There’s no big eggstravaganza (sorry) for April this year but there is plenty of comedy in Manchester. Knock yourself out with this eggsciting (I just can’t help myself) lot.

Comedy @ Chorlton Irish Club, Fri April 1, £12 /£10 adv
Regular funnies in Chorlton with the wonderful mime of The Boy With Tape On His Face, seasoned and solid stand up from Sean Meo and the quirky and sharp Grainne Maguire. Ray Peacock emcees.

Craig Campbell, Phil Ellis and James Meehan, The Dancehouse, Fri April 1, £10/£8
Dead Cat presented comedy at The Dancehouse. Red Redmond introduces the April fools – crazed Canadian Craig Campbell, off the wall Phil Ellis and his sometime elf cohort James Meehan.

Comic FX, Royal Exchange, Fri April 1, Free
Teatime comedy in the grand surroundings of the Great Hall at the Exchange with the fast rising star who is Hayley Ellis.

Group Therapy, Gorilla, Sat April 2, £11 (£10)
More mega comedy from the GT guys. Adam Bloom is a critically acclaimed comic with a cerebral line and he’s joined by the entirely silent former street performer The Boy With Tape On His Face who is never short of magical. The mad Phil Ellis comperes too.

Laff Til Ya Fart, Frog and Bucket, Sun April 3, £7
A fine line-up of black comedy from Trevor Dwyer Lynch’s bi-monthly night at the Frog.

XSMalarkey, Pub/Zoo, every Tuesday, £3 members, £5 non members (£8 to join)
As ever Malarkey’s has a fine line-up all month. Beginning with Canadian live wire Phil Nichol on the 5th, uncompromising Scot Paul Pirie on 12th, comedy royalty Naz Osmanoglu on the 19th and Best Newcomer nominee at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Adam Hess on the 26th.

Barking Tales, Zombie Shack, Wed April 6, £5
The monthly comedy night that tackles mental health head on, and in a funny fashion. This time there are performances from Danny Pensive, Katie Mulgrew, Jay Hampson and of course MC Harriet Dyer.

Sham Bodie, Soup Kitchen, Thu April 7, £5
At the eclectic comedy night this month Ben Tonge presents sketch duo Sam and Tom, Liverpool’s Alastair Clark, ageing storyteller Peter Fleming and psychedelic blues from Hey Bulldog. Plus a competition to pretend to be Ben for a bit and free hot dogs.

Fred’s Comedy Club, Fred’s Ale House, Thu April 7, £5
Levenshulme’s funny Thursday with comedy juggler Steve Royle, Midlands comic Josh Pugh and the irrepressible Freddy Quinne as MC. Plus Jay Handley and Andy Field squeeze into the middle section. 

Lettuce Laugh, The Bowling Green Chorlton. Fri April 8, £9 on the door /£7 (adv)
Celebrating its first birthday, the Lettuce’s Jonathan Paylor introduces Connah Quay’s finest Hayley Ellis, former wrestler Lee Kyle and keyboardist extraordinaire Tom Taylor.

Group Therapy, Gorilla, Mon April 11, currently SOLD OUT
Given his apparently effortless stand up, John Robins latest show Speakeasy has already sold out in this GT outing. Nevertheless, try them for cancellations, you never know.

Trapdoor Comedy, Various venues, Mon 11 – Wed 13 April, £5
This month it’s the mischievous Ray Peacock doing the Trapdoor rounds. Lewis Charlesworth joins him at The Railway in West Didsbury, Jason Cook is at Solomon’s in Withington and The Spinning Top Stockport and David Stanier at The Old Monkey in the city centre.

New Comedians, The Comedy Store, Sun April 17, £4 (£2 conc)
Despite his boyish looks, Oldham comic Alex Boardman has been a well respected act on the comedy circuit for two decades. Here he gives the next generation of acts a platform as he introduces ‘new comedians’.

MACE, Kosmonaut, Mon April 18, £3 early bird tickets
Hosted by Dead Cat’s Red Redmond, Manchester’s Alternative Comedy Emporium sees performances from three of the finest character comics on the scene. Peter Slater as old luvvie Randolf Tempest, plus masters of disguise Geordie Lee Fenwick and Scouser Keith Carter. There’s a second chance to see this brilliant line up at DAFT at The Dancehouse on April 30.

The Delightful Sausage, The Castle Hotel, Tue April 19, £3 (free conc)
This month Alasdair Beckett-King opens the show while also promoting the launch of his new computer game Nelly Cootalot 2. Then the second half of the show is dedicated to experimental new material performed against the clock.

Group Therapy 2, Tiger Lounge, Thu April 21, £7
Always an innovative presence, Andrew O’Neill’s favourite things include heavy metal, veganism, the occult and high heels. Here he performs his latest solo show Mindspiders. Prepare to be inspired.

Joe Lycett, The Dancehouse Fri April 22, £14/£12 conc
Lycett continues his series of shows with groan-worthy puns in the title with That’s the Way, A-ha, A-ha, Joe Lycett and tries to convince us that he is an “absolute lad”. Expect a full show of tightly written gags.

Shakespeare’s Funeral, The Dancehouse, Sat April 23, £10
Celebrate 450 years of Shakespeare being alive then dead with MC Scarlet SoHandsome, brilliant satirist Andy Zaltzman, spoken word from Thick Richard and Jack Galareux, hip hop improv with Freestyle Fictionary, and music from The Ben Miller Band.

Laughing Cows, Frog and Bucket, Sun April 24, £5 early bird/£7 adv and £9 on the door
Portsmouth’s own Suzi Ruffell previews her latest Edinburgh Fringe show and it’s bound to show skills. Plus support from Sarah Keyworth and Catherine Bohart and, of course, Kerry Leigh comperes.

Sidekick Comedy, Mon April 25, Polari at Via, £2
Fine bijou gig in the basement of Via in the Village. As ever Kate McCabe introduces the unpredictable Phil Ellis – you might want to keep an eye on your shoes – plus support from Lizzy Galbraith and Paddy Young.

By Marissa Burgess, Comedy Editor

If you would like your venue included in next month’s preview send us your links, blogs and press releases to marissaburgess@northernsoul.me.uk