Following on from the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival, the Greater Manchester Comedy Festival kicked off on Sunday and runs til 10 November.
Given the laughs encountered in the Fringe, I’ve trawled the Festival for events that have tickled my fancy to bring you a list of recommendations for the remainder of the festival. Now to rearrange my diary to fit some in!
Tuesday 3 November:
A Fete Worse Than Death
Welcome to the village fête in Llanfairchwaraesboncen, in the South Wales Valleys. Your host is, 76 year old village busybody Iris Evans who promises competitions, slide shows and audience participation. The Fete’s guest speaker, Esme de Flange, TV gardener promises advice on sowing seed, trimming your shrubbery and producing a prize marrow. And don’t forge the grand finale? THE RAFFLE!
A one woman show performed by Karen Sherrard.
Kings Arms: Theatre
Unexpected Items in Badinage Areas
Richard was a UK Pun Championship finalist in 2014 and 2015 at the Leicester Comedy Festival. Following a successful run at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Richard now performs his show, full of gags, puns, one liners and wordplay, in Manchester.
Wednesday 4 November:
Chuggers
In a new play by Ben Baxter’s, Chuggers, uses his real life fundraising experiences to tell the story of two best friends, Mark and Jelly, and their desperate attempts to fulfil their inner ambitions.
With street fundraising bringing in more than £120 million for charities across the UK each year, it’s clearly a lucrative business – but not necessarily for these lads, who want to drop the clipboards for a chance to chase their dreams.
3MT
Thursday 5 November:
The Idiot’s Guide to Kink
Back from the Greater Manchester Fringe, Ros Ballinger is back to tell you all about spicing up your love life. If you’re not sure what ‘S&M’ stands for, or Fifty Shades of Grey made you angry and confused, then she’ll guide you through the fabulous world of beginner’s BDSM. Spanking etiquette, dirty talk pitfalls, doms to avoid – no subject is off limits. Except PVC. She’s not into that.
Gullivers
John Pendal – International Man of Leather
The true story of a shy Baptist boy from Watford who became an unlikely international sex ambassador, when he won the 25th annual ‘International Mr Leather’ contest in Chicago in May 2003. He set out to tour the world representing every kink and fetish – regardless of whether he liked them or not.
Taurus Bar
Friday 6 November
Flick and Julie Pop Up Penny Pinchers
In a show created and performed by Beth Granville (Stella, Gavin & Stacey) and Gemma Layton (Funny Women & Laughing Horse semi-finalist, So You Think That’s Funny finalist), meet Flick and Julie. Post prison, with CVs covering tax fraud and stalking a high profile TV personality, they’re determined to get lives back on track. Popping up everywhere from Margate to Manchester, they share experiences and advice through comedy sketches and songs; teaching you to survive in the modern age on 1970’s wages.
Kings Arms: Studio 1
Stuart Laws: Who said anything about stopping it?
Stand up comedy from the man who makes all the comedy with Turtle Canyon Comedy and supported James Acaster on tour, he was also a young ornithologist and rocks a pretty sweet gilet.
Kings Arms: The Vaults
Saturday 7 November
Will Seaward Has a Really Good Go at Alchemy
In a unique take on science and alchemy, Will attempts to create the legendary Philosopher’s Stone and turn base metals into gold, live onstage. For real. WARNING: MAY BREAK NATURAL LAWS.
Mill Theatre
The Pleasure of My Company
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.” So said Buddha who clearly thought himself to be a poorly made garden ornament. Now, 2.500 years later, award-winning comedian and piratical misanthrope Chris Kehoe, fighting a losing battle with idiocy, opens his acerbic mind for your consideration in an hour of absurdity, satire and knob gags.
Taurus Bar
Sunday 8 November:
Short Tails and Tall Stories
CITV writer Mike Bennett presents the premier of classic Rik Mayall animations including Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin and The Three Little Pigs.
Join us on this enchanted journey with a mix of live performances, projections and an anarchic reading of these children’s classics produced by OneMediaIP Pinewood Studios.
Kings Arms: Theatre
Cupid’s Stunts and Plenty of Fish
There was a time when there were only 2 people you could fancy in your village and one was your sister. We now have the wonder of online dating. There are Plenty of Fish in the canal – you can select your future partner based on their photo, although a balding bloke in a tight lycra football shirt next to someone else’s BMW, may not be your cup of Rohypnol!
Meet the yachtsman who named his sailing boat Fellatio… and the fat Casanova called Gary who swapped a good girl for a love bite and Chlamydia. Finally we reveal the identity of the self-named Harlot of Horwich who had been single for 3 years 2 months and 16 days but carries no baggage!
Taurus Bar
Monday 9 November
Welcome to Tiddleminster
Christopher Cantrill takes you on an illustrated adventure to Tiddleminster – Britain’s ultimate ‘staycation’ timeshare opportunity. Visit the inhabitants, see the sights and even solve a mystery! Surreal, silly and as sexy hell.
Kings Arms: Studio 1
James & Seaburn – Piano Chocolat
Thrown together by quirk of fate and sticking together through necessity, Nicola James and Ian Seaburn present Piano Chocolat, a fun-filled journey through modern life, touching on themes as diverse as alien invasion, charity stunts, career angst and the emotional trauma of lost socks. Through the mediums of stand-up, sketch, songs and silliness, James and Seaburn shine a spotlight on the absurdities of life and the human condition, before quickly turning off the light, locking the door and retiring to a safe distance.
Kings Arms: Studio 1
Tuesday 10 November
Tuesday’s Tickles with Penella Mellor
For one night only comedian Penella Mellor is gathering her favourite local acts especially for you!
Currently confirmed: Freda Chattington, Big Lou & Colin Manford (more to come) and a showcase of the hottest new talent the area has to offer.
Taurus Bar
George Zach – Greek Tragedy
George is a Greek comedian living in the UK. Has appeared in all of the biggest clubs in the UK, as well as on BBC1’s This Week and The One Show. In the UK his mates say he’s too Greek, but he’s not Greek enough for his parents abroad; he’s trying to fit in in a world he believes to be more stupid than him. Also, he is dodging his national service.
Kings Arms: Theatre