Preview: Laughing Cows moos on in September
September sees more top comedy from Laughing Cows Comix Live in Manchester and Glossop.
Performing in both Manchester and Glossop this month is the up-and-coming Kiri Pritchard McLean.
The Anglesey brought up comedian, who is now resident in Manchester, is currently making waves on the national circuit with sets of gags provoking belly laughs all the way.
She’s also the non-performing writer member of deliciously dark sketch troupe Gein’s Family Giftshop, who were nominated for the prestigious Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Newcomer Award at the Fringe last month.
Providing the support in Manchester are Laura Machin and double act Doolally while the glorious Kerry Leigh comperes. In addition Machin provides the support in Glossop too while the cheeky and exuberant Lou Conran hosts.
Now in their 16th year, Laughing Cows have opened clubs across the nation and expanded onto the continent playing host to a number of big name female comedy acts whilst also nurturing new talent.
The club began life in London in 1998 when founder Hazel O’Keefe took up the gauntlet thrown down by a well-established club promoter when he confessed that the reason he wouldn’t book two female acts to play the same bill was that, ‘I wouldn’t take that risk’.
O’Keefe set out to prove that female comedians aren’t some kind of bizarre specialist act or, the other common misconception, that all perform the same kind of material but in actual fact are as varied and as myriad performers as any comedian – regardless of gender. In addition, Laughing Cows set out to confound not just those mistaken promoters but some audience members who seem to think that they don’t find women funny.
O’Keefe set up her first club within the bar she was then running in London. A few years later she returned to her native Manchester where she set up an additional club. Sixteen years on and with the addition of Maureen Younger on the team, there are clubs all over the country including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester and Reading as well as in Berlin.
The clubs not only promote existing female talent but also provide a nurturing environment in which burgeoning comics can develop their skills away from the male dominated stand up scene. The clubs offer not just open spots to female comics but there’s the new act night, Laughing Calves, too. The club has helped acts such as Hayley Ellis and Kerry Leigh hone their skills and Sarah Millican was the resident MC early in her career.
Laughing Cows plays host to many big name comedians. Acts that have graced the stage include the legendary Jo Brand, the award winning Jenny Éclair, Phoenix Nights’ Janice Connolly, the Perrier nominated Donna McPhail, former LA resident Gina Yashere, the incisive wit of Shazia Mirza, Peep Show’s Isy Suttie, actor and comedian Jo Enright, Iranian comedian and telly regular Shappi Khorsandi and sharp TV writer and performer Jo Caulfield.
Of the club Isy Suttie noted: “I have always loved gigging for Laughing Cows, they have such a love of comedy and look after the acts so well. As a consequence the gigs are a joy to play because they’re not out to make a fast buck; they really care that everyone – acts and audience – have as much fun as possible.”
The team have recently put on the first ever Women in Comedy Festival with the second set for October 2014.
Operating an inclusive policy, Laughing Cows also invites transgender and gender queer comedians who identify as female to perform and men are more than welcome in the audiences.
Manchester: Sunday 28 September, with Kiri Pritchard McLean, Doolally and Laura Machin. Compere Kerry Leigh. The Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street, M4 1LJ. Doors 7pm, Show 8pm. £5 early bird ticket, £7 advance and £9 on the door.
Glossop: Saturday 27 September, with Kiri Pritchard McLean and Laura Machin. Compere Lou Conran. The Globe Inn, 144 High Street West, Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 8HJ. Doors 7pm, Show 8pm. £5 early bird tickets, £7 advance tickets, £9 on the door. Tickets also available from Praze on the High Street West.
