This October, the festival will host upwards of 50 shows and events in six venues across Manchester
Back for its 14th year, Manchester’s Women in Comedy Festival will be taking over the city with another stellar lineup of acts.
Running from 2-12 October, this year’s festival will host upwards of 50 shows and events across six Manchester venues. The festival is an inclusive event, meaning 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 again be sponsored by Jason Manford and Manford’s Comedy Clubs. Last year’s Best Show winner, Laura Lexx, will be returning with a brand-new work in progress show, as well as 2024’s Best New Act winner, Ariel Hebditch, who pulls the Skeleton Out of the Closet for this year’s festival too.
Festival programmer Aimee Perry says: “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."
Check out some of this year’s shows you won’t want to miss below:
Full Length Shows
Helen Bauer - the Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee returns with Bless Her, which will be 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. Gaddafi down here to see this Libyan northerner’s rising star.
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 critically acclaimed and hugely 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, which will also be returning from the Edinburgh Fringe.
Work in Progress Shows
Be 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 & 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 a whole host of 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.
For the full lineup and to book tickets, visit womenincomedy.uk.
Header image: Kathy Rivett & Mia Lewis
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