Comedy Picks of the Week ft. Paul Foot, Will Franken, Gein’s + more

Gein’s Family Giftshop’s Bargain Basement | The King’s Arms, Salford | Mon 1 Jun | 8pm | FREE
After taking a month off, Manchester’s great sketch hope are back to delight and disgust in equal measure. This show is mostly used by the troupe to test out their new sketches but, as Edinburgh gets ever closer, these will be some oven-ready sketches like you wouldn’t believe. And because they’re a bunch of good guys they’ve invited some comedy pals down to join them: first up is new pal Dean Mavros, who has been gathering a lot of attention on the local scene in a short space of time, and old pal Michael J Dolan, here to spread his own brand of non-cheery cheer. It’s all ably held together by Kiri Pritchard-McLean, at a price you can’t afford to miss. Because it’s free.
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Will Franken & Carl Donnelly | Tiger Lounge | Thu 4 Jun | 7.30pm | £5
Group Therapy kicks off its Edinburgh preview takeover of Tiger Lounge with an absolute winner of a double bill as Will Franken and Carl Donnelly bring their new shows to the city’s friendliest dive bar. A varied night is in store as one man sketch show Will Franken is paired with the double Edinburgh nominee Carl Donnelly. Franken’s show is entitled ‘Who Keeps Making All These People?’ where as Donnelly has gone with ‘Jive Ass Honkey’ ditching the ‘Now That’s What I Carl Donnelly’ trope that has served him so well for the past six years.
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Michael Legge | Chorlton Irish Club | Fri 5 Jun | 6.30pm | £5
One of the best and most consistent comics on the nationwide circuit, Michael Legge is a fiercely intelligent stand-up who likes to ask difficult questions of uncomfortable subjects. He’s heading up a very funny line-up at Chorlton Irish Club, alongside the ‘charmingly gregarious’ Australian Mickey D and Britain’s Got Talent star Jack Carroll – who we’re assuming they’ll have to relax their door policy for on the night. Offering a pasty supper for the first 60 people through the door, you’ll struggle to find a better deal across the whole city, never mind just Chorlton.
www.wegottickets.com

SOS TV Live | Three Minute Theatre | Fri 5 Jun | 8pm | £5
Hosted by master thespian Randolph Tempest, this mad roller coaster of a show takes in sketches, short films, interviews with the devil and everything but stand-up comedy. A night where traditional stand-up is banned, SOS takes comedians out of their comfort zones to try new things and express themselves in a different manner. The most original comedy show in Manchester, this month’s instalment features Hayley Ellis, Tom Short, Rachel Fairburn, Vin Diesels and many more.
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Paul Foot (pictured) | Gorilla | Sat 6 Jun | 7.30pm | £11 (£8 conc)
Paul Foot is the best comedian you may never heard of – and if you haven’t heard of him then you cannot possibly call yourself a connoisseur of comedy. This is due to the cult following Foot has amassed, known as ‘The Guild of Connoisseurs’. You’ll be clambering to join these most die-hard of fans after seeing the inner workings of Foot’s obscure mind. He is constantly name-checked by other comedians as an inspiration, and has received accolades and rave reviews from around the world as he dances foppishly from nation to nation making the common folk wet their eyes with laughter. Supported by the profane ponderings of Bobby Mair, this is a comedy night for true fans of the art.
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Thanks to @johnwinsagain