Women in Comedy Festival 2023
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor![Women in Comedy Festival 2023](https://www.creativetourist.com/app/uploads/2016/09/women-comedy-festival-1470x770-1-623x438.jpg)
Described as one of the “UK’s best comedy festivals”, the Women in Comedy Festival MCR returns with its 10th edition of top-notch comedy.
Since the first event took place in 2013, the festival has grown steadily, attracting some of the best comedy talent to Manchester. For 2023, the Women in Comedy Festival will span 10 days with shows taking over several venues across the Northern Quarter.
Just turn on your TV and a quick search on the big-name streaming services shows a definite reluctance to commission female comics from the UK. Festivals such as Women in Comedy are vital in raising the profile of female stand-up comedy, placing some of the UK’s funniest women and emerging female stand-up comics front and centre. Following the pandemic, the festival feels even more important due to the lack of exposure for up-and-coming women in comedy and the limited outlets, festivals and places to perform.
Looking for next year’s big star? Check out Kelly Rickard’s show at Fierce Bar on Tuesday 10th October
With a cracking line-up of comics announced, Women in Comedy 2023 looks set to be a glorious 10 days of chortling and celebration. Comics confirmed for the festival include Kiri Pritchard-McLean (8 out of 10 cats, Live at the Apollo) with a ‘work-in-progress’ performance; creator of the online smash-hit Yorkshire Kardashians, Steff Todd; multi-award winning comedian Nina Gilligan; local lass and writer/ performer of BBC comedy, Peck Eds, Soph Galustian and British Asian drag artist Lady Bushra.
Looking for next year’s big star? Check out Kelly Rickard’s show at Fierce Bar on Tuesday 10th October. She’s the winner of the North East’s highly-regarded Felt Nowt New Act of the Year competition, and comes with an enviable amount of support from some of Manchester’s top stand-ups.
For this year’s festival, events will take place at the Frog and Bucket, Fierce Bar, Creatures of the Night Comedy Club, Gullivers and Cane and Grain.
The Women in Comedy Festival celebrates and champions all things funny and female across a variety of platforms. The full programme is set to include stand-up, comedy theatre, improvisation and sketches alongside workshops and debates. A true showcase of the amount of incredibly funny, richly diverse and supremely talented women working in comedy in the UK, and further afield, right now.
Looking for more live comedy? Check out our brand new guide to Comedy Nights in Manchester.