Comedy Picks of the Week ft. Jon Richardson, Knightmare Live, Group Therapy & more

Jon Richardson (pictured) | The Lowry | Fri 30 May – Sun 1 Jun | 8pm | £22.50
The quickest sleepy looking man in comedy, Jon Richardson brings his laconic speed to The Lowry for a three-night stint of his laser-precise observations of modern life. Unfairly dismissed as another panel show hopper (Richardson captains a team on 8 out of 10 Cats, and has appeared on HIGNFY and Buzzcocks) he is one of the finest stand-ups currently touring the country and definitely one to see if you can get tickets. An individual style and original take on the problems of the world the 31-year-old Lancastrian is going to be around for a while and prices will only rise. In five years time £22.50 will look like a snip!
www.thelowry.com

The Magnificent Seven @ Group Therapy | Gorilla | Sat 31 May | 8pm | £10
Manchester Wire’s favourite comedy night is presenting a showcase of its own faves – which means they will be seven of the very best. Group Therapy have hardly put a foot wrong in their year and a bit of transforming the vast back room of Gorilla into a viable comedy club, so we should believe them when they say their seven young(ish) performers are ‘magnificent’.  Go see these acts now before they get too big for your boots. See our full preview here.
www.seetickets.com

Indie Comedy Allstars | Walrus | Sun 1 Jun | 8pm | FREE
Red Redmond is playing a game of comedy risk with venues across Manchester for his Dead Cat Comedy stable. Seemingly inexhaustible, the carrot-topped comic now adds Walrus to his collection of Sandbar, TV-21 and Rain Bar. Next stop: THE WORLD! Probably not though – he’s got his hands full with just Manchester. He welcomes three great acts to this new night showcasing the best alternative comedians on the circuit. Danny Sutcliffe, Will Duggan and Will Franken are three you should keep an eye on, and definitely head to the Northern Quarter’s favourite tusked mammal-themed bar to check them out. See our full preview here.
deadcatcomedy.co.uk

Rachel Fairburn & Hayley Ellis | Kings Arms | Tue 3 Jun | 7.30pm | £3
As the Edinburgh Fringe draws ever closer, those comics that are headed up past Hadrian’s Wall are fine tuning their shows, and hopefully sorting their accommodation for the month. Two such performers are Rachel Fairburn and Hayley Ellis, who are fitting in as many trial runs of their respective shows (All The Fun of the Fairburn and We Need To Talk About Kevin) to make sure it is perfect come August. Two very funny humans for the price of less than one – and if you can’t make it up to Edinburgh this year, this is a great way to see the best of the fringe before it has even happened.
www.facebook.com

Knightmare Live | The Lowry | Wed 4 Jun | 8pm | £18
For those old enough to remember, Knightmare was the most terrifying and (for its time) cutting-edge kids TV show of the 1980s – with a cracking theme tune to boot – so this live re-staging of the classic show is a trip down memory lane. For those who don’t remember it, this just a brilliantly funny and inventive comedy show where a behelmetted participant must traverse, with the help of his friends, the various levels and solve puzzles in order to win a scroll. High stakes indeed. What makes this show more than just a nostalgic treat are the performers who help our contestants on their way. Tom Bell is a particular stand out as Lord Fear.
www.thelowry.com

Thanks to @johnwinsagain