The inaugural all-woman comedy festival hits Manchester this month, organised by Laughing Cows who have been putting on female comedy nights for 15 years. Promoter Hazel O’Keefe’s motivation was to encourage more women on to the comedy scene and to counteract the bizarre prejudice they face from both promoters – who are often not prepared to put two women on the same bill – and some audience members who are only too dismissive of female comedians. Of course the fact is that there is no defining line between men and women’s comedy on the circuit – there isn’t a ‘type’ of female comedy, just funny material different from one individual comedian to the next. The festival begins and ends with a full line-up at the Frog and Bucket, opening with Janey Godley (Tue 1, 7pm, £8 adv) headlining plus a debate and concludes with a headline set from Jen Brister (Sun 27, 8pm, £7 adv) and of course the wrap party. In between there are solo shows from the likes of Lucy Porter (Fri 11, Dancehouse, 8pm, £12/£10), Gina Yashere (Fri 25, Contact, 7.30pm, £15/£10) and Tiffany Stevenson (Wed 23, Kings Arms, 10pm, £5), book signings from Viv Groskop (Fri 4, Waterstones Arndale, 12pm, FREE) and numerous multiply act nights.
Tue 1 – Sun 27 Oct, various venues and prices, www.womenincomedy.co.uk
- Words:
- Marissa Burgess
- Published on:
- Tue 1 Oct 2013
