XS Malarkey

Tuesday 4th December me and a colleague visted XS Malarkey. XS Malarkey is a comedy night based at Unique (Platt Chapel) in Fallowfield, Manchester. The evening was stand-up comedy event which is where a comedian performs in front of a live audience, usually speaking directly to them. We attended the event as a form of research for our unit ‘project management’ as we are hoping to produce a comedy night in the future. We chose to visit XS Malarkey first of all as it was walking distance from home and was only £5.

ww.xsmalarkey.com (No Date) informed us that in the past years XS Malarkey has featured many well known comedians such as: Jason Manford, Phill Jupitus, Jimmy Carr, John Bishop, Alan Carr, Peter Kay, Sarah Millican, and Russell Howard. By having such large names performing at the small venue will attract an audience. I know this as this was one of the main reasons why I attended, hoping to be lucky enough to bump in to a famous comedian. Sadly this did not happen.

Different styles of comedy was told throughout the evening but the comedian Wouter Meijs nearly over stepped the line. This was because he used his slot on the stage to tell black comedy. Charney (2005) explains that black comedy depends upon a modern and postmodern way of thinking about reality. Sick jokes are an expression of this type of comedy which could include jokes about terrorists and suicide bombers. The comedian at XS Malarkey was close to over stepping the line of being extremely shocking and disrespectful, as he told jokes involving children. Luckily the audience found his humour hilarious. If this wasn’t the case and the audience found the act insulting i’m sure the comedy night would of lost custom. Personally I did find the act funny, but he was cutting it very close!

The venue (Unique) has a bar within its premises, which sells soft drinks, crisps and alcohol. By offering alcohol they must need to follow the licensing act 2003. House of Commons (2009) explains that Personal licences must be applied for, which authories individuals to sell or supply alcohol. Therefore by having the bar open to the public they must own this licence. If not a maximum fine of £20,000 will be awarded or a 6 month imprisonment.

In conclusion Unique was a small venue which hosts comedy nights every Tuesday. The night I attended was highly enjoyable and I would defiantly attend again in the near future. The main reasons being as they have a fully stocked licence bar and the comedians are pretty entertaining. Definitely worth £5!