UK Women in Comedy Festival to return

The UK Women in Comedy Festival, which debuted in Manchester last year, will return in 2014.

Organiser Hazel O’Keefe today confirmed that the festival will be back for two weeks this October at comedy venues across the North West.

The festival aims to reflect “what women in comedy want to showcase and discuss” and give female comics an opportunity to “get feedback from industry, insiders and professionals.”

O’Keefe, who also runs the all-female comedy promoters Laughing Cows, told Giggle Beats: “We’re delighted to confirm the Women in Comedy Festival is back in 2014.

“Last year’s festival was pulled together in 10 weeks. This year we have a much more formed team and, with 10 months planning this time, it’s going to be nothing short of sensational.

“We have made so many friends on this journey and have formed lots of new partnerships so there will be lots of new venues and shows. The crew are out of this world and have really got stuck in with the planning.”

The second annual UK Women in Comedy Festival kicks off on Saturday 11 October with a launch night hosted by Janey Godley at The Dancehouse Theatre in Manchester.

Zoe Lyons [pictured] will headline the opening night before taking her new show to The King’s Arms in Salford on Sunday 12 October.

The Frog and Bucket in Manchester’s Northern Quarter have the honour of hosting the final show on Sunday 26 October, as Laughing Cows resident MC Kerry Leigh comperes a comedy showcase featuring, amongst others, Luisa Omielan.

The only other stand-ups confirmed so far are Jo Enright and Jo Caulfield, who will make her Women in Comedy Festival debut after endorsing last year’s all-female showcase.

But there are sure to be more big names announced in the coming months as organisers look to build on the momentum of last year’s success.

“We’ve already confirmed some top acts and organised various showcases to promote the freshest new talent in the UK,” O’Keefe confirmed.

“[This year] there will be a big focus on providing women with opportunities to gain and share more skills in the production of the festival.

“Last year we successfully trained several female sound engineers and we will be building on that this year.”

• Early bird tickets are on sale now for the Women in Comedy Festival launch night on 11 October, priced £11. Click for tickets.
  
• For more information on the UK Women in Comedy Festival, including details of how to get involved, see: womenincomedy.co.uk.