The last week before the Fringe brings another couple of previews with Stevie Martin and Adam Riches, a new show from Rose Matafeo and a pre-Edinburgh run out of The Dark Room with John Robertson.

Stevie Martin and Adam Riches at XS Malarkey | Tue 25 Jul | 7.30pm | £6/3

In their final preview before the Fringe, XS Malarkey welcome the talents of Adam Riches and Stevie Martin to another temporary home in the Anthony Burgess Foundation for a night of work in progress shows. Riches will be presenting his new medieval Sean Bean fronted gameshow ‘Dungeons and Bastards’ while Martin will be multimedia-ing her way through her own amazing but extremely online-riddled mind. A fantastic double bill.

International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Engine House, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, Manchester M1 5BY
Rose Matafeo at The Lowry | Sat 29 Jul | 8pm | £12

After winning the Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Award in 2018 and then winning many a heart with her spectacular ode to romantic-comedies TV show Starstruck, Rose Matafeo is back with a new show. There’s no title and very little information but any chance to see one of the best in the business is worth taking, and this is the best chance before she hones the show further at the Fringe in August.

The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
The Dark Room at The Frog & Bucket | Sun 30 Jul | 7pm | £8/10

Before heading to the Fringe for a month, John Robertson will ask the citizens of Manchester to awake in a dark room. This is no preview though, Robertson’s live action video game where the audience plays along has long been a Fringe staple and no two shows are ever alike such is the interactive element. Robertson is your delightful and deranged host for The Dark Room and you will not be the same once you have escaped. A must.

Frog and Bucket Comedy Club, 102 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LJ
Tue 25 Jul - Sun 30 Jul
Words:
John Stansfield
Published on:
Mon 24 Jul 2023