perform at the women in comedy festival
We encourage all shows to apply whether they have tech or just need a Mic, all our venues have basic tech and below is what is provided see how your show may fit.
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Mic & Stand
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Basic Sound Desk, that has one or two in/out puts
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Basic white wash lights
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Due to timings we can’t guarantee a tech run
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Projector and Projector Screen (Only a select few Venues)
If your show has a lot of tech you will need to provide the following
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Person to run your Tech on the Day
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If you have sound cues your own laptop/ipad, leads and adapters
What If i have tech ?
bring your show
to the WICF
The Women in Comedy festival is about supporting women, allowing them to have a safe space to create and put on a show, whether it’s for the first time or they are bringing it to Manchester on tour.
APPLICATIONS
Open 23rd Feb
Close 10th April
On Sale July
Festival runs 1st - 11th Oct 2026
Please note as we are a boutique festival and we are unable to take all shows, we try our best to make sure we have a wide range of shows to meet the multicultural city that is Manchester
Participation Fees
As we are a festival that is a non-for-profit, we only charge a small participation fee of £55 and the acts get to keep their ticket revenue if you are at one of the smaller venues we use (Excluding the Frog & Bucket comedy club)
The fee includes:
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Featuring in the Brochure, website, posters and social media ad campaigns for the festival as a whole.
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Free entry to shows
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Support by the festival
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Press contacts to promote your show
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All PR
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Venue
How many night can
you put on your show
We are a small festival with only a few slots and Venues available, so we can only offer each application one slot in order to give those who are successful a chance to put there show on once.
venues
Venues can be tough to find especially if you are not from Manchester, so we do work hard for the acts and have built up great relationships with each venue we use for the 2026 festival, and we put your show into a venue that suits you.
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Each show will have 20 mins to pack in and 5 mins to pack out.
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2026 Venues are Lost Cat, The Fitzgerald, Frog & Bucket and more to be announced
Ola Labib sold out show - 'Dispersible' 2025
Nina Gilligan sold out show -
'Goldfish' 2024
Lindsey Santoro -
'Pink Tinge' 2023
Tickets are sold through ticketsolve and Aimee and Jessica tend to work a lot of the shows, with the help of interns or volunteers.
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Someone is with you to seat your audience
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Tickets can be sold on a sister sight but an allocation must be with the festival
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Tickets can be sold on the door, but having your own card machine helps with sales
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All shows go off sale 20 sec before the show starts
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All settlements after done a month after the festival ends
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Front of house isn’t responsible for pushing your show in the venue
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All acts are responsible for selling their own shows
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All ticket revenue goes to the artist
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We are not a VAT registered festival as we are non-for-profit.
FRONT OF HOUSE
venues
Lost Cat, 64 Oldham Street, M4 1LE
This 50 seater venue comes with a Projector and DJ style Tech Desk, Basic Spot light and is upstairs above the Bar. This space is ideal for Stand Up, Prop Comedy and Improv groups.
The Fitzgerald, 11 Stevenson Square, M1 1DB
This 40 - 60 seater venue comes with Tech Desk, White wash Lighting, Cabaret style seating and Cocktail Bar in the venue.
This space is ideal for Stand Up, Musical Comedy and Improv groups.
Frog & Bucket Comedy Club, 102 Oldham Street M4 1LJ
A dedicated comedy club is ideal for any big show coming to Manchester on Tour, seating 245 in Theatre Style and has full tech set up and great for any show.
If you wish to discuss further contact info@frogandbucket.com
Venue to be announced