COMEDY
In partnership with Just Fair Laughs, we are presenting a Saturday Comedy Club in our upstairs venue featuring experienced acts from across the country. Enjoy a drink or delicious snacks whilst watching prime entertainment. Our acts are known from television, including Comedy Central, Live at the Apollo, Britain's Got Talent, just to name a few. In our intimate venue, comedians can interact with everyone.... so no one is safe!
Massive talent in small town Alsager.
UPCOMING CALENDAR
Every Saturday night!
Click on the act below for details or just scroll down to explore.
7 MAY Noel James & Duo Brian & Krystal + Dom Woodward as MC
14 MAY James Sherwood & Justin Moorhouse + Tony Vino MC
21 MAY Gerry Kyei & Joe Zalias + Ada Campe MC
4 JUN Meryl O’Rourke & Alun Cochrane + Craig Deeley MC
11 JUN Tony Burgess & Roger Monkhouse + Tony Vino MC
18 JUN Dana Alexander & Jonny Awsum + Karen Bayley MC
25 JUN Jo Enright & Archie Kelly Kev Precious MC
2 JUL Sully O’Sullivan Daliso Chaponda + Andy Kind MC
MAY
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Brian & Krystal
Grumpy old cockney BRIAN DAMAGE teams up with glamorous assisant KRYSTAL in a hilarious, good fun comedy duo. Brian is infamously grumpy and deadpan, while his assistant Krystal is glamorous but ditzy. The combination is unique and very funny. Their timing is exquisite, their humour dry and sometimes bawdy.
They performed on BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT just a couple weeks ago!!!
Wherever they go their baggage goes with them, including several musical instruments which spill forth during their unconventional vaudeville style act, punctuated by occasional silly songs, the odd bit of Spanish dancing and loads of belly laughs.
Brian and Krystal have appeared five years running at THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL and also performed at international festivals such as GLASTONBURY, LONDON COMEDY FESTIVAL, ADELAIDE & MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVALS & WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL.
"as daft and charming as they are funny" The Stage “A Demon set and staggering stage presence.” The Big Issue
“ Always enjoyable and incredibly funny” Chortle
“Intelligent comedy, downright dirty stuff and silly songs” SXNews
Noel James, after 28 years on the comedy circuit, became an overnight sensation with his appearance on Britain’s Got Talent in 2018. Noel is an experienced and very original comedian based in Swansea, Wales. He has performed at - and often headlined - most major Comedy Clubs in the UK, as well as major festivals including Edinburgh, Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds - and shows abroad (Dubai, Shanghai, Berlin, Cape Town, Canada).
“The funniest joke I’ve ever heard – Almost certainly it was by Noel James. Go and see him live to hear it.” – Jon Richardson
'Noel James is a lovely comic' - Kate Copstick, The Scotsman.
“Noel James stands out like a droll giant amongst a land of trite dwarves.” The Independent.
Check out a performance of Noel’s work on BGT here.
Dom Woodward as MC
From Oldham, Dominic spent 6 years working his way up the McManagement ladder at McDonalds. In 2001 he threw in the McTowel when he saw comedy as a way out of his McJob. Since then he has quickly risen to a regular performer on the professional stand-up circuit.
He has performed live on BBC 2 and ITV and was a regular in MEN@Work The Comedy Store's topical show in Manchester. He was nominated for Best Breakthrough Act at the Northwest Comedy Awards 2004.
"Effortless delivery" The Times
"Insightful and humorous observations." Guardian
James Sherwood has become one of the country’s foremost comedy writers and continues to rapidly ascend the stand-up circuit. Having received the BBC Radio Entertainment writers’ bursary in 2008, James contributes to radio shows across the BBC, including The Now Show, The News Quiz and BBC7’s new topical comedy sketch show, Tilt.
His debut Edinburgh show in 2006, ‘I Know What You Did Last Sunday’, sold out and was similarly followed with 2007’s offering, ‘James Sherwood’s Somewhat Premature Review Of 2007’. Having originally made a name for himself on the live circuit as a topical comic, in recent years James has incorporated a number of self-penned, original comic songs into his act.
During the 2005 general election campaign, his political material appeared on BBC Radio 1, 2, and 4. He has also written for Private Eye and is a frequent studio pundit on the Sky News Paper Review.
Justin Moorhouse has appeared on QI, Live At The Apollo, Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, Celebrity Mastermind and Coronation Street. Justin brought back tiger-faced Young Kenny for the record-breaking run of Phoenix Nights Live at The Manchester Arena, which raised over £5 million for comic relief.
His comedy has taken him on tour to Australia, China, Japan and the Middle East. He has performed stand up comedy on television a number of times including, several series of The Comedy Store (Comedy Central), One Night Stand (Dave) and was Michael McIntyre’s guest on his Blackpool leg of Comedy Roadshow (BBC1).
Justin is a regular presenter on BBC Manchester and before that he was on Key 103 for over a decade. He’s written and starred in two series of his own Radio 4 sitcom Everyone Quite Likes Justin and often pops up on The News Quiz on Radio 4, and TalkSPORT, as well as contributing regularly to both Shaun Keaveny’s breakfast show and Radcliffe and Maconie in the afternoons both on 6 Music. Justin’s podcast – ‘About 30 minutes never more than 45’, has been downloaded over a million times.
Check out some of his work here on Live at the Apollo.
Tony Vino as MC
Preston’s very own funnyman. Tony Vino has been touring the comedy scene since early 2005. Well aware of social and political issues he mixes friendly well thought out observational humour with audience interaction and quick witted responses. A finalist in 2006 Funny Bones competition, his life and interests are wide ranging and so is the subject matter he weaves together on stage.
“A Great Show the assured Tony Vino copes with a mixed audience really well” Kate Copstic, The Scotsman
"Uplifting style, great delivery and consistently funny throughout” BBC Manchester
Gerry Kyei Anecdotal, observational and refreshingly honest in style, Gerry's comedy is enriched by a somewhat unique perspective: being black in in an almost totally white rural Essex.
Starting in comedy as the result of a dare, his rise to headline act was a quick one, scooping a range of accolades along the way including; The Comedy Store’s ‘King Gong’, Metrolife Comedy Newcomer, and The Comedy Café’s Best Newcomer Awards.
Gerry has played all of the nation's leading clubs including The Comedy Store, Jongleurs, Komedia. As a presenter, he's hosted the football forum with former England international and I’m A Celebrity bad boy Rodney Marsh and legendary Sky host Jeff Stelling for Zoo Magazine and has also guested on BBC Nottingham's 'The Breakfast Show'.
With his energetic and likeable personality, infectious joie de vivre and a beaming smile that warms up the coldest of nights, Gerry K is a truly feelgood act.
Check out a sample of Gerry here.
Joe Zalias has been learning the stand up comedy craft for over ten years and his hard work has certainly paid off as his memorable stage performances have seen him entertaining audiences nationally and internationally. A devoted father, comedian, author and actor are only an insight into Joe’s extensive talents. His life has been somewhat exciting and fascinating as he has ventured down various paths, including cage fighting, assisting a crime organisation and working as a firefighter. Joe’s life experiences have enabled him to put pen to paper and write two successful crime novels.
Having such a varied life, Joe has projected his experiences through dark and cutting humour, which have led him to supporting established comedy acts like Bill Bailey and Tom Stade on their tours.
Here is a stand up comedian with a wide range of talent, which is why Joe’s CV is extremely impressive – he has the following TV and performing credits…
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Wannabees ITV
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Britain at Dinner BBC
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Presenter for Spike TV
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International Work for Ted Talent
‘Exudes natural likeability and charm” Julia Chamberlain – Jongleurs and Chortle‘I loved it – I had tears streaming down my face” Marlon Davies
”I’ve never seen anything like it. People came in from across the street to see what all the laughing was about.” Nottingham Comedy Festival
”Amazing how you grab an audiences’ attention. It’s like they are hearing a friend telling them a story and they fully buy into it.” Junior Simpson
Ada Campe as MC
As the alter-ego to comedian and researcher Naomi Paxton, Ada Campe has entered into the new year with a nomination for Best Variety Act at the Chortle Awards 2019. She is also the reigning winner of both the New Act of the Year at the NATYS, and the Leicester Square Theatre Old Comedian of the Year.
Campe's performances are true variety at it's best, rife with the absurd and the outlandish, mystery and intrigue and unabashed, pure comedy.
"Ada Campe made me laugh more than anyone on the circuit for years. Genius” – Sandi Toksvig
"Extravagantly mischievous… devilishly eccentric... a real original and with irrepressible funny bones.. brilliantly crowd-pleasing act" – Chortle
Duncan Oakley has been a musician since the age of six, has performed on the UK comedy circuit since 1999, appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, on BBC Radio 4 and at many summer festivals. Duncan performs an infectious mix of musical comedy and stand up with one of his trusty guitars - Maurice (Fender Strat), No.7 (acoustic) or his Les Paul (the Lezza) by his side. With an eye and ear for the silly, rude, playful and downright irritating occurrences of life Duncan musters up songs that not only make you laugh, they bury into the recesses of your mind and find you a humming tune with a smile on your face 3 days later, confused and wondering where it’s come from.
"Leaping between stupidity and pure brilliance" Yorkshire Evening Post
"Unlike some musical comics who rely on a guitar to get them through, Oakley's routine deftly mixes the tunes with the stand-up" - City Life
Gavin Webster is an award winning comedian from the North East of England. After making his modest debut in a pub in Gateshead in 1993, on the same bill as Ross Noble, he’s done over seven thousand gigs performing all over the world. Gavin has also supported some of the biggest household names on tour including Kevin Bridges, Lee Evans, Jack Dee and Phill Jupitus.
In 2014, he was named UK Circuit Comedian of the Year. He has also become a cult hero at the Edinburgh Fringe having performed an amazing ten solos shows. His television work includes Never Mind The Buzzcocks (BBC2), The Stand-up Show (BBC1), Does Doug Know (Channel 4), Take The Mike (ITV), The Regionnaires (Tyne Tees), The Eleven O Clock show (Channel 4), The Comedy Store, Comedy Blue (Comedy Central) and The World Stand Up Tour (Channel 9 Australia, Comedy Central USA).
"Funny, clever and as brilliantly observed as you’ll find."The Scotsman
"Like a cross between Bill Hicks and Geoff off Byker Grove."Ross Noble
Paul Ricketts as MC
Paul is an award-winning comic who since 2005 has been entertaining audiences across the UK. Since starting as an MC in his own London Comedy Club, Paul has developed into a much sought after performer on the comedy circuit. Sometimes silly, serious or surreal, sometimes autobiographical, political, or near the knuckle – but always funny!
'irreverent, rude fun' SAMPLE CLERKENWELL (2006)
"really funny " BBC RADIO (2009)
Meryl O'Rourke Acclaimed stand-up comic and accomplished TV writer Meryl O'Rourke, revels in her bitterness. A potty mouthed potty trainer, she has delighted comedy audiences, written some of the best gags on telly and even hosted pop concerts.She supported Frankie Boyle for part of his last tour, at his request. She also supported him at the Hammersmith Apollo. In his book 'Work! Consume! Die!' he calls Meryl "Inspiringly funny".
Meryl's cheeky routines of dysfunctionality get her choice gigs with major promoters. These include Up the Creek, Screaming Blue Murder, Off the Kerb, Banana, Comedy Company and The Funny Side.
She runs her own club in Tooting where she is regular MC. Her solo stand-up show Bad Mother was a hit at Edinburgh and Brighton festivals. Directed by Foster's Comedy Award nominee Thom Tuck, it received 5-star reviews and was The Times’ Critic’s Choice.
“★★★★★ Truly astonishing show…a must see” The New Current
“★★★★ Her devastatingly direct show stands out for it’s bold, boundary-breaking nature…the shocking casualness of her delivery is spot on.” Jewish Chronicle
Alun Cochrane
Award-winning stand up comedian Alun Cochrane has appeared on numerous TV shows including Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Russell Howard’s Good News, Mock The Week, Dave’s One Night Stand, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I Got News For You and 8 Out Of 10 Cats.
He was featured as series regular ‘Sam’ in the Sky Living sitcom Trying Again, alongside Chris Addison and has appeared in Coronation Street, Boomers and Russell Howard’s Christmas film A Gert Lush Christmas.
Alun is the co-host of The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute, for which he received an Arqiva Award nomination for Best Newcomer. The show also won a Sony Award for Best Entertainment Programme. He regularly features on BBC Radio 4’s The Comedy Club. Other radio credits include The Now Show, Just A Minute, Dilemma, Loose Ends, Lee Mack And Friends and Listomania. Alun wrote and starred in the Radio 4 series Alun Cochrane’s Fun House.
Alun was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Perrier Awards and has won Chortle Awards for Best Breakthrough Act and Best Compere as well as additional accolades with the Writer’s Guild Award For Comedy.
Craig Deeley as MC
Craig Deeley is a Birmingham-based stand-up who has crafted his art form over the last ten years. Craig's repertoire is one of anecdotal observational comedy, combining humble self-mockery and tapping into the ridiculousness of modern life and everyday occurrences that we all recognise.
Craig works throughout the UK and has toured extensively on the national comedy circuit including regular comedy festival appearances. He has fulfilled several broadcast media engagements and is also an experienced stage actor and improvisation performer.
What a revelation! Really good, great material! — Cheeky Monkey
“Charming Brummie with a nice take on life” - Gay Times
"His 15 minutes were over far too quickly" - BBC Birmingham
Roger Monkhouse employs a deadly combination of charm and menace to exert a masterful control over any audience. A highly original and quirky performer, Roger’s trademark stage-prowling style and curious, inimitable manner have established him as one of the hottest names on the comedy circuit.
Roger headlines at all the major comedy venues and has performed extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Internationally.
Recent television credits include ‘The Comedy Store’ and ‘The World Stands Up’, (both Paramount), ‘My God I’m My Dad’ (Bravo) and ‘Street Cred Sudoku’ (UKG2). He is one of the regular writers on Channel 4’s hugely popular comedy panel show ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’ – responsible for scripting up-to-theminute topical gags every week for the show which features Jimmy Carr alongside team captains Dave Spikey and Sean Lock.
On the airwaves, he was recently a guest panellist on comedy panel show ‘Jest A Minute’ (BBC Radio Wales) as well as contributing to review show ‘Serious About Comedy’ (BBC7).
A fine topical writer and performer, and master of sharp observational comedy, Roger is a regular member of the prestigious and critically acclaimed ‘Cutting Edge’ team at the London Comedy Store.
He also performed with the Manchester based topical and satirical team ‘MEN at Work’ at the Manchester Comedy Store. His forte is delivering intelligent, thought provoking material that pulls no punches and is always incisive, relevant and up to date. Articulate, quick witted and spontaneous, if something’s in the news, Roger has a routine about it.
“unfailingly entertaining and skilfully able to pull punchlines, seemingly, out of thin air” – Chortle
“his laconic delivery shields an engaging persona and an enquiring mind” – The Guardian
Tony Burgess
Tony Burgess is an award-winning stand-up comedian, writer and actor based in Manchester. With his instantly engaging stage persona, Tony Burgess weaves carefully crafted gags into sometimes surreal stories about northern family life, which for over 25 years has proved a hit with crowds on the UK comedy circuit.
A successful writer, Tony has written sitcoms for BBC 1/BBC 3 and Radio 4; his plays have been staged at The Royal Exchange Studio Theatre in Manchester and he’s written jokes for many big name comedians such as Steve Coogan and John Bishop. Tony also managed to get a writing credit on Wallace & Gromit and the Curse of the Were-Rabbit, so even his kids now believe that he’s got a proper job.
Tony was the winner of the prestigious City Life Comedian of the Year, came runner up in So You Think Your Funny and was nominated for best stand up and writer at the North West Comedy Awards.
He is also a founder member of the topical MEN at work team at the Comedy Store in Manchester, and has supported household names including Jenny Eclair and Johnny Vegas on national tours.
Tony wrote on the first two series of cult BBC 3 sitcom Ideal, co-wrote a Radio4 comedy, The Nightclass with Johnny Vegas “first rate acting….great characterisation and clever writing….”, and penned his own seven part BBC sitcom The Visit, which played to much acclaim on both BBC3 and BBC1.
"Tony Burgess’s excellently written comedy is made up of one sharp line after the other."The Guardian
"Great, well crafted gags."The Times
"Wish he could have talked all night: side-splitting stuff!"Metro
Tony Vino as MC
Preston’s very own funnyman. Tony Vino has been touring the comedy scene since early 2005. Well aware of social and political issues he mixes friendly well thought out observational humour with audience interaction and quick witted responses. A finalist in 2006 Funny Bones competition, his life and interests are wide ranging and so is the subject matter he weaves together on stage.
“A Great Show the assured Tony Vino copes with a mixed audience really well” Kate Copstic, The Scotsman
"Uplifting style, great delivery and consistently funny throughout” BBC Manchester
Dana Alexander
Dana draws her material from raw life experience with an original and hilarious outlook. She began her comedy career at the age of 18 years old in Canada. Before long she began touring nationally with Yuk Yuk's Comedy Clubs, completed 5 television galas and several radio spots for major stations.
In 2011 Dana moved to the U.K. where she premiered her solo hour at The Edinburgh Festival for which she received rave reviews and nominations including "Best Comic" and "Best International Act" from Chortle and Black Comedy Awards. It was not long before she then featured on British television on programmes such as "Russell Howard's Good News", "Edinburgh Comedy Fest" and "The Culture Show".
Her solo comedy special also aired in Canada's popular Stand-up show "Comedy Now" and she has been named in the Top 10 Comedians 3 years running by NOW Magazine in Canada. Dana can be seen on stage within in the U.K. and Internationally in more than 40 countries.
"Refreshing and Fearless. Her comedic style has been described as 'smart, irreverent and revolutionary" - Now Magazine
"Like a gift from the comedy gods" - The Herald
"Gloriously dark and painfully funny" - The Scotsman
"An absolute powerhouse performance on stage. Like the fireworks at the end of the Festival she's tightly timed, mercilessly efficient and very, very loud" - The Skinny
Jonny Awsum is an alternative comedian who reached the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent in 2017.
A comedic whirlwind, Jonny’s feel-good brand of musical comedy has seen him rise from fresh faced newbie to a highly sought after headline act. Jonny has been travelling the UK and beyond, armed with an impressive arsenal of jokes and his trusty guitar. His crowd-pleasing set sees Jonny regularly ending his sets to standing ovations and demands of an encore.
"Awsum is sharp, likeable and his infectious and amusing songs, largely inspired by his day-to-day observations, provide numerous belly-aching, laugh-out-loud cheers. This is a fine burst of late-night slapstick goodness from promising debutant Jonny Awsum." – The Big Issue
" This person is unbelievable. Jonny Awsum; brilliant comic who has definitely got big things ahead for him."– Jason Manford
Karen Bayley as MC
Karen Bayley from Birmingham has been on the circuit for over a decade. She reached the semi-final of the prestigious BBC New Comedy Awards and was later crowned the winner of the 2001 Komedia New Act prize, Karen Bayley followed by becoming the first ever female winner of the prestigious Comedy Store King Gong award as well as reaching the finals of both the BBC New Comedy Awards Showcase and Babycham Funny Women.
Delightfully saucy, her friendly and confident stage presence, combined with a killer wit and some devastating one-liners make her a comedic force to be reckoned with.
Karen can be seen performing at all the established clubs and bookers across the UK and has recently been supporting Joe Lycett on his 2016 tour.
“I saw her recently and she blew my socks off. She doesn’t dwell too much on “lady issues”. Funny in her own right, she was brilliant, clever and she’s gonna be huge.” BBC Online.
“Karen is one of the most consistently hilarious comedians I have had the pleasure of working with . She’s a sharp writer and an unflappable compère, able to cajole any room with her warm audience interaction and precise intelligent gags, ” Joe Lycett
Jo Enright
Most recently seen playing the part of ‘Angela’ in ITV Sitcom The Job Lot, Jo Enright has starred alongside Steve Coogan in I’m Alan Partridge and with Peter Kay in Phoenix Nights. Other recent comedy roles include in BBC Two Sitcom Lab Rats playing the part of Cara and on BBC/HBO’s Life’s Too Short as Warwick Davis’ wife Sue.
For more than a decade now the highly acclaimed comedienne Jo Enright has crafted a completely unique style of stand-up comedy. As well as accepting numerous invitations to perform it both on television and radio, Jo also thrives on live theatre performances, for which she has won several comedy awards including the 2002 Chortle Award for ‘The Best Female Circuit Comic.’ and 2001 Best Female on the Jongleurs Comedy Circuit award.
“One of the most naturally gifted comic talents I’ve ever seen.”
Peter Kay
“If she was broccoli, I’d turn vegetarian.”
Barry Cryer
“One of Britain’s best character actresses.”
The Independent. (Grace Dent)
Archie Kelly is best known for playing ‘Kenny Senior’ in Channel 4′s ‘Phoenix Nights’. Further TV credits include Peter Kay’s ‘Car Share’, ‘Max and Paddy’s Road To Nowhere’, ‘Coronation Street’, ‘Shameless’, ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘The Street’. He was also involved with the enormously successful ‘Jumping On The Bandwagon’ theatre stand-up tour with Paddy McGuinness.
His comedy is effortlessly funny and he is the epitome of a master performer with a unique combination of jokes, tightly paces anecdotes, and musical parodies. As a result, he’s much in demand all over the UK and beyond.
Tawdry cookery analogies aside Mr Kelly is a dynamite comedic entity who will ensure belly laughs a-plenty and is a headline performer throughout Britain and beyond.
“Funniest thing I’ve seen in ages” Peter Kay
“Inspired storytelling and wickedly witty asides mixed with fantastic vocal mimicry” BBC
Kev Precious as MC
Is a stand-up comedian, MC and former teacher. He has performed his stand-up comedy routines at top venues all over the country inc: Jongleurs; the Glee; the Stand; the Comedy Cafe; and the Frog and Bucket. Added to this, he has worked for leading comedy agents such as Off the Kerb and Christian Knowles Productions. Combining his stand-up with tales of his former exploits as a teacher, he toured the nations’s arts centres and theatres with a show entitled ‘Not Appropriate’.
"Kevin's stage charisma and poise set him head and shoulders above the previous acts."
- The Times.
"If he were any more laid back he'd fall over - we fell over laughing."
- The Evening Standard.