Comedy Picks of the Week ft. Richard Herring, Jon Ronson, David Trent & more

Richard Herring | The Lowry | Fri 28 Mar | 8pm | £18
In his last few shows Richard Herring has managed to sort through the big issues that inspire and frustrate us on a daily basis, be it politics (Hitler Moustache), religion (Christ on a Bike) and penises (Talking Cock) now he takes on the end of everything in his show on death entitled ‘We’re All Going To Die’. A master of mining the minutiae of any subject he chooses, Herring tackles the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns (except Jesus and that canoe bloke). Death is inevitable, and thankfully so are the laughs, we might as well spend our time before the former, doing the latter.
www.thelowry.com

Gary Delaney | Gorilla | Sat 29 Mar | 8pm  | £10/£8
For lovers of one line bandits such as Tim Vine and Milton Jones, head down to Manchester’s most welcoming comedy night (provided your not on a stag or hen do) Group Therapy at Gorilla. Razor sharp groan-comic Gary Delany is one of the quickest on the circuit and always a welcome addition to any bill, machine gunning puns at the audience with astonishing accuracy. Danny McLoughlin will be MCing with Gary Little opening, a comic fresh off the back of supporting Bill Burr on his recent UK tour where he was dubbed as ‘a fucking riot’ by the Boston funnyman. The Bill Burr link doesn’t end there as every member of the crowd will be given a free DVD of his show ‘You People Are All The Same’, and while he’s probably best known for playing Kuby in Breaking Bad in the UK, over the pond he is the best touring stand up in the country, and worth the entry fee for the disc alone.
www.seetickets.com

Laughing Cows | Frog & Bucket | Sun 30 Mar | 7.30pm | £10/£7
The Frog and Bucket’s monthly night of all female comics hosts Aisling Bea, winner of the Gilded Balloon’s ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ competition. Only the second woman to ever do so, she was also one of the most highly praised stand ups from last year’s Edinburgh Festival having being nominated as best newcomer in the Foster’s Comedy Awards. A physical and sharply witted comic, Bea brings a lot of energy and a ton of laughs. She will be ably supported by the cream of local comics sans a Y chromosome such as Hayley Ellis and Madge Hocks.
www.frogandbucket.com

Jon Ronson’s Frank Story (pictured)| The Dancehouse | Sun 30 Mar | 7.30pm | £15/£12
Having written the entirely fictional book ‘Frank’, Jon Ronson aims to tell the true tale of his times in the employ of Timperley’s finest export in this new talking show. A heartwarming and hilarious account of a young man’s adventure with his boss in a big fake head, Ronson peppers his stories with references to those stories that inspired his ‘inspired by’ movie, with a side helping of tales from being on the road with Frank Sidebottom. A great orator speaking about a subject close to his heart – and the catalyst for his entire career.
www.thedancehouse.co.uk

Sidekick Comedy | Via Fossa | Mon 31 Mar | 8pm | £2
The Village’s favourite comedy night presents its monthly dose of hilarity with three great acts all held together by resident MC Kate McCabe. Billed as comedy for nerds, this month Sidekick welcomes surreal quip generator and possible idiot savant David Stanier, ‘young Daniel Kitson’ and BBC New Comedy Award Finalist Jonny Pelham, and headlining is the always delightful, or Dyerlightful if you will (it’s fine if you won’t), Harriet Dyer who is gearing up for a colourful mad cap assault on the Fringe this August by barking at aeroplanes. A great deal on comedy for just a couple quid.
www.skiddle.com

David Trent | The Pub/Zoo | Tue 1 Apr | 8pm | £5/£3
Nominated for the Best Newcomer Award at the 2012 Edinburgh Comedy Festival, David Trent is a multimedia comic who will subliminally convince you he is the best comedian ever with his use of video and music, and then promptly use his human limimal skills to cement the information. Another top headliner for XS Malarkey, which has been quite prolific since settling in their new venue, this week sees support from Phil Ellis, Lee Grounds and Katie Truelove, with Dan Nightingale taking over compering for the night. Last week it was voted the North’s best comedy club by Chortle, and it’s not hard to see why.
www.wegottickets.com

Carl Hutchinson | The Lowry | Wed 2 Apr | 8pm | £12
They say you should never meet your heroes as they can never truly live up to the ideal. The same could be said about comedians: no matter how insane or fun-loving they may seem on stage, the real person behind the comedy mask is usually quite a contradiction. Carl Hutchinson is a mild-mannered human off stage, but on stage he’s brash and unafraid, taking plenty of risks as he incorporates more of his stage persona into his everyday life. This formed the basis of his well-received Edinburgh show – and now his tour that stops off at The Lowry. See what kind of scrapes the newly liberated Carl got up to by acting like a comedian in real life. Unsurprisingly it ends in quite a lot of unwanted confrontations, and a great show.
www.thelowry.com

SOS TV Show | Three Minute Theatre | Wed 2 Apr | 8pm | £5
Manchester character comedy legends Peter Slater and Lee Fenwick bring their creations to Affleck’s Palace’s Three Minute Theatre for a live television experience like no other. Inviting the funniest acts from around the UK to get laughs – without ever resorting to straight stand-up – SOS has gathered a following who want something different from their comedy. There will be sketches, a host of characters and filmed skits all from the left side of the brain to get you laughing away like a chimp in an asylum.
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