I’ve got a couple of nice press quotes I’m really proud of.
‘...FEARLESSLY FUNNY... HE’S THE BEST DEADPAN ACT SINCE JACK DEE SO IT’S UNSUPRISING THAT FRANK SKINNER IS A FAN...’ GQ
‘...HIGHLY INVENTIVE AND VERY FUNNY...’ Frank Skinner
‘...A FINE SOLO SHOW FROM AN UTTERLY CHARMING PERFORMER...’ Time Out
Shows start at 7PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit GARY COLMAN IS... STILL RARELY RONG page here
ROSIE'S POP DIARY. 25th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
A comedian, writer and former singer songwriter. I released an album in 200 called Precious Hours, which you can download from I-Tunes or listen to on Spotify.
What’s your show about?
My journey from music to comedy and the adventures me and my band had trying to make it back in the 1990s at the height of Britpop.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No, I love playing XS Malarkey, The Frog and Bucket, Laughing Cows and more. I did my previous solo show The Science Of Sex at the Comedy Store last year as part of the science and comedy festivals. I actually live in London now but originally am from the North West and still have family and friends there.
How long have you been doing comedy?
5 years.
Anything else you want to add?
I have some very nice press quotes about the show and handful of 4 star reviews.
"With her self-deprecation and spiteful bitchy asides, Rosie Wilby’s Pop Diary blended delicious volumes of vocals and sparkling stand-up humour." Western Daily Press
"Good music, good comedy and a feelgood show – a winning combination." Oxford Times
"Rosie Wilby is the most genuine comic I’ve seen this year… Rosie’s Pop Diary is a delicate, endearing delight..." Fringe Guru (4 stars)
"an altogether generally lovely experience" Three Weeks (4 stars)
"fabulous songs and entertaining anecdotes" Edinburgh 247 (5 stars)
"A lovely show with a lot of heart" Remote Goat (4 stars)
"Wilby is an accomplished singer, lyricist, comedian and story teller... I loved it" ScotsGay (4 stars)
Show starts at 7PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit ROSIE'S POP DIARY page here
A comedian, writer and former singer songwriter. I released an album in 200 called Precious Hours, which you can download from I-Tunes or listen to on Spotify.
What’s your show about?
My journey from music to comedy and the adventures me and my band had trying to make it back in the 1990s at the height of Britpop.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No, I love playing XS Malarkey, The Frog and Bucket, Laughing Cows and more. I did my previous solo show The Science Of Sex at the Comedy Store last year as part of the science and comedy festivals. I actually live in London now but originally am from the North West and still have family and friends there.
How long have you been doing comedy?
5 years.
Anything else you want to add?
I have some very nice press quotes about the show and handful of 4 star reviews.
"With her self-deprecation and spiteful bitchy asides, Rosie Wilby’s Pop Diary blended delicious volumes of vocals and sparkling stand-up humour." Western Daily Press
"Good music, good comedy and a feelgood show – a winning combination." Oxford Times
"Rosie Wilby is the most genuine comic I’ve seen this year… Rosie’s Pop Diary is a delicate, endearing delight..." Fringe Guru (4 stars)
"an altogether generally lovely experience" Three Weeks (4 stars)
"fabulous songs and entertaining anecdotes" Edinburgh 247 (5 stars)
"A lovely show with a lot of heart" Remote Goat (4 stars)
"Wilby is an accomplished singer, lyricist, comedian and story teller... I loved it" ScotsGay (4 stars)
Show starts at 7PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit ROSIE'S POP DIARY page here
STAND-UP JEWISH COMEDY. 30th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
Ivor Dembina. I’m a stand-up comedian who uses Jewish humour to tackle tricky subjects. Over the years I’ve written and performed four shows on Jewish themes which have taken me all over the UK including a special gig at the House of Commons as well as going overseas to the United States, Australia, Germany, Israel and on the West Bank.
What’s your show about?
Jewish pain made funny. Not just subjects that pre-occupy modern Jews like the Middle East and anti-Semitism but personal stuff as seen through Jewish eyes.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
Over the years I’ve played all the universities as well Clubs like The Buzz and XS Malarkey. This is my first performance of a solo show.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Hard to say, but its said they found a review of my show in the Dead Sea scrolls.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Israel wants peace.
Quotes about Ivor
‘Four Stars’ The Guardian
‘Brilliantly funny’ (Time Out)
‘Ignore him’ (Chief Rabbi)
Shows start at 5PM & 8:15PM.
Tickets are £7.
Visit STAND-UP JEWISH COMEDY page here
Ivor Dembina. I’m a stand-up comedian who uses Jewish humour to tackle tricky subjects. Over the years I’ve written and performed four shows on Jewish themes which have taken me all over the UK including a special gig at the House of Commons as well as going overseas to the United States, Australia, Germany, Israel and on the West Bank.
What’s your show about?
Jewish pain made funny. Not just subjects that pre-occupy modern Jews like the Middle East and anti-Semitism but personal stuff as seen through Jewish eyes.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
Over the years I’ve played all the universities as well Clubs like The Buzz and XS Malarkey. This is my first performance of a solo show.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Hard to say, but its said they found a review of my show in the Dead Sea scrolls.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Israel wants peace.
Quotes about Ivor
‘Four Stars’ The Guardian
‘Brilliantly funny’ (Time Out)
‘Ignore him’ (Chief Rabbi)
Shows start at 5PM & 8:15PM.
Tickets are £7.
Visit STAND-UP JEWISH COMEDY page here
FESTIVAL BROCHURE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
PHIL BUCKLEY'S STUPID WORLD TOUR. 24th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
Hello, my name is Phil Buckley and I’m a comic from Bury, I’ve gigged around the world with this show in Edinburgh, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. I’ve also toured three separate solo shows, one of which was nominated for best comedy show at the Buxton Festival Fringe. I’ve been a finalist in ‘City Life Comedian Of The Year’ & The Frog & Bucket’s ‘Beat The Frog World Series’ and was a support act for American comic Pablo Francisco.
What’s your show about?
Stupidity, mainly my own but there are tales of other people who have amazed me with their crazy behaviour.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No, I’m from Manchester so have performed all over town and do so on a fairly regular basis. I haven’t performed during the festival since 2008, when I was in the final for City Life Comedian Of The Year at the Comedy Store.
How long have you been doing comedy?
I’ve been a regular on the comedy scene since 2003, but I did my very first gig in 2001 when I was a student at Salford University. I was doing their famous stand-up module which previously had given the world Peter Kay and Steve Edge.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Moustache, Baboon, Boobs.
Anything else you want to add?
I toured this show originally in 2009 with dates up and down the country including a sell out show at The Lowry and I really can’t wait to perform it again in Manchester. I also have some nice press quotes.
***** "Elevating the silly and ridiculous to brilliant comic art" - The Skinny
**** "Downright hilarious. Interspersed with some savvy observations" - Three Weeks
**** "A warm-hearted feel good show" - Manchester Evening News
**** "A rock solid performance" - Citylife
"Top-class" - Time Out (Sydney)
"The best example of comedy timing I have seen this year" - The Scotsman
"All Round Funny Man" - The List
Show starts at 8:15PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit PHIL BUCKLEY'S STUPID WORLD TOUR page here
Hello, my name is Phil Buckley and I’m a comic from Bury, I’ve gigged around the world with this show in Edinburgh, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. I’ve also toured three separate solo shows, one of which was nominated for best comedy show at the Buxton Festival Fringe. I’ve been a finalist in ‘City Life Comedian Of The Year’ & The Frog & Bucket’s ‘Beat The Frog World Series’ and was a support act for American comic Pablo Francisco.
What’s your show about?
Stupidity, mainly my own but there are tales of other people who have amazed me with their crazy behaviour.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No, I’m from Manchester so have performed all over town and do so on a fairly regular basis. I haven’t performed during the festival since 2008, when I was in the final for City Life Comedian Of The Year at the Comedy Store.
How long have you been doing comedy?
I’ve been a regular on the comedy scene since 2003, but I did my very first gig in 2001 when I was a student at Salford University. I was doing their famous stand-up module which previously had given the world Peter Kay and Steve Edge.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Moustache, Baboon, Boobs.
Anything else you want to add?
I toured this show originally in 2009 with dates up and down the country including a sell out show at The Lowry and I really can’t wait to perform it again in Manchester. I also have some nice press quotes.
***** "Elevating the silly and ridiculous to brilliant comic art" - The Skinny
**** "Downright hilarious. Interspersed with some savvy observations" - Three Weeks
**** "A warm-hearted feel good show" - Manchester Evening News
**** "A rock solid performance" - Citylife
"Top-class" - Time Out (Sydney)
"The best example of comedy timing I have seen this year" - The Scotsman
"All Round Funny Man" - The List
Show starts at 8:15PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit PHIL BUCKLEY'S STUPID WORLD TOUR page here
SAM AVERY - ROCK'N'DOLE. 19th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
My name is Sam Avery. I’m a 33-year-old toddler from Liverpool. This is my début solo show which I plan to take to the Edinburgh Fringe next summer.
What’s your show about?
My show is about my short forage into the music industry as a feckless 17-year-old with delusions of grandeur. We were really lucky to get a record deal when we were still in school, so the show looks at our supposed journey to stardom as naïve teenagers who didn’t have a clue. Did we get there? That would be telling, but the fact my tickets are a mere £5 in a 40 seater venue and not £45 in a ten thousand seater might give you a clue! Anyone who’s ever been in a band or is a music fan will hopefully enjoy this show.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
First time in the Festival proper – I did the City Life Comedian of the Year final in 2005 but I didn’t win so it’s hardly worth mentioning. I’ve gigged in Manchester on a regular basis since I started comedy.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Properly since 05, but only really taken it seriously since 07.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Blamanche. Glockenspiel. Boff.
Anything else you want to add?
If anyone has every followed their dream and failed, you will enjoy my show. I also like the press quote below.
"One of Liverpool’s best-loved comics" - Liverpool Echo
Show starts at 8:15PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit SAM AVERY - ROCK'N'DOLE page here
My name is Sam Avery. I’m a 33-year-old toddler from Liverpool. This is my début solo show which I plan to take to the Edinburgh Fringe next summer.
What’s your show about?
My show is about my short forage into the music industry as a feckless 17-year-old with delusions of grandeur. We were really lucky to get a record deal when we were still in school, so the show looks at our supposed journey to stardom as naïve teenagers who didn’t have a clue. Did we get there? That would be telling, but the fact my tickets are a mere £5 in a 40 seater venue and not £45 in a ten thousand seater might give you a clue! Anyone who’s ever been in a band or is a music fan will hopefully enjoy this show.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
First time in the Festival proper – I did the City Life Comedian of the Year final in 2005 but I didn’t win so it’s hardly worth mentioning. I’ve gigged in Manchester on a regular basis since I started comedy.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Properly since 05, but only really taken it seriously since 07.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Blamanche. Glockenspiel. Boff.
Anything else you want to add?
If anyone has every followed their dream and failed, you will enjoy my show. I also like the press quote below.
"One of Liverpool’s best-loved comics" - Liverpool Echo
Show starts at 8:15PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit SAM AVERY - ROCK'N'DOLE page here
CLASS - STAND-UP AND MUSICAL COMEDY WITH SARAH MAY PHILO. 19th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
Sarah May Philo, a short, blonde comedienne of 28 years of age. I began doing a few nights of stand-up a week in London while trying to be a proper actress. I failed and found gin and tonic worked better for me. I took comedy a lot more seriously in 2010 doing my first solo show in the Edinburgh Fringe.
What’s your show about?
It’s about me, to be honest. A lot of my background together with music and a bit of audience banter.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
In a solo show, yes. I’ve gigged there and I loved the audiences! Northern comedy audiences are outstanding – always up for a good night!
How long have you been doing comedy?
I did my first gig in New York in 2005. That sounds a lot better than it actually was. I was inebriated at the time and trying to do an impression of a Scottish duck.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Balderdash. Bodger - it’s a real word not just some strange pal of a puppet badger, and Cockshut - because it makes me giggle.
Show starts at 7PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit CLASS - STAND-UP AND MUSICAL COMEDY WITH SARAH MAY PHILO page here
Sarah May Philo, a short, blonde comedienne of 28 years of age. I began doing a few nights of stand-up a week in London while trying to be a proper actress. I failed and found gin and tonic worked better for me. I took comedy a lot more seriously in 2010 doing my first solo show in the Edinburgh Fringe.
What’s your show about?
It’s about me, to be honest. A lot of my background together with music and a bit of audience banter.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
In a solo show, yes. I’ve gigged there and I loved the audiences! Northern comedy audiences are outstanding – always up for a good night!
How long have you been doing comedy?
I did my first gig in New York in 2005. That sounds a lot better than it actually was. I was inebriated at the time and trying to do an impression of a Scottish duck.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Balderdash. Bodger - it’s a real word not just some strange pal of a puppet badger, and Cockshut - because it makes me giggle.
Show starts at 7PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit CLASS - STAND-UP AND MUSICAL COMEDY WITH SARAH MAY PHILO page here
LORCAN MCGRATH IS A SMART WRESTLING FAN. 18th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
I’m a writer. I’m a comic. I’m a Brummie.
I’m a lover. I’m a fighter. I’m a bad poetry writer.
Most important, I’m a Smart Wrestling Fan.
What’s your show about?
My life spending too much time watching this bizarre pseudo-sport/soap opera called wrestling.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
Yes it is. I’ve been here several times before and it’s lovely. Pisses over Liverpool. Except when Liverpool has a comedy festival, of course.
How long have you been doing comedy?
In some form or another since I made my mom laugh by tipping my plate of food on to my head. So three years ago. If we’re talking competently? About two years.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Emile Heskey shoots...
Anything else you want to add?
Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Brendon Burns was asked about my show and said it was ‘Everything you want from a Fringe show. McGrath speaks passionately about a topic he is both proud and ashamed of at the same time. The hour flew by. I loved it!‘
Show starts at 8:15PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit LORCAN MCGRATH IS A SMART WRESTLING FAN page here
I’m a writer. I’m a comic. I’m a Brummie.
I’m a lover. I’m a fighter. I’m a bad poetry writer.
Most important, I’m a Smart Wrestling Fan.
What’s your show about?
My life spending too much time watching this bizarre pseudo-sport/soap opera called wrestling.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
Yes it is. I’ve been here several times before and it’s lovely. Pisses over Liverpool. Except when Liverpool has a comedy festival, of course.
How long have you been doing comedy?
In some form or another since I made my mom laugh by tipping my plate of food on to my head. So three years ago. If we’re talking competently? About two years.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Emile Heskey shoots...
Anything else you want to add?
Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Brendon Burns was asked about my show and said it was ‘Everything you want from a Fringe show. McGrath speaks passionately about a topic he is both proud and ashamed of at the same time. The hour flew by. I loved it!‘
Show starts at 8:15PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit LORCAN MCGRATH IS A SMART WRESTLING FAN page here
RESHAPE WHILE DAMP (part 2). 18th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
I am Jenny Stokes, an actress who loves writing and performing comedy roles, hence Dolly Grip.
What’s your show about?
It’s about Dolly, a woman who is trying to find her way after losing first her mother and then her therapist! It’s a comedy monologue drawn from Dolly’s life. She’s like your Gran with attitude! She likes knitting, budgies, libraries and Birmingham. Well somebody’s got to!
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
Not quite. I did the Vagina Monologues at a Monologueslam event earlier this year. I loved it. The crowd were brilliant. I’m hoping the same lovely people will be up for more.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Since I was a child. I was the youngest of 3 sisters. It was the only way to survive their sadism and be allowed to hang out with them!
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
The Coalition Government?
Anything else you want to add?
Always always wine. Always add plenty. To any dish. Except porridge. To porridge add whisky.
And to add a little extra plug for the show... ‘Reshape while Damp’ features two funny women.
So you get two for the price of one. Naomi Paul and Jenny Stokes!
Show starts at 9:45PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit RESHAPE WHILE DAMP page here
I am Jenny Stokes, an actress who loves writing and performing comedy roles, hence Dolly Grip.
What’s your show about?
It’s about Dolly, a woman who is trying to find her way after losing first her mother and then her therapist! It’s a comedy monologue drawn from Dolly’s life. She’s like your Gran with attitude! She likes knitting, budgies, libraries and Birmingham. Well somebody’s got to!
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
Not quite. I did the Vagina Monologues at a Monologueslam event earlier this year. I loved it. The crowd were brilliant. I’m hoping the same lovely people will be up for more.
How long have you been doing comedy?
Since I was a child. I was the youngest of 3 sisters. It was the only way to survive their sadism and be allowed to hang out with them!
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
The Coalition Government?
Anything else you want to add?
Always always wine. Always add plenty. To any dish. Except porridge. To porridge add whisky.
And to add a little extra plug for the show... ‘Reshape while Damp’ features two funny women.
So you get two for the price of one. Naomi Paul and Jenny Stokes!
Show starts at 9:45PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit RESHAPE WHILE DAMP page here
RESHAPE WHILE DAMP (part 1). 18th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
I am Naomi Paul, a comedian and poet who performs my own material the length and breadth of Britain ranging from 3 minutes in Milton Keynes, to 9 nights at the Edinburgh Fringe.
What’s your show about?
It’s about being Jewish and other stories, including dogs, dating and accidental emergencies. Oh and the perils of chopping vegetables.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
I’ve performed at the Manchester Monologue Slam and at Laughing Cows at the Frog and Bucket. So this is the third time performing in Manchester; I’m really looking forward to it. And it’s where my mum’s family is from. So that’s a guaranteed audience of 4 at least!
How long have you been doing comedy?
About 3 years. I didn’t know I was doing comedy until someone pointed it out. After that I decided to take it seriously.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Schmooze, schmuck and schlep. Well… they are English now.
Anything else you want to add?
A bit of a plug perhaps?
Here are some quotes from the reviewers:
‘A lovely show that's very different.’ (Love fringe audience review Sept 2011)
‘The comic timing here is sublime.’ (fringereview.co.uk 2011)
‘Hilariously quirky, unique viewpoint, beautifully delivered.’ (Janice Connolly/Mrs Barbara Nice)
‘A hilariously scatty, warm hearted character who will have you in stitches.' (Funbags review)
Show starts at 9:45PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit RESHAPE WHILE DAMP page here
I am Naomi Paul, a comedian and poet who performs my own material the length and breadth of Britain ranging from 3 minutes in Milton Keynes, to 9 nights at the Edinburgh Fringe.
What’s your show about?
It’s about being Jewish and other stories, including dogs, dating and accidental emergencies. Oh and the perils of chopping vegetables.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
I’ve performed at the Manchester Monologue Slam and at Laughing Cows at the Frog and Bucket. So this is the third time performing in Manchester; I’m really looking forward to it. And it’s where my mum’s family is from. So that’s a guaranteed audience of 4 at least!
How long have you been doing comedy?
About 3 years. I didn’t know I was doing comedy until someone pointed it out. After that I decided to take it seriously.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Schmooze, schmuck and schlep. Well… they are English now.
Anything else you want to add?
A bit of a plug perhaps?
Here are some quotes from the reviewers:
‘A lovely show that's very different.’ (Love fringe audience review Sept 2011)
‘The comic timing here is sublime.’ (fringereview.co.uk 2011)
‘Hilariously quirky, unique viewpoint, beautifully delivered.’ (Janice Connolly/Mrs Barbara Nice)
‘A hilariously scatty, warm hearted character who will have you in stitches.' (Funbags review)
Show starts at 9:45PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit RESHAPE WHILE DAMP page here
RADIO NOW IN TECHNICOLOUR. 17th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
Liam White and Shaun Lowthian. There’s an uninspired name for a crime fighting duo.
We’re two Manchester-based comics looking for something to keep us off the streets for an hour.
What’s your show about?
Shaun: It’s a stand-up and sketch show, and a comedy play. To be honest it’s a bit of everything.
Liam: Loosely we’ll be looking at some of the quirkier elements of the radio as an entertainment form. Don’t worry; it’s better than it sounds! We always wanted to write something together, and used the idea of a radio show as a platform for writing. I know I haven’t put my real name in the writing credits. That’s not cause I don’t think it’s good enough, it’s just that I’m still under the Witness Protection Programme. If it said ‘by Shaun Lowthian and Matt Black’, well, we might have a few unsavoury types in the audience. Actually, you might want to cut that last bit out.
S: There are lots of political and cynical comedy out there at the moment. And while that has definitely got a place, we wanted this show to be as fun as possible…for the audience at least – we’ll be bricking it! We probably shouldn’t say that actually….let’s go for something more positive: it’s definitely going to be special and it will change your life immeasurably.
L: ...for the better?
S: Yes, but we will still be bricking it.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
S: Well we’re both born-and-bred Boddingtons-and-whippets Mancunians, so this is really a hometown gig. Manchester saw the world premiere of this show back in the brilliant Not Part Of Festival in June.
L: World premiere might be overselling it a bit...
S: Yea, you’re right. I’ll fix that: Manchester saw the Manchester premiere of this show back in the brilliant Not Part Of Festival in June.
L: That’s better. Seriously though, Manchester is great city for comedy so it’s always exciting to be a part of that.
How long have you been doing comedy?
S: About 4 years in total. We met for the first time performing improvised comedy at Uni in Sheffield. Since then, and in between a couple of improvised Edinburgh shows, we’ve been keeping busy writing this show and vainly pursuing radio slots, which is where that thread to the show comes from.
L: If anyone has a spare station they could let us loose on, let us know.
S: Shameless. But seriously, if anyone does have a spare radio station...
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
S: I’ve always had a soft spot for bombastic.
L: There’s no need to be so "(adjective – of speech writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; inflated or pretentious"
S: Put the dictionary away. If we were being really clever we could just answer with the title of our show
L: Except that’s 4 words
S: Is this like wishes, where the first thing you do is wish for more wishes? So we could just wish for more words?
L: No.
Anything else you want to add?
S: Just some bare-faced bribery, we’ll be giving away some heinous bad prizes with have been ethically and locally sourced.
L: …from local charity shops. If that’s not a reason to come I don’t know what is.
S: And “Large Manchester” gave us a 5 star review for the show when they saw it.
L: We also won the Forever Manchester Award (Not Part Of Festival, 2011)
Show starts at 8:15PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit RADIO NOW IN TECHNICOLOUR page here
Liam White and Shaun Lowthian. There’s an uninspired name for a crime fighting duo.
We’re two Manchester-based comics looking for something to keep us off the streets for an hour.
What’s your show about?
Shaun: It’s a stand-up and sketch show, and a comedy play. To be honest it’s a bit of everything.
Liam: Loosely we’ll be looking at some of the quirkier elements of the radio as an entertainment form. Don’t worry; it’s better than it sounds! We always wanted to write something together, and used the idea of a radio show as a platform for writing. I know I haven’t put my real name in the writing credits. That’s not cause I don’t think it’s good enough, it’s just that I’m still under the Witness Protection Programme. If it said ‘by Shaun Lowthian and Matt Black’, well, we might have a few unsavoury types in the audience. Actually, you might want to cut that last bit out.
S: There are lots of political and cynical comedy out there at the moment. And while that has definitely got a place, we wanted this show to be as fun as possible…for the audience at least – we’ll be bricking it! We probably shouldn’t say that actually….let’s go for something more positive: it’s definitely going to be special and it will change your life immeasurably.
L: ...for the better?
S: Yes, but we will still be bricking it.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
S: Well we’re both born-and-bred Boddingtons-and-whippets Mancunians, so this is really a hometown gig. Manchester saw the world premiere of this show back in the brilliant Not Part Of Festival in June.
L: World premiere might be overselling it a bit...
S: Yea, you’re right. I’ll fix that: Manchester saw the Manchester premiere of this show back in the brilliant Not Part Of Festival in June.
L: That’s better. Seriously though, Manchester is great city for comedy so it’s always exciting to be a part of that.
How long have you been doing comedy?
S: About 4 years in total. We met for the first time performing improvised comedy at Uni in Sheffield. Since then, and in between a couple of improvised Edinburgh shows, we’ve been keeping busy writing this show and vainly pursuing radio slots, which is where that thread to the show comes from.
L: If anyone has a spare station they could let us loose on, let us know.
S: Shameless. But seriously, if anyone does have a spare radio station...
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
S: I’ve always had a soft spot for bombastic.
L: There’s no need to be so "(adjective – of speech writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; inflated or pretentious"
S: Put the dictionary away. If we were being really clever we could just answer with the title of our show
L: Except that’s 4 words
S: Is this like wishes, where the first thing you do is wish for more wishes? So we could just wish for more words?
L: No.
Anything else you want to add?
S: Just some bare-faced bribery, we’ll be giving away some heinous bad prizes with have been ethically and locally sourced.
L: …from local charity shops. If that’s not a reason to come I don’t know what is.
S: And “Large Manchester” gave us a 5 star review for the show when they saw it.
L: We also won the Forever Manchester Award (Not Part Of Festival, 2011)
Show starts at 8:15PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit RADIO NOW IN TECHNICOLOUR page here
THE FALL BY NUMBERS. 24th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
Who am I? Who are you, more like? Send your answers on the back of a postcard to me at my Facebook page. I’m funny lady Susan Vale. I’ve been performing stand up for eight score and several years and still look nowhere near my real age of 63 years old. My usual stand up act consists of jokes, some of which are so near the knuckle they’re coming out of my palms. As well as performing stand up and compering I’ve also written for Radio 4, was in Bastard Funny (Manchester based live sketch show), I’ve performed as part of Robin Ince’s bookclub both around the UK and at Latitude Festival. I was Phil Ellis’s indispensable assistant for his quiz show. I’ve also performed several characters for Peter Slater’s W.A.R.T show as well as playing a character in ‘Mark’s on the Blog’ (Hat trick) and other comedy things.
What’s your show about?
They say write about what you know……well I don’t really know anything so I went for the next best thing and have written about what I like – The Fall. The show is about favourite things and how they link up events in one’s life. We all have a favourite thing that we would take to a desert island; mine happens to be the complete works of The Fall…….and a huge tub of moisturiser – I get very dry skin. Alongside my lovely self the show features: The Fall bingo, prizes, music and dancing.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No – I’ve played Manchester many times in the past. I did this show as part of last year’s festival and am bringing it back due to popular demand.
How long have you been doing comedy?
See question 1.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Most words are funny if said right. Three of my favourites are:
Munter
Cloaca
Twat
Anything else you want to add?
No knowledge of The Fall necessary to enjoy the show.
I don’t have as many cats as my publicity picture would have you believe.
Show starts at 7PM and is approximately 50 minutes long.
Tickets are £5
Visit THE FALL BY NUMBERS page here
Who am I? Who are you, more like? Send your answers on the back of a postcard to me at my Facebook page. I’m funny lady Susan Vale. I’ve been performing stand up for eight score and several years and still look nowhere near my real age of 63 years old. My usual stand up act consists of jokes, some of which are so near the knuckle they’re coming out of my palms. As well as performing stand up and compering I’ve also written for Radio 4, was in Bastard Funny (Manchester based live sketch show), I’ve performed as part of Robin Ince’s bookclub both around the UK and at Latitude Festival. I was Phil Ellis’s indispensable assistant for his quiz show. I’ve also performed several characters for Peter Slater’s W.A.R.T show as well as playing a character in ‘Mark’s on the Blog’ (Hat trick) and other comedy things.
What’s your show about?
They say write about what you know……well I don’t really know anything so I went for the next best thing and have written about what I like – The Fall. The show is about favourite things and how they link up events in one’s life. We all have a favourite thing that we would take to a desert island; mine happens to be the complete works of The Fall…….and a huge tub of moisturiser – I get very dry skin. Alongside my lovely self the show features: The Fall bingo, prizes, music and dancing.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No – I’ve played Manchester many times in the past. I did this show as part of last year’s festival and am bringing it back due to popular demand.
How long have you been doing comedy?
See question 1.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Most words are funny if said right. Three of my favourites are:
Munter
Cloaca
Twat
Anything else you want to add?
No knowledge of The Fall necessary to enjoy the show.
I don’t have as many cats as my publicity picture would have you believe.
Show starts at 7PM and is approximately 50 minutes long.
Tickets are £5
Visit THE FALL BY NUMBERS page here
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINGS. 25th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
I am Ashley Frieze, a cheerful funnyman with a big voice and a bigger body.
What’s your show about?
I’m going to try to prove to you that there are only seven songs in the whole of the world, illustrating them as I go. If I’m right, you get all of the songs in the world in under an hour. Bargain! If I’m wrong, you’ll laugh at me. Comedian! It’s a win win situation.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
I did this show last year, and I’ve been gigging in Manchester with my usual stand-up act since I started as a comedian.
How long have you been doing comedy?
It’s been nearly 9 years and over a thousand gigs. I can’t claim that my involvement in comedy is anything close to accidental.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Hinge. Sponge. Flange. – all the nges really, but not Orange.
Anything else you want to add?
If you’re interested in music, or think you know a song which is unlike any other and want to throw it at me in the “let’s prove or disprove the theory” bit, then come along. It’s an enjoyable hour and I promise not to dance.
Show starts at 8:15PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit THE SEVEN DEADLY SINGS page here
I am Ashley Frieze, a cheerful funnyman with a big voice and a bigger body.
What’s your show about?
I’m going to try to prove to you that there are only seven songs in the whole of the world, illustrating them as I go. If I’m right, you get all of the songs in the world in under an hour. Bargain! If I’m wrong, you’ll laugh at me. Comedian! It’s a win win situation.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
I did this show last year, and I’ve been gigging in Manchester with my usual stand-up act since I started as a comedian.
How long have you been doing comedy?
It’s been nearly 9 years and over a thousand gigs. I can’t claim that my involvement in comedy is anything close to accidental.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
Hinge. Sponge. Flange. – all the nges really, but not Orange.
Anything else you want to add?
If you’re interested in music, or think you know a song which is unlike any other and want to throw it at me in the “let’s prove or disprove the theory” bit, then come along. It’s an enjoyable hour and I promise not to dance.
Show starts at 8:15PM and is approximately 1 hour long.
Tickets are £5.
Visit THE SEVEN DEADLY SINGS page here
LATE RUSH OF NEW SHOWS ADDED
See the listings for details, but we've added the line ups from The Lowry, Soup Kitchen, plus Flecky Bennett's 'Ratacombs walks around The Great Northern Warehouse. Scary stuff.
This is now our biggest ever Manchester Comedy Festival, so far we have 240 shows across 28 venues featuring more than 166 comedians or acts. Enjoy!
This is now our biggest ever Manchester Comedy Festival, so far we have 240 shows across 28 venues featuring more than 166 comedians or acts. Enjoy!
CARL HUTCHINSON: TAKING HIS TIME. 24th October. Apotheca.
Who are you?
Carl Hutchinson a multi-award winning comedian I’m going to be performing my first ever solo show called “Taking his Time” at the Manchester Comedy Festival.
What’s your show about?
It’s an hour of stand-up, no theme, just me doing stand-up.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No, despite what conclusions you might draw from my accent I actually live in Manchester.
How long have you been doing comedy?
4 Years.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
I am not qualified enough to make comments on the English Language or tell you what words are funny. That’s up to you, whatever you think are the funniest words are the funniest words. Very annoying question. I get annoyed about stuff and that’ll come up in the show. My girlfriend however had no problem with the question and picking “Discombobulated”, “Moist” & “Booby”.
Anything else you want to add?
You’ll be pleased to know this show (although not themed) has nothing to do with my perception of how hilarious words are. I will however be using words during the course of the show in a hilarious manner.
Show starts at 9:45PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit CARL HUTCHINSON: TAKING HIS TIME page here
Carl Hutchinson a multi-award winning comedian I’m going to be performing my first ever solo show called “Taking his Time” at the Manchester Comedy Festival.
What’s your show about?
It’s an hour of stand-up, no theme, just me doing stand-up.
Is this the first time you’ve played in Manchester?
No, despite what conclusions you might draw from my accent I actually live in Manchester.
How long have you been doing comedy?
4 Years.
What are the 3 funniest words in the English language?
I am not qualified enough to make comments on the English Language or tell you what words are funny. That’s up to you, whatever you think are the funniest words are the funniest words. Very annoying question. I get annoyed about stuff and that’ll come up in the show. My girlfriend however had no problem with the question and picking “Discombobulated”, “Moist” & “Booby”.
Anything else you want to add?
You’ll be pleased to know this show (although not themed) has nothing to do with my perception of how hilarious words are. I will however be using words during the course of the show in a hilarious manner.
Show starts at 9:45PM.
Tickets are £5.
Visit CARL HUTCHINSON: TAKING HIS TIME page here
