Autumn Shows and Workshops

It might not feel like it during this heat wave but summer is nearly over! We've just about recovered from our Edinburgh Fringe run - full houses, glowing audiences, lots of fun and very little sleep - and it's time to look to what the rest of the year has in store. With more improv comedy shows and workshops to look forward to there's something for everyone...

The fun kicks off with some fierce competition as ComedySportz heads to Fierce Bar, Manchester on Tuesday 12th September. Get ready for a night of all action, all improvised competitive comedy fun. The venue may be adults only but it'll still be a good clean match! Tickets are just £5 and available online or on the door.

Fierce Bar is also the new home of The Totally Improvised Musical. We'll be composing brand new comedy musicals every first Tuesday of the month. Our next show there on Tuesday 3rd October - get your tickets here. Fierce Bar is a really exciting space in the heart of Manchester's Northern Quarter with plenty of great shows every week.

Wait, there's more...?

We're back for another season at Waterside Arts starting with ComedySportz on Saturday 23rd September (tickets here). Join us for some award-winning family friendly fun and don't forget to dress up for Halloween Spooktacular in October!

The Totally Improvised Musical will also be returning to Chorley Theatre in September. Then we'll once again be celebrating another ComedySportz birthday there in November.

The New Adelphi Comedy Night will be returning to the University of Salford from next month. A night of improv, stand-up and sketch featuring some of the best and brightest up and coming voices in comedy. The first show is in October - tickets are available on the door only.

And is it too early to start talking about the return of The Totally Improvised Pantomime in December? With family friendly and adults only shows there will be plenty of festive fun! Oh yes there will! Some dates are on sale now with more dates and venues to be added soon...

Improv Comedy and Stand-Up Comedy Courses

Want to get in on the fun yourself but don't know where to start? There is still time and space to sign up to our upcoming Foundation Improv, Intermediate Improv and Beginning Stand-Up Comedy courses. Under expert tutelage, you'll learn core skills, develop new connections and have plenty of fun and laughter with workshops for every level of experience. We also have two remaining scholarship places for global majority applicants - get in touch to find out more.

New to comedy? Our Foundation Improv and Beginning Stand-Up Comedy courses are designed to help you find your feet, hone your voice and build up confidence. Got some improv experience? Try our Intermediate Improv course with deep-dives into specific skills and performance tools to help develop your improv. All courses start Saturday 30th September so don't delay and sign up today!

Live Shows Return!

We started 2020 with plans for new shows and new venues across Manchester, as well as our biggest Edinburgh Fringe yet! Things... did not go to plan and it hasn't been the most laugh filled year for live comedy. Luckily our players "Yes, And-ed" the heck out of the situation and we're now fast approaching 100 online shows! However, since lockdown began the one thing we've all been waiting for is the return of live comedy shows...

...So we're absolutely delighted to announce that on Thursday 29th October we will be performing our first live show since February! We'll be coming out of lockdown at the aptly named Lock 91, Manchester. Tickets will go on sale via our website in the next few days and we'll also be adding information to our on how we're adapting shows to make them COVID safe for audiences and  players.

Never seen a ComedySportz match before? Two teams go for gold with quick-witted gags and games inspired by your suggestions. There's a referee to ensure a good clean match with fouls for bad behaviour and bad jokes. It's all action, all improvised competitive comedy fun where YOU get to decide the winner!

 

To make things even more exciting, this show will be an improv double bill with the absolutely brilliant Absolute Onions. They'll take a Karaoke classic chosen by the audience and perform an improvised narrative that will uncover the surprising real story behind that song!

Please note that due to Lock 91's licence the venue is strictly 18+ so, whilst we'll still be playing a good clean match we can't allow children in the audience.

COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS

UPDATE: UNFORTUNATELY THESE GIGS HAVE NOW BEEN CANCELLED.

However, on Friday 30th October we're joining our friends at Comedy Club 4 Kids for an afternoon of family friendly fun at Theatr Clwyd, Mold. Comedy Club 4 Kids get the best Stand-Ups, Improvisers and Sketch Acts from the international circuit for fantastic family friendly shows. It's a doozy of a line-up too as we join compere Silky and master of mischief Martin Mor for an hour of non-stop giggles! There are two chances to catch the show (1.30pm and 4.30pm) and advance booking is required.

ONLINE SHOWS AND WORKSHOPS CONTINUE

We'll be continuing our online ComedySportz matches every Saturday at 7pm BST. You can watch and subscribe at our youtube channel. Catch our 3rd October show here. Our online ComedySportz matches are family friendly and free to watch (however donations are gratefully received).

We also have two extra shows this month including the return of the New Adelphi Comedy Night in collaboration with Salford University and the second episode of The Improvised Final Frontier, our new sci-fi parody show. Please note neither shows are family friendly.

We still don't know when we'll be able to start in person workshops again however we are making tentative plans for how this might happen. In the mean time our improv drop-ins are back with a great line up of fun and friendly workshops. Sessions run Saturdays 2.30-4.30pm BST and cost just £5. They're a great way to hone your improv skills, have fun and play online!

We'll still be continuing with our online content for the rest of the year and we're hoping to announce even more live events (including our improvised pantomimes) in the coming weeks. Join our mailing list for monthly announcements and be sure to follow us on social media for regular updates on all of our shows and workshops. Thank you for continuing to support live and livestream comedy!

All Upcoming Shows

Upcoming Improv Drop-Ins

 

 

End of Year Shows 2018

As the days grow colder, the clocks go back and the year draws to a close, we've still got plenty of shows and events to keep you entertained.

We've got two shows at the end of October, including our Halloween Special at The Waterside in Sale, whilst November sees us celebrate 17 years of laughter back at the venue where it all began, Chorley Little Theatre.

comedysportz improvised pantomime shows festive fun

In December, our Improvised Pantomime returns for more unscripted festive fun inspired by your suggestions and a sprinkling of fairy dust. There are plenty of chances to catch the show  as we'll be bringing it to The Way Theatre in Atherton and Ramsbottom Civic Hall on December 8th and then back to The Waterside on 14th and 15th December.

Finally, we're delighted to have been asked to perform two ComedySportz shows at The Piece Hall on the 22nd and 27th December after our guest appearance at their kids comedy show last year. These will be hour long shows so you'll have plenty of time to spend in the shops and cafes of this fabulous venue. It's a great way to spend a day in that gap between Christmas and New Year.

Tickets for all of these events are on sale now - book early to avoid disappointment! Tickets, times and dates for all of our upcoming shows can be found here.

And if all that isn't enough comedy for you, we'll also have Improv Mullet on the first Saturday of every month at The Kings Arms and New Adelphi Comedy Night on the first Tuesday of every month at The New Adelphi Studio at Salford University.

 

ComedySportz Summer Update and The Year Ahead!

Well, as the dust settles over another busy summer for ComedySportz, we wanted to do a quick round up of our summer and all the shows, workshops and events we've got coming up for the rest of the year!

JUNE

Way back in June - it feels like a long time ago to us anyway - a small team of our players took part in the ComedySportz World Championship in Los Angeles. Manchester's all female team defeated ComedySportz Houston in a hotly contested match of wits and players also reffed the matches between Sacramento, LA, Cincinatti and Austin! Every year the World Championship renews our commitment to the core values of ComedySportz Worldwide: Collaboration, Inspiration, Gratitude and Fun.

Prior to the shows in LA, two of our players drove across the US to play with ComedySportz Boston (only 3 hours off the plane), Richmond, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Quad Cities and St. Louis. It was an epic road trip and they loved getting to play with such dynamic and brilliantly funny people.

Didn't know ComedySportz was part of a worldwide family of shows? There are over 25 ComedySportz teams across the world, with more set to join the CSz family in the coming year - hello ComedySportz Las Vegas!

The CSz Worldwide network gives us access to some of the best Improv skills and training which we channel into our own workshops and shows.

ComedySportz Manchester World Championship

JULY

In July, CSzUK produced the play Auntie & Me for the Greater Manchester Fringe. This deliciously dark comedy was well-received by audiences and was an absolute delight to once again bring to the stage.

We were also delighted to have players from ComedySportz join 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' legend Tony Slattery for his new show Crimes Against Improv. It was a wild and unpredictable night and it was an absolute honour to play with him.

Tony Slattery

AUGUST

August saw ComedySportz Manchester return to the Edinburgh Fringe for the 11th year, performing two shows a day to fantastic crowds. We loved our time so much that we went back up at the end of the month with ComedySportz 4 Tots!

We've posted plenty about that recently but just want to say a big, heart-felt thank you to all of our audiences for your suggestions and laughter, to all of the staff at both of our venues Fireside and The Three Sisters, and Alex and the team at The Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We can't wait to see you all again in 2019...

Edinburgh Fringe

STILL TO COME

...But 2018 isn't over yet and we have lots of exciting shows, workshops and events coming up. First up, don't miss Improv Mullet featuring special guest Nathan Jansen (Baby Wants Candy, iO, ComedySportz Chicago). Improv Mullet is our adults only show that combines short and longform improv comedy with quick gags and games in the first half and a whole improvised play in the second. We're absolutely thrilled to have Nathan join us for this show and you really don't want to miss it! As always, anyone with a genuine Mullet gets in for free.

Improv Mullet. 1st September. 7.30pm. £3 on the door. The Kings Arms, Salford.

Nathan will also be joining us for a one day workshop on Narrative Improv on September 1st and we also have a couple of spaces left on our two-day sketch writing workshop this weekend as well.

Speaking of workshops, spaces are really starting to fill up on our 8 week Foundation in Improv and Beginning Stand Up Comedy courses commencing 6th October 2018. Whether you're looking to develop new performance skills, improve communication and listening, build confidence or just want to rediscover play and have a laugh with new people then our workshops are for you! Find out more about all of our upcoming workshops and courses on our workshops page.

improv workshops manchester

We have plenty of upcoming ComedySportz shows at the Waterside in Sale and the fantastic new theatre space The Way in Atherton. If you're looking for big laughs for really little kids be sure to check out ComedySportz 4 Tots at the Waterside as well! We celebrated 10 years at Waterside earlier this year and are really excited to be collaborating with The Way.

We'll be celebrating our 17th year with our annual return to Chorley Little Theatre in November. Tickets are available now!

We're also delighted to be continuing our collaboration with the University of Salford as The New Adelphi Comedy Night returns in September.

Finally, to round out the year our Improvised Pantomime returns to the Waterside. We're thrilled to be bringing back the show as it proved to be a real hit in 2017.

You can find out about all of our upcoming shows here.

Edinburgh Fringe Update!

Edinburgh Fringe Family Friendly

Two matches a day! Two teams of top improvisers! ONE winner! (...you!)

We're having a blast at the Edinburgh Fringe with two shows a day jam-packed with quick-witted gags, games, sketches and songs inspired by our wonderful audiences. We've been delighted to be joined by ComedySportz players from across the world (Boston, New York, San Jose so far) and have had lovely crowds with some brilliant suggestions! All of our audience volunteers have been absolutely fantastic!

Not seen a ComedySportz show before? Don't miss out on our fast-paced all ages, all action, all improvised show where two teams compete for your laughs! There's a referee on hand to ensure a good clean game with penalties for bad behaviour and bad jokes. It's family friendly, it's free and it's very funny. Who wins? You decide!

We're part of the Free Festival because we believe audiences, especially families, should be able to see as many shows as they want without breaking the bank. You can find info on all of our upcoming shows for the Edinburgh Fringe on our shows page or at the Free Festival website.

We're in Edinburgh until the 15th August with two shows a day:

1.15pm @ Fireside - The Last Arch Theatre Venue 75 (50mins)

4.30pm @ The Free Sisters - Maggie's Chamber Venue 272 (1hr)

You can follow our Edinburgh adventure on social media with the hashtag #cszed18

 

Other Shows Featuring ComedySportz Players (Please note these shows are not family friendly):

Enjoy an hour of madcap characters with Lukas Kirkby in Lukas Kirkby Does An Hour

Harry Potter fans will love this irreverent spoof also starring Lukas Kirkby in Pottervision

We were joined by former ComedySportz Manchester player Sally Hodgkiss for our first match at Fireside. You can see her in Bumper Blyton

Catch some late night stand up with Tom Short in Comedy Shorts!

If you're looking to catch the future faces of British Comedy today then check out Comedy From Salford University featuring students that have all performed at our regular New Adelphi Comedy Night!