Manchester comedy of the week FT Chloe Petts, Eric Rushton and Jessica Barton

Creatures Comedy Festival continues apace with another week of WIPs and compilation shows. They kick off nicely this evening with an early show from critically-acclaimed Clementine creator Rosalie Minnitt and close out with a later appearance from Eric Rushton. Rushton has gained a cult online following over the last few weeks with his posting of terrific stand-up bits from a proper road comic. Not shying away from the awkward interactions that pepper the clubs, Rushton always comes out on top with quick wit and a cold demeanour. A perfect blend of Monday blues and pick-me-up.

One of a handful of hotly anticipated debuts at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Lost Cat welcomes Australian clown Jessica Barton as part of Creatures Comedy Festival. Here she plays Floppins (a Mary Poppins cypher), intent on cleaning up the stage and using form and farce for big laughs and to question gender roles in a show that’s guaranteed to be a lot of fun. See it before it’s the talk of the Scottish capital in August.

Chloe Petts follows up three sold-out shows at the Fringe with a new work in progress entitled Big Naturals, where she’ll be talking about, you guessed it, sex. Uncomfortable around even using the word, Petts tackles the subject head-on in her most intimate show yet. After a heck of a year that’s seen her smash sets on Live At The Apollo and make a debut guest appearance on Have I Got News For You, this is a great chance to see a future national treasure in the intimate surrounds of Creatures’ basement club.