Funny girls go centre stage
MANCHESTER’s Women in Comedy Festival is set to return on Thursday (October 20) for its fourth year.
The festival, which celebrates the rise of feminist humour and highlights the prominence of women in comedy, will see events hosted across the whole of Manchester, including The Frog and Bucket, Gulliver’s Ballroom, Dancehouse Theatre and Castle Hostel.
This year’s line-up includes Radio 4’s Rosie Wilby, Angela Barnes, Miranda star Joanne Neary and Janice Connolly of Phoenix Nights.
Actor and festival patron Maxine Peake said: “A festival filled with laughter combined with feminist principles taking place in the North- what’s not to support.”
Susan Calman, another patron of the festival, added: “I think it’s vital that the festival exists to showcase how diverse female writers and performers are, so that we can finally put to rest the idea that we’re all the same. We’re not.
“And with such a vast array of comedians showcased in October, it’s a privilege to be part of it and to support it.”
The event is organised by Dulcet Sounds CEO Hazel O’Keefe, with the support of business consultancy and development firm Laughology and culture magazine The Skinny.
Running over 11 days, this programme includes sketch comedy, open mic, stand-up, political theatre and even comedic murder mystery.
There will be workshops running throughout the duration of the event, with special shows and activities being run for children.
The Women in Comedy festival aims to create an inclusive, multi-platform environment for female performance artists and to celebrate comedy in its entirety.
It launched in 2013 producing 180 shows and the following year saw its ticket sales triple.
The event is run entirely by volunteers and many shows are ticketed on a ‘pay as you like’ basis, however 95% of the festivals income comes from ticket sales.
Applications for next year’s open mic slots are now being taken.
