Manchester comedy of the week FT John Robertson, Richard Blackwood and comics heckling themselves

Although he’s performed there countless times before, John Robertson will be bringing The Dark Room to XS Malarkey for the first time to kick off their 2026 shows. 53Two is to transform into an interactive video game that Robertson controls with the help of his audience in a show like no other. The perfect way to enter the new year.

“Comedian destroys heckler” videos are the scourge of social media, with now even the most harmless put-downs being classed as murder worthy of calling Benoit Blanc. And so to freshen up the tired crowd vs comedian game, Creatures is launching a new night where there’s a fellow stand-up on stage to question the method and madness of the performer. Essentially, heckling a co-worker from the sidelines. It could be an inspired new art form, it could be an unmitigated disaster, either way, it’s worth a watch.

Richard Blackwood returns to the Frog with a new hour titled Unfiltered, a show where he promises sharp, fearless comedy with raw honesty that tackles fatherhood, fame, race, ageing and mental health. It’s a long time since Blackwood was the most exciting thing to happen on MTV, and since that establishment has now shut down, it seems timely to get Blackwood back to his best, spitting truth and cultural commentary.