The 14th Women in Comedy Festival has announced its line-up. Running from 2nd to the 12th of October the festival will host upwards of 50 shows and events in six venues across Manchester. The festival is an inclusive event; applications are open to cis women, those who identify as female and non-binary performers.
For the second year running the festival’s awards for best show and best new act will be sponsored by Jason Manford and Manford’s Comedy Clubs again. Last year the main award was won by Laura Lexx who returns this time with a work in progress show and best new act was won by Ariel Hebditch who pulls the Skeleton Out of the Closet for this year’s festival too.
Of the festival, programmer Aimee Perry notes, "bringing the festival back for its 14th year with the love that Manchester’s Northern Quarter gives to support women in comedy makes this one of the most special festivals in the country and I feel immensely proud to be a part of it."
Here are a few highlights...
Full length shows
Helen Bauer - the Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee returns with Bless Her, fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe.
Ola Labib – recently seen starring in her debut Channel 4 sitcom The Pharmacy, the British Sudanese pharmacist returns with a brand new hour, Dispersible.
Noor Sobka – in Fierce Fascists Noor shares her fascination with notable dictators.
Micky Overman - change is afoot for Dutch comedian Micky and it’s the good type, so why is she constantly trying to Hold On.
Alice-India - another act fresh from the Fringe, Alice India was arrested 10 days before her autism and ADHD diagnosis. See You In Hell explores her oscillation between good and very bad...
Lulu Simons – last year Lulu gave a glimpse of Council Estate Gap Year and now it’s complete, there’s little doubt that she is going to be a star.
Josephine Lacey - brings her acclaimed and successful debut show Autism Mama to WICF, which takes a wry look at what it’s like to be mother to an autistic teen.
Sikisa - the British Barbadian immigration lawyer will be Serving Justice in her new show, returning from the Edinburgh Fringe.
Work in Progress Shows
Be in at the beginning of the next big thing, work in progress shows are a peek behind the scenes at the magic of creating the funny.
Erika Ehler - the queen of dark humour gives us a sneak preview of her latest work Sewer Princess.
Kate Cheka - works up new material in The Last Funny Woman and did indeed win the Funny Women Award last year.
Kathy Rivett and Mia Lewis - Are a Bit Weird for (Just Under) 30 Minutes Each where we see two up and coming comedians for the price of one share the beginnings of their solo shows.
Other events
There will be other events during the festival including a workshop with Female Pilot Club who encourage and develop women writing comedy. Acclaimed comedian Hayley Ellis will host An Afternoon with Sharon Latham the notable Mancunian photographer and elsewhere there will be an all-female line up in aid of Forever Manchester.
Background
The festival was founded in 2012 by Hazel O’Keefe who ran the all female Laughing Cows comedy nights. It is now run by Frog and Bucket and FAB Comedy Management director Jessica Toomey alongside programmer Aimee Perry.
The festival’s patrons are Maxine Peake, comedians Jo Enright, Isy Suttie, Kiri Pritchard- McLean, Dana Alexander and Susan Calman plus Funny Women founder Lynne Parker.
More info here.
