Belfast Comedy Festival - laughs, films, improv & the bouffon smell of fear (until 4 October)

If you’re looking for laughs, then check out Belfast Comedy Festival which runs until 4 October. There’s a competition to win tickets for Sara Pascoe and Diane Morgan up in the Mandela Hall on Wednesday 30th.

Lots of events every evening, but here are a few recommendations:

• Monday 28 September - Bright Club brings back the NI Science Festival Hit with local comedians combined with university scientists exploring the topic of ‘Taboo’ in the Black Box from 8pm. Tickets £5.
• Tuesday 29 September - Join Rory McSwiggan on the Belfast Barge at 8pm for his mad cap improvised singalong routine. Supported by Louise Taylor and David Doherty-Jebb. Compèred by Gemma Hutton. £8
• Wednesday 30 September - Nuala McKeever is facing up to the fact that most of the time we’re all Winging It in the Black Box at 8pm. Tickets £10.
• Thursday 1 October - Expect lines to be crossed, laughs to be had, and boundaries to be crossed as the Red Bastard takes to the Black Box stage (and likely the main seating area too) with his audience participation bouffon clown show. £10

My first place of employment is back in action as an entertainment venue next as Accidental Theatre opens its doors up on the fourth floor of Wellington Buildings (around the side of the Northern Bank Dankse Bank headquarters on Wellington Street):

• Friday 2 October - 7pm The Deconstructed Coffee: Episode 5 – Locked Erne £5; 8.15pm The Half Hour Comedy Club (part 1) £5; 9.30pm Sinnead Being Deadly By Doing Things £5; 10.45pm Geoff Hatt and the Rockpool Band £5.
• Saturday 3 October - 7pm Wonder Frog at the Weekend £4; 8.15pm The Half Hour Comedy Club (part 2) £5; 9.30pm Shatter by Nick Boyle £5; 10.45pm The Imp [review of a previous performance of the perverse black bouffon creature] £5

• Sunday 4 October - Those Who Can’t sketch show written and performance by Stephen Beggs and Rachael McCabe. Amongst much other mayhem, discover how to rid Belfast of its plague of Hipsters! The Crescent Arts Centre at 7.30pm. £7.
• Sunday 4 October - And rounding off the festival, surreal nonsense from comedy genius Paul Currie in his third full length show FFFFFFFMILK (7 Fs, it’s important!) in the Black Box at 8pm. £10

The Beanbag Cinema (23 Donegall Street) is showing a selection of classic feature-length comedy films at 12.30pm some afternoons. Free admission, but you do need to book.

• Tuesday 29 September – Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill Jr
• Thursday 1 October – Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last!
• Friday 2 October – Laurel and Hardy’s Sons of the Desert: “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into”