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.
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.
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.
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.
Scare City returns to abandoned North West theme park for another year of terror this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Scare City will be back in the North West once again this Halloween with its spine-chilling immersive horror experience.
After having firmly cemented itself as the region‘s favourite horror event for the past five years running, Scare City has announced that it’s getting ready for ‘another year of terror’ over in Lancashire, and although it may be the middle of summer right now and spooky season is some time off, tickets are currently on sale.
One summer is over, the nights draw in, and the temperatures begin to drop, Scare City will be taking over the grounds of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park once again from this September, just as it has done for the past four years following the success of its initial 2020 launch as a drive-in cinema.
This year’s event is set to feature a selection of terrifying zones.
Scare City returns to an abandoned North West theme park for another year of terror this Halloween / Credit: Jason Roberts (Supplied)
The abandoned theme park will be transformed into a sprawling post-apocalyptic nightmare, featuring new immersive experiences.
Some of the new zones include desolate woodland ‘The Hollow’, and the ‘Puppet Master’, a toy maker’s workshop where innocent toys hide deep dark secrets, as well as the return of a number of familiar spooky spots like ‘The Slaughter House’ and ‘Carnivalley’.
The frightening Abyss is also set to return as ‘Abyss 2.0′, where thrill-seekers’ bravery will be put to the test in claustrophobic darkness, all while they’re unsure of what, or who, might be within reach.
Don’t worry though, if you need a bit of a break from all the terror, then once you’ve made it halfway around the attraction, you’ll arrive at the aptly-named the ‘Resurrection Zone’, so you can take a moment to fuel up on the feast of food and drink freshly-prepared by on-site vendors, all ready for the second half of the harrowing Halloween spectacular.
Scare City 2025 will take over Camelot Theme Park, in Charnock Richard near Chorley in Lancashire, from Thursday 25 September and run until mid-November.
Tickets are now available to book at £29.50 for standard entry, or £44.50 for the ‘Gold Entry’ (both plus a booking fee), which allows you to fast-track queues at the main entrance and at all zones, if you just can’t wait any longer to be scared.
Get your hands on tickets via the Scare City website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Manchester Arndale is hosting FREE workshops to help you ‘rework, restyle, and recycle’ your wardrobe
Emily Sergeant
Is your wardrobe feeling a little bland? Need to make some changes, but your bank account isn’t quite on the same wavelength? This event is here to help.
Those looking for some new ways to get creative with their style and put a spin on the clothes they already have are invited to head down to Manchester Arndale this weekend, as the Reimagine Your Fashion event is set to be a fun hands-on weekend celebrating personal style, smart choices, and sustainable ideas.
Whether you’re into upcycling, love yourself a styling session, or you just fancy doing something different in the city this summer, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into this weekend.
You can expect creative workshops, curated fashion rails, live styling tips, and a chance to give your pre-loved clothes a second life.
Oh, and did we mention it’s all free to take part in? Perfect.
There’s a collection of free ‘REWORK’ workshops taking place over the two-day event on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July, where you can learn how to turn old into gold – from patchwork denim makeovers, to scrunchie making, custom tote design, and loads more.
There’s no need to be a sewing pro either, as the workshops are beginner-friendly and designed to be relaxed and creative with all tools provided, so all you have to do is bring along the clothing items you want to upcycle.
Manchester Arndale is hosting free workshops to help you ‘rework, restyle, and recycle’ your wardrobe this weekend / Credit: Priscilla Du Preez | Ashley Diane Worsham (via Unsplash)
At the ‘RESTYLE’ sessions, Rosie, who is the stylist behind Manchester Arndale’s summer campaign, will break down this season’s biggest trends and show you how to style what’s in store now, as well as being on-hand for styling tips and outfit advice.
And finally, there’ll also be a ‘RECYCLE’ station and drop-off point where you pass on your clean pre-loved clothes to two brilliant local charities doing vital work right here in Manchester – MASH, which supports women involved in sex work and those facing homelessness or gender-based violence, and Mustard Tree which works to tackle poverty across Greater Manchester.
“Your clothes could be someone else’s fresh start,” a spokesperson for Manchester Arndale said ahead of the event.
Reimagine Your Fashion is taking place at Exchange Court in Manchester Arndale on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July running from 12pm, and you can find out more information and the times of the free workshops online here.
Danny Jones -
16th August 2024 
