What else is there to do in December? Nope, I can’t think of anything. So, you’d better amuse yourself with this lot of comedy.
As usual the Comedy Store and The Frog and Bucket, Manchester’s only dedicated comedy venues, both have plenty of stand-up gigs in the run up to Christmas (oh I knew there was something on this month) but there are more extra special events this month too.
At the Frog of course there’s the amateur night/gong show Beat the Frog every Monday but on Sunday 1st jazz comedy duo Harry and Chris bring their tour show This One’s for The Aliens to the club. The following Sunday 8th there’s a charity gig in aid of the Red Cross, Giggle Aid, plus a couple of extra Sunday stand up shows on 22nd and 29th Sunday Night Live.
At the Store the first Sunday of the month hosts the new act night King Gong and Sunday 8th & 22nd sees Toby Hadoke invites professional acts to perform New Stuff. There is a night of New Comedians on Sunday 15th and the kids get a clean show on the afternoon of Saturday 21st in Comedy Store for Kids.
Plus, there’s plenty of seasonal stand up shows from 27th to New Year.
See below for both clubs’ New Year shows.
Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCrème, Manchester Palace, Sunday 1 December, from £16.90
Miss Congeniality from season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race (BenDeLaCreme) and season five winner Monsoon grab as much tinsel as they can muster for the very festive All I Want for Christmas Is Attention. We’re sure they’ll get it, who could ignore?
The Secret Policeman’s Ball, Manchester Palace, Tuesday 3 December, £16.90
The third and final gig of this year for the legendary Amnesty fundraiser. Hosted by the Guilty Feminist Podcaster Deborah Frances-White and featuring plenty of comedy talent including Bridget Christie, Nish Kumar, Shappi Khorsandi and Suzi Ruffell.
XSMalarkey, The Bread Shed, every Tuesday, £6 (£3 members)
Comedy rock god Andrew O’Neill brings his latest tour show to XS on Tuesday 3rd and musical comedian is the headliner for the following Tuesday 10th.
Then, wrapping up for Christmas, XS present their legendary seasonal party on Tuesday 17th with fun and some kind of sausage rolls guaranteed.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Lowry, Tuesday 3 December, £10 – £17
Latest in the line of the ‘…goes wrong’ series this time J. M. Barrie’s favourite gets the messed up treatment.
Barking Tales, Zombie Shack, Wednesday 4 December, donation bucket at the end.
Once again it’s time for the monthly safe space where it’s ok for laughs and mental health problems to mix. Get down to support this lovely gig this time with Rich Wilson, Tony Wright and Dai Davies performing and of course gig curator and host Harriet Dyer.
Jim Jefferies, Manchester Arena, Friday 6 December, £48.55
Once resident in our fair northern England, Aussie comedian Jefferies has just completed the final run of his US based The Jim Jefferies Show on Comedy Central. A Jefferies gig is always exciting – mixing macho swagger with heartfelt pathos – it’s a breathtaking experience.
RuPaul’s Drag Race, Manchester Palace, Saturday 7 December, currently sold out
You can never have enough of Drag Race alumni and here after the success of the UK version of the hit US show Alyssa Edwards introduces all the competing glorious queens from the inaugural season.
Adam Kay, The Lowry, Monday 16 & Monday 23 December, from £30
Formerly one half of musical comedy duo Amateur Transplants Adam Kay was also once a junior doctor and his memoirs from that time This Is Going To Hurt have been a massive success. Here’s a special festive look at the NHS from his new book Twas The Night Before Christmas.
Jack Whitehall, Manchester Arena, Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 December, £40.70
The former Manchester University student’s comedic beginnings were in the city too. Here he is on his latest arena tour.
Wednesday 25 December
Make your own entertainment. I don’t know, tickle a sprout or something.
Saturday 28 December
My birthday. As you were.
New Year’s Eve
Or course there’s going to be a big, big blow out to see out 2019. Both the Frog and the Store have massive New Year’s Eve shows with laughs, dancing, cannons, and Auld Lang Syne. But they also both give you the opportunity to have a practice go. Or rather, have a marginally quieter night out and do something else at midnight. The Frog’s is the day before with Fake New Year on 30th whereas the Store opt for an earlier show at 6pm as well.
By Marissa Burgess, Comedy Editor
Main image courtesy of Contact Theatre.
