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Fest's a laugh a minute

Angela Kelly
15/10/2008

GET ready to smile – the ninth Manchester Comedy Festival is all set to exercise those chuckle muscles.

The popular event is back with more than 125 performers appearing at theatres, clubs, bars and pubs throughout Greater Manchester for 10 days until October 26.

Expect a variety of one-man shows, quick-fire improv, book readings, sketches and films.

They will all be complementing the county’s vibrant comedy scene and playing host to new comedians as well as established stars. Watch out for familiar names like Jimmy Carr and Paddy McGuinness and plenty of newer, would-be stars keen to show Manchester what they can do.

The Best in Stand Up at The Comedy Store on Friday, October 17 features five top comics including Markus Birdman, Tom Stade and the incomparable hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury.

During the festival, Richard Herring – The Headmaster’s Son makes a welcome return to the Frog and Bucket and Australian comedian Brendon Burns will be bringing his usual attack and fire to the club with his no-holds-barred comedy.

Four world-class comics get together for one night of improv with a difference at Moho Live in the form of Mick Ferry, Jason Cook, Seymour Mace and Keith Carter. And the Yo-Yo Club follows the oddly entertaining meanderings of Colin Brisket and his fellow Yo-Yos.

The men don’t get the comedy plaudits all their way, either. The NIVEA Funny Women Live Tour comes to The Met during the festival, featuring past and present winners and finalists from six years of the Funny Women Awards.

Jim Jeffries returns to Manchester triumphant from the Edinburgh Festival with his brand new show, Hammered. It’s been quite a year for Jim – he’s recorded his first live DVD, signed a development deal for his own TV show and hosted the American NME Awards.

The Speed of Dating comes to Taurus with Sarah Emmott as Alice in this one-hour, one-woman comedy showdown. And Mick Miller – one of the founding fathers of the UK comedy scene – is at The Comedy Store with another veteran funnyman Dave Evans, and alongside Duncan Norvelle who returns by popular demand.

Comedian and writer Julian Daniel will be reading from the book he co-wrote, How to Dump Your Girlfriend, at Blackwell University Bookshop. And don’t miss Dive! Green Terror! Dive! at The Britons Protection, with sketches and character comedy from George Cottier, The Davis Twins, Lee Fenwick and Eddie Hoo.

TV favourite Rob Rouse (8 out of 10 Cats, Spoons, The Friday Night Project) will be exercising his funnybone at The Comedy Store, and Silky will be at Sunshine Studios with a terrific act.

How Many Poets Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb? is a comedic poetry night at The Deaf Institute – a popular event when more than 100 poets and comedians gather to read for three minutes each in a record attempt for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Salford Arts Theatre will host Talk This Way, which is a nightly chat show with some of the finest comedy talent appearing at the festival.

And it’s UK vs US Challenge at The Comedy Store when two teams of comedians meet for a battle of epic proportions, with no scripts and no rehearsals.

It’s the final of the City Life Comedian of the Year during the festival. This is the 18th year the premier comedy event has been held and in the past it’s proved a springboard for such laugh-out-loud luminaries as Peter Kay, Caroline Ahern and Justin Moorhouse.

With such a varied programme on offer, this year’s festival should truly offer something for every taste.

For a full programme of events, times and venues go to www.manchestercomedyfestival.co.uk .