There’s a couple of huge birthdays this week as comedy institutions XS Malarkey and Comedy Balloon celebrate milestones, while newcomers A Lovely Time welcome Mock the Week’s Alasdair Beckett-King for another night of stand-up at GRUB.
Astonishingly, XS’s shindig isn’t the only birthday this week as another huge part of the fabric of the city’s comedy scene Comedy Balloon celebrate their 22nd birthday. Once more the upstairs room of The Ape and Apple will be awash with the future stars of Manchester’s stand-up all corralled by the steady hand of Eddie Fortune. Long live the balloon.
Hoping to no doubt emulate some of the longevity of the likes of the Balloon and Malarkey, A Lovely Time tentatively takes it’s fourth outing at GRUB’s event space Chapeltown Picture House with a stellar lineup that includes Alasdair Beckett-King (Mock the Week), Lou Conran (Spit or Swallow podcast), Erika Ehler and guest host for the month Hayley Ellis. During the various lockdowns Beckett-King made quite the internet name for himself with his unfathomably well produced short videos, which has lead to his appearances on prime time comedy shows. It’ll be a treat to see him in the flesh and not shrouded in a green screen.
- Words:
- John Stansfield
- Published on:
- Mon 27 Sep 2021
Long before there was The Comedy Store in Manchester, there was XS Malarkey. Or at least some variation of the longest running comedy night in the city. Toby Hadoke has no doubt been thumbing through his hefty rolodex to gather some of the city and country’s finest stand-ups who’ve graced the XS stage over the years. After a tough a couple of years make sure you’re at The Bread Shed to raise a glass to Toby and pals as they celebrate their 24th birthday!