Location-specific LOLs with Mark Steel at The Lowry

Ordinarily for a comedian, the hours before a show are spent finding a place to grab a coffee in whichever provincial town your agent’s sent you to and having a last minute ruffle through your notes in prep for that nights gig – maybe taking time to include a couple of gags written about the area you’re in. But for the last couple of years Mark Steel has created and curated his material to make the town in which he’s gigging the star of the show. No doubt there’s some prep you can do before the day but nevertheless it’s an impressive and fresh idea – and one that’s secured him a whole host of awards in his Mark Steel’s in Town show on BBC Radio 4. Steel is a veteran of the circuit and a politically fired up one to boot so there’s guarantee to be bite to his material. Check out his Twitter here: @mrmarksteel.

Thu 21 Mar, The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ. Tel: 0843 208 6000, 8pm, £16, www.thelowry.com