Comedy Picks of the Week ft. Romesh Ranganathan & Suzi Ruffell, Gein’s + SOS TV

Gein’s Family Giftshop Bargain Basement | The King’s Arms, Salford | Mon 2 Mar | 7.30pm | FREE
Seeing Gein’s Family Giftshop is a treat. That treat costing you nothing is an added bonus – and the beauty of Manchester’s finest sketch group is that they get all their pals to come and perform for free. Friends like Jonny Pelham, who last year made the final of the BBC New Comedy Award, one-line-meister and Phil Ellis’ raison d’être Graham Goring, and a special guest appearance from the wonderful Katie Mulgrew who will be trying out some new material. It all takes place in the King’s Arms, Salford’s finest pub. What’s not to like? Nothing, that’s what.
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MACE | Kosmonaut | Wed 4 Mar | 8pm | £5
After an amazing first outing last month, Manchester’s Alternative Comedy Emporium (née Experience) follows up with a solid sophomore effort. Resident MC Red Redmond introduces fine line-up of comics for the very reasonable price of a fiver. It features Tom Little, recent recipient of the Leicester Mercury’s much coveted Comedian of the Year, plus Clare Balding’s handsome aunt Liam Pickford and ‘next big thing’ Carl Hutchinson. Kosmonaut makes for a lovely old-school comedy club – so support this night to make sure more of the same spring forth.
www.skiddle.com

All Our Friends Are Dead | The King’s Arms, Salford | Thu 5, Fri 6 & Sat 7 Mar | 7.30pm | £6
After a year-long hiatus, sketch duo Norris and Parker make a very welcome return in a charitable bid to fund their next assault on the Fringe. Success in Edinburgh back in 2013 was levied by the year off due to the costs at performing at the festival – especially in the free Fringe, as these two were. But with some fresh skits and the return of lovable old characters such as the Tydsley Widows, they’ll be performing not one but three shows to help boost their funds. Hey, it’s better than doing a Kickstarter. A wonderful pair of performers who compliment each other greatly, Norris and Parker are definitely worth your time before they head back to Edinburgh and smash it all over again.
www.wegottickets.com

SOS TV Live | Three Minute Theatre | Fri 6 Mar | 7pm | £6
With Sir Randolph Tempest off schmoozing at BBC Four and single-handedly trying to save it from the same fate as BBC Three, plus Mick Sergeant off being a no doubt terrifying new dad, the SOS signal has been answered by Manchester’s very own Batman, Danny Sutcliffe. The beefcake billionaire will also be celebrating his birthday and will thusly be inviting all of his comedy friends to help with the night. Expect turns from the likes of Jayne Edwards and Will Duggan as well as many more of Danny’s pals. It’s a whirlwind of a show this will suit Sutcliffe’s scatterbrain style down to the ground and be a great escape from the madness of a Friday in the Northern Quarter. An escape into further madness.
www.skiddle.com

Romesh Ranganathan (pictured) & Suzi Ruffell | The Lowry | Sat 7 Mar | 4pm & 8pm | £11-£13
Two of the UK’s best new comedians are joining forces for not one, but two live shows over the course of this Saturday. If you’ve got something on of an evening? Fear not! For there’s a 4pm matinee. Jousting with pals in the afternoon? No worries, there’s an 8pm show for you to laugh yourself a new hernia. 2013 saw Ranganathan win the Leicester Mercury New Act Award, plus a nomination for best newcomer at that year’s Fringe, whereas Ruffell is fresh off the back of supporting some of the UK’s best comics in Alan Carr, Josh Widdicombe and Kevin Bridges. An amazing double double act you won’t want to miss twice.
www.thelowry.com

Thanks to @johnwinsagain