Review: Quippodrome, Mono, Manchester

Pictured: Jack Evans

MC Jack Evans and Quippopotamus cohorts Jayne Edwards, Jon Whiteley and Edy Hurst laid down a fabulous belated Christmas show at Chorlton’s Mono on Thursday, complete with posh Christmas biscuits, haphazard tinsel and an unwieldy drunk (who left during the break, happily).

Quippopotamus runs two comedy nights in Manchester throughout the month, one of which is their Quippodrome gig. This month the very funny Will Setchell performed a guest set that featured routines about morality, railcards and tattooed moustaches.

Past acts have included Manchester circuit regulars like Harriet Dyer, Phil Ellis, Red Redmond and Kiri Pritchard-McLean, as well as international comics Will Franken and John Hastings.

Quippopotamus is ace for championing alternative and experimental comedy in Manchester, in small venues to smart audiences. This is another Manchester comedy fixture that very much deserves the laughs and support of the North West’s collective comedy fans.

January’s Quippodrome offered a completely mad, unexpectedly bizarre and very funny collection of stand-up, character comedy and just-about seasonal references to an over-hyped Father Christmas.

Jack Evan’s pick-up artist Maurice, in particular, was massively entertaining; and Jon Whitely’s comedy peformances are certainly something to seek out (which shouldn’t be difficult with three club nights a month, two of which are pay what you want events). It’s worth checking out Quippodrome if only to see how much of an inclusively experimental performance comedy can be, while being simultaneously hilarious.

Quippopotamus runs at Fuel on the fourth Sunday of every month, and their comedy night Quippodrome is at Mono on the second Thursday of every month. Their next gig will be on the 25 January, with ‘rock and roll IT consultants’ Foxdog Studios. You can get more updates by liking their Facebook page or by following them on Twitter.