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.
Headlined by the hilarious Off Menu star Ed Gamble, the inimitable Frankie Boyle and BAFTA nominee Lucy Beaumont, 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.
Each show presents a compilation of the absolute best stand-up, paired with all your favourite bevs and the leading lights of Manchester’s street-food scene – making this five-night festival a highlight in the city calendar.
Taking place from September 3-7, 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.
Ed Gamble, Frankie Boyle and Lucy Beaumont will be joined by the delightfully acidic Fern Brady, Netflix sensation Phil Wang, Emmy nominee Rob Delaney, Taskmaster treasures Sam Campbell and Bridget Christie, as well as nuclear-energy Russell Kane among the headline name-drops for this year.
Laughterama will also have household faves such as Royal Variety star Rosie Jones, cult comic/poet Tim Key, stand-up phenomenon Sarah Keyworth, Last One Laughing’s Lou Sanders, King Gary star Tom Davis, Viceland’s Jamali Maddix, viral sensation Jen Brister as well as Manchester’s very own comedy heroes Rachel Fairburn and Stephen Bailey.
Visitors can also come and discover their new favourite entertainers with a host of fast-rising break-through acts, like Edinburgh Fringe Award nominee Jin Hao Li, fast-rising talents Sharon Wanjohi and Dane Buckley, razor sharp Lara Ricote, and so many more.
Will Briggs said: “We’re thrilled to be returning to Castlefield Bowl with our biggest line-up yet. Every festival we’ve done here has been electric and this year’s is set to be an all-time great! There’s so many incredible acts on each show and we cannot wait to get started.”
Laughterama 2025 line-up
Wednesday 3rd September, 7.30pm
Ed Gamble
Tom Davis
Lara Ricote
Rosie Jones
Chloe Petts
Thursday 4th September, 7.30pm
Phil Wang
Tim Key
Celya AB
Lucy Beaumont
Michelle De Swarte
Friday 5th September, 7.30pm
Fern Brady
Bridget Christie
Jin Hao Li
Sarah Keyworth
Jen Brister
Saturday 6th September, 4pm
Rob Delaney
Lou Sanders
Dane Buckley
Rachel Fairburn
Saturday 6th September, 7.30pm
Sam Campbell
Fin Taylor
Sharon Wanjohi
Rhys James
Catherine Bohart
Sunday 7th September, 4pm
Russell Kane
Rachel Parris
Josh Pugh
Josephine Lacey
Stephen Bailey
Sunday 7th September, 7.30pm
Frankie Boyle
Jamali Maddix
Fatiha El-Ghorri
Ania Magliano
Kiri Pritchard-McLean
The event takes place at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester between September 3 & 7, and you can pick up tickets here.
