The much-loved Laughterama comedy festival is coming back to Manchester next month and with a lineup as good as this, you’d be a total muppet worthy of heckling not to check it out.
Boasting everyone from venerable veterans of the comedy industry and familiar TV faces to some of the most exciting new stand-ups on the circuit, Laughterama never fails to pack a punch and deliver you all the variety you could hope for.
The return of the five-day laugh-fest marks just the third edition of the event which has already attracted some huge names from all over the UK and across the global comedy scene too.
Running from 4-8 September over at the legendary outdoor Castlefield Bowl amphitheatre, which was packed out for several consecutive weekends for this year’s Sounds of the City, we’re looking forward to a boatload of belly laughs.
Just like every year, Laughterama 2024 has some serious headliners rocking up this time around too, with legends like British Comedy Award winner Stewart Lee, 8 Out of 10 Cats team captain and stand-up master Jon Richardson; the Perrier Award-winning Dylan Moran and SO many more.
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We’re talking cult favourite, BAFTA nominee and former Never Mind The Buzzcocks presenter Simon Amstell, Live at the Apollo and Taskmaster stars Phil Wang and Sam Campbell, long-serving Mock the Week host Dara Ó Briain, and the Irish queen of comedy and podcast supremo herself, Joanne McNally.
But if this lineup was a joke, we’re nowhere close to the punchline; we’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to the funny faces set to take the Laughterama stage for 2024.
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Local names include Manchester stand-up Josh Jones and Dan Tiernan, who’ll be battling to be the funniest Manc comics at this year’s festival, and there’s also a fair few international names making the trip over, such as adopted Brit Reginald D Hunter, Kemah Bob, Janine Harouni and tonnes more.
The best part about the whole event, though, is that it operates like any other good festival does: by stocking up plenty of bars for laughter-fuelling libations, plus providing some of the best street vendors from around Greater Manchester’s ever-thriving foodie scene and more.
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Will Briggs, one of the organisers from 57 Festivals who helps bring Laughterama to life, said ahead of this year’s event: “We can’t wait to get back to Castlefield Bowl, the energy of our Manchester crowds is electric and our acts always feed off that.
“Each show is totally unique and stacked with the absolute best comedians of the moment, this year is going to be another total blast.”
Tickets for Laughterama 2024 are live as we speak and selling out quicker than a one-liner, which is no surprise considering it’s just £25 for a day pass. You can grab yours HERE.
Adults-only ‘after hours’ event returns to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum next month
Emily Sergeant
A popular adults-only ‘after hours’ event is returning to Manchester next month.
Fancy releasing your inner child? If you need an excuse to leave the little Mancs at home, then one of Manchester’s most visited museums might have just what you’re looking for, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced that its popular After Hours event especially for adults is returning for one night only next month.
You’ll get to celebrate the energy that ‘sparked a revolution’ with an evening of interactive games, live music, and unique experiences as you explore the Museum once it’s closed for the day.
It’s your chance to be among the first to explore the newly re-opened Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery after dark, and experience the sights, smells, and sounds of engine-driven ideas that started in Manchester and went on to change the world.
An adults-only ‘after hours’ event is coming to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum next month / Credit: Science Museum Group
The Museum’s permanent galleries and displays will also be open after hours, so you can get hands-on with science in Experiment, meet mighty machines in the Textiles Gallery, and discover Manchester‘s rich legacy of industrial innovations, creativity, and world-changing ideas in Revolution Manchester.
You’ll also be embrace your inner child with free access to the brand-new world premiere exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, which just opened last week in time for half term, and of course, indulge your playful side in Power Up – with more than 150 consoles to choose from in the ultimate gaming exhibition.
Especially for this particular evening, you can look forward to some very special one-off events, as well as the chance to take part in a whole host of high-energy interactive games.
There’ll be an ‘unforgettable’ performance from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Viola, celebrating all things power with a spectacular combination of violin and vocals, as well as a set from musician Mike Cunningham who’ll light up the evening with bold and colourful LED drumming inspired by the sounds of Manchester’s industry and creative spirit.
And of course, as this is an adults-only event, the museum’s events bar will be popping up on the night, and will be serving up a wide range of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks to wet your whistle while you’re looking around, with some delicious food to accompany too.
A McDonald’s x Friends festival took over Bolton yesterday, with episodes screening at Cineworld and exclusive merch available
Daisy Jackson
Friends fans, gather round – a huge event dedicated to the hit sitcom took over Bolton yesterday, with exclusive screenings and limited-edition merch – and even if you missed the Friends festival, you can still get in on the action.
The Cineworld Bolton was turned into an ultimate immersive Friends experience, all thanks to McDonald’s and its collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) and DCM.
The event was created to coincide with the release of the brand-new, limited-edition Friends Meal at McDonald’s, which features a different character collectible in each meal – a miniature Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani, Chandler Bing or Ross Geller.
McDonald’s will be taking its Friends festival to 12 locations right across the UK, bringing the beloved show to the big screen.
As well as episodes being screened in the cinema, there’ll be merch, fun photo moments, and unmissable experiences.
It took place in Bolton for one day only, with fans able to hop in a free AI photobooth that turns you into a Friends-style collectible (which you could then print onto a t-shirt and take home for free).
Then at all stops on the tour you can kick back with a free Maccies in hand to watch classic episodes on the big screen.
The limited-time Friends Meal from McDonald’s, which launched last week, features one-offs like Monica’s Marinara Sauce (Italian tomato sauce with garlic, onion and herbs), plus those adorable character collectibles.
There’s Ross with his pet monkey, Rachel serving coffee, Monica in full chef mode, Phoebe with her guitar, and Chandler and Joey with their chick and duck duo.
You can choose from a Big Mac®, 9 McNuggets®, or a McPlant® meal to gain one of the six collectibles from your local participating McDonald’s.
There’s also a chance to win one of four exclusive Friends-inspired mugs through the McDonald’s App if you’re an MMR customer.
Tickets for the Friends and McDonald’s event have gone faster than Ross can say “We were on a break”, but you can check the latest availability HERE.
Danny Jones -
16th August 2024 
