Comedy Picks of the Week ft. Harriet Dyer, Carl Donnelly + more

Harriet Dyer | King’s Arms | Mon 11 Jan | 7.45pm | FREE
Boasting a more fully formed beast than the preview she shared at the Women in Comedy Festival back in October, Dyer is getting a further jump on the Edinburgh Fringe by previewing a good 8 months before the fest begins. Smart and outrageously weird, Harriet is a masterful, meandering storyteller who never fails to give a knock out blow when reaching her destination, but for most the enjoyment is in her left field journey. A free show, you’d do well to find a better thing to do on a Monday night.
www.wegottickets.com

Carl Donnelly | The Pub/Zoo | Tue 12 Jan | 7.30pm | £5/3
Two time Edinburgh comedy award nominated Carl Donnelly headlines at Manchester’s best weekly comedy night with a great support line up in the only comedy pick this week that will cost you anything. Donnelly’s matter of fact delivery is inventive, intelligent and always very funny, surely soon to be a household name go see him now for only a fiver (three bones if you’re a member/student). Also on the bill are Stephen Bailey, Stephanie Laing and sketch duo Norris & Parker, with resident compere Toby Hadoke overseeing proceedings that’s only a pound an act.
www.wegottickets.com

Beth Vyse (pictured) | King’s Arms | Wed 13 Jan | 7.30pm | FREE
Cancer is hardly the best jumping off point for a comedy show, but in Beth Vyse’s hands this honest and hilarious recounting of her battle with breast cancer is no torrid slog and instead an uplifting and sometimes downright silly tale. Vyse is probably best known for her work as an abstract clown of a comedian so this personal show is quite the departure for the none more alternative act and she keeps that anarchic spirit throughout. Another free show at The King’s this is quite the week for comedy.
www.wegottickets.com

Sophie Willan | King’s Arms | Thu 14 & Fri 15 Jan | 7.30pm | FREE
Another free night at The King’s, Sophie Willan is taking a different approach to previewing her new hour long show by having forty minutes of new material to test out on a, hopefully, willing audience and then spending the remaining twenty seeing what they did or didn’t find funny. With Willan’s track record the majority will be the former as the Bolton comedian pulls at her unconventional upbringing in ‘Wild’.
www.facebook.com

The Giggle Dungeon | The Castle | Fri 15 Jan | 7.30pm | FREE
One more free night but this time at The Castle Hotel as The Giggle Dungeon launches its first night for the price of a firm handshake (or a limp one). After a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Amy Vreeke and resident ‘Pirate Captain’ Steve Valentino are inviting you to get a taste for nowt before they jack up the price. Like all the best drug dealers do. For this first taster session they will be inviting some of their favourites from their Edinburgh run, a perfect tonic for a Friday night out.
www.thecastlehotel.info