This autumn we are delighted that the Women in Comedy Festival is finally back, celebrating all the female (and those identifying as female) talent in the comedy industry.
Running from 1st to the 10th of October the festival is still currently open for applications at this stage. But the festival already has a host of amazing shows confirmed, from the All Killa No Filla podcast comedians Kiri Pritchard McLean and Rachel Fairburn, rising star Hayley Ellis, and the critically acclaimed Olga Koch with her third solo show Homecoming where she tries to figure out just who the hell she is. In addition to one-woman shows, there will be showcases, workshops, awards shows, and seminars at a range of venues in Manchester.
The festival is now run by Jessica Toomey of Manchester’s Frog and Bucket comedy club, with the support of us, Funny Women!
Toomey notes of the festival’s return, “after having to take a year off I’m delighted that the festival is back for 2021. I believe we need this festival more than ever as there has been so little opportunity, due to Covid, to champion and showcase women in comedy in the last 18 months.”
Lynne Parker, our founder and CEO of Funny Women adds, “we are delighted to be involved with this important festival as we come out of lockdown. The level and balance of live entertainment is increasingly important.”
The festival was originally the brainchild of Dulcet Sounds’ Hazel O’Keefe who ran it from its inception in 2013 to 2019. Toomey came on board in 2018, fully taking over the reins this year.
Over the years the festival has played host to the likes of Canadian superstar Katherine Ryan, Alma’s Not Normal creator Sophie Willan, Britain’s Got Talent star Barbara Nice, circuit veteran Jo Caulfield, What Would Beyonce Do?’s Luisa Omielan, the as seen all over the telly Jo Enright, 2015 Funny Women Awards winner Desiree Burch and the LA-based star Gina Yashere.
Patrons of the festival include actor Maxine Peake, Lynne Parker of Funny Women, and comedians Jo Enright, Issy Suttie, Jo Caulfield, Susan Calman, Kiri Pritchard McLean, Dana Alexander and Ayesha Hazarika.
As Peake noted when she took on the patronship, “I’m proud to be supporting the UK Women in Comedy Festival as a patron. A festival filled with laughter combined with feminist principles taking place in the North… what’s not to support!”
So pop it in your diary and we’ll be sure to keep you posted on news as it happens.
We can’t wait!
For more information click here!
