A Hilarious Comedy Festival With Jon Richardson, Dara Ó Briain & Sarah Pascoe Is Coming To Manchester

The funny festival Laughterama, which launched in 2022, is coming back to Manchester this September with some big names in the comedy circuit heading to the city.

Laura Ellis - Managing Editor • September 3, 2024

laughterama comedy festival manchester comedian on stage — Credit: Lloyd Winters

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Comedy fans rejoice, because the funny festival Laughterama is returning to Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl – and the line-up is absolutely stellar. A welcome addition to the Manchester festival scene (which is currently dominated by food and music), Laughterama is set to bring some of the UK’s top talent to one place – many of which you’ll likely recognise from Netflix comedy specials and hit shows such as Taskmaster.

audience at laughterama festival at castlefield bowl manchester — Credit: Lloyd Winters

Headlined by the hilarious 8 Out of 10 Cats team captain Jon Richardson and multi award-winning Sarah Pascoe, guests will get to enjoy an array of acts throughout the five-night festival, alongside multi-act shows which will see comedians come together, some of Manchester’s best street food, and, of course, a fully stocked bar. Laughterama, burst onto the scene in September 2022 with a dazzling series of sell-out shows starring James Acaster, Aisling Bea, Josh Widdicombe and many more, welcoming over 10,000 comedy-lovers from Manchester and beyond to the event.

Taking place from September 4-8, the festival is organised by comedy-loving duo Will Briggs and Cass Randolph, who are responsible for some of the best comedy events in the UK including the Greenwich Comedy Festival, Brighton Comedy Garden and more.

laughterama 2024 line up poster — Credit: Supplied

Jon Richardson and Sarah Pascoe will be joined by British Comedy Award winner Stewart Lee, Taskmaster star Phil Wang and task-champion Dara Ó Briain, BAFTA nominee Simon Amstell, and Irish queen of comedy and podcast supremo Joanne McNally. Further stand-out stand-ups on this year’s impeccable bill include cult comic/poet Tim Key, bumbling charmster Ivo Graham, Live At The Apollo’s Jen Brister, Masked Singer host Joel Dommett, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Sophie Duker, wildly acclaimed Rob Auton, the unmissable Reginald D Hunter plus homegrown Manchester superheroes Rachel Fairburn, Dan Tiernan and Josh Jones, to name just a few.

Visitors can also come and discover their new favourite entertainers with a host of fast-rising break-through acts, like Edinburgh Comedy Award best newcomer nominee Lindsey Santoro, viral sensation Janine Harouni, hotly tipped Jin Hao Li, Louise Young, and many more.

jon richardson who will perform at laughterama — Credit: Supplied

Will Briggs said: “We’re thrilled to be returning to Castlefield Bowl with our biggest line-up yet. To have some of my all-time favourite acts on the bill alongside some really exciting new talent is a dream. The atmosphere is going to be electric and we’re counting down the days till our opening night.”

Cass Randolph added: “We can’t wait to get back to Manchester and welcome back our audiences for more amazing shows. This will be our third year, and with this year’s incredible line-up we’ll once more hear the laughter ring out across the city.”