Johnny Vegas, Mark Thomas, Ed Byrne, Frank Carson and Doug Stanhope will all appear in Scotland's first festival dedicated purely to comedy.

The line-up for the Glasgow Comedy Festival, was announced today by Glasgow's Lord Provost Alex Mosson, boasting more than 120 performances in over a dozen venues in the 17 days from March 20 to April 5.

Vegas's performance is his only major appearance this year, and could be his last as he has vowed to quit stand-up.

Festival co-ordinator Linda Allan said: "This is our first festival, but it has ended up bigger and better than we ever thought possible, with more than 35,000 tickets available."

It's hoped the event, organised by The Stand comedy club's Stand Out agency, will become an annual occurrence.

Festival director Tommy Sheppard said: "This was an ambitious project right from the start. We always knew that the sheer size and scale of the festival would mean we would have to rely on the support of Glasgow City Council if we were to pull it off. Thankfully, they have backed us all the way"

And Glasgow city councillor Steven Purcell added: "Few cities can lay a better claim to stage such an event. Not only do we have a long and proud history of producing wonderful entertainers, but the ingrained humour of our people has shaped our character."

The line-up features such local talent as Fred MacAulay, Phil Kay, Bruce Morton, Arnold Brown and Jerry Sadowitz.

And the event extends beyond stand-up, with performances of the hit West End comedy Art and Dario Fo's play Can't Pay, Won't Pay, plus screenings of Will Hay and Charlie Chaplin films and a tribute to celebrated animator Tex Avery.

Another special event, on April 2, sees the screening of rare Kenneth Williams television appearances, as well as the reading of extracts from his diaries and letters, some of which are previously unpublished.

Full listings

Thursday March 20

CCA: Phil Kay. 8pm. £8-£10

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Witty Wimmin with Viv Gee, Keara Murphy, Kirsty Moss. 8pm. £4-£5

Giggle At The Mercury Lounge: Lucy Porter, Nina Conti 8pm. £4-£5

Jongleurs: JoJo Smith, Eddie Bannon, Noel Britton. 8.45pm. £6

King's Theatre. Art. 7.30pm. £6.50 to £18.50

The Stand: Daniel Kitson 8pm. £7 to £8

The Stand: Festival Club with Des Clarke, Gary Delaney, MC Frankie Boyle 10.30pm. £5 to £6

Tron Theatre: Can't Pay? Won't Pay! 8pm. £5 to £8

Friday March 21

Bishoploch Residents' Hall, Easterhouse: Glasgow Stands Up with Susan Morrison, Raymond Mearns, Des Clarke. 8pm. £2

Cottier Theatre: Daniel Kitson 8pm. £9 to £10

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Nina Conti, Alan Anderson. 8pm. £5 to £6

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Late Night Craic with Steve Day, Alan Carr, MC Alan Anderson. 11pm. £4 to £5

Jongleurs: JoJo Smith, Eddie Bannon, Noel Britton. 8.45pm. £12

King's Theatre. Art. 7.30pm. £6.50 to £18.50

King's Theatre. Frank Carson 10pm. £8.50 to £15.50

The Stand: Adam Hills. 8pm. £7 to £8

The Stand: Festival Club with Des Clarke, Gary Delaney, MC Frankie Boyle 10.30pm. £5 to £6

PLUS: Bouncers (James Arnott Theatre, Gilmorehill, 7,30pm, £6 to £8); Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (Tron Theatre, 8pm. £5 to £8)

Saturday March 22

Cottier Theatre: Men In Coats 8pm. £9 to £10

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Nina Conti, Alan Anderson. 8pm. £5 to £6

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Late Night Craic with Steve Day, Alan Carr, MC Alan Anderson. 11pm. £4 to £5

Jongleurs: JoJo Smith, Eddie Bannon, Noel Britton. 8.45pm. £12

Langside Public Hall: Glasgow Stands Up with Susan Morrison, Raymond Mearns, Des Clarke. 8pm. £2

King's Theatre. Art. 7.30pm. £6.50 to £18.50

King's Theatre. Johnny Vegas 10pm. £8.50 to £16.50

The Stand: Adam Hills. 8pm. £7 to £8

The Stand: Festival Club with Des Clarke, Gary Delaney, MC Frankie Boyle 10.30pm. £5 to £6

Tollcross Winter Gardens: East End's Best And Guests with Des McLean, Des Clarke. 8pm. Free

PLUS: Bouncers (James Arnott Theatre, Gilmorehill, 7,30pm, £6 to £8); Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (Tron Theatre, 8pm. £5 to £8); Utter Nonsense (For kids, The Stand, 3pm. £5, £3 kids)

Sunday March 23

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Lucy Porter. 8pm. £5 to £6

Cottier Theatre: Usherettes 7.30pm £6 to £8

King's Theatre. Johnny Beattie 7.30pm. £9.50 to £15.50

Tron Theatre: Richard Herring: Talking Cock. 8pm. £10 to £12

Pavilion Theatre: Ed Byrne. 8pm. £12.50 to £14.50

Monday March 24

The Stand: Doug Stanhope 8.30pm. £8 to £9

PLUS: Usherettes (Cottier Theatre, 7.30pm £6 to £8); Woody Allen Double Bill (Ramshorn Theatre. 7,30pm. £2.50 to £5)

Tuesday March 25

The Arches: Dave Spikey Overnight Success Tour. 8pm. £8 to £10

The Stand: Doug Stanhope 8.30pm. £8 to £9

PLUS: Captive Audience (Cottier Theatre, 7.30pm £3 to £5); Woody Allen Double Bill (Ramshorn Theatre, 7.30pm. £2.50 to £5)

Wednesday March 26

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Des Clarke. 8pm. £5 to £6

Ramshorn Theatre: Des Clarke, Des McLean, MC Viv Gee. 10.30pm. £3 to £5

The Stand: Priorite A Gauche 8.30pm. £6 to £8

PLUS: Captive Audience (Cottier Theatre, 7.30pm £3 to £5); Woody Allen Double Bill (Ramshorn Theatre, 7.30pm. £2.50 to £5)

Thursday March 27

The Arches: Comedy Store Players 8pm. £8 to £10

CCA: John Hegley and John Cooper Clarke. 8pm. £8 to £10

Cottier Theatre: Rich Hall as Otis Lee Crenshaw. 8pm. £10 to £12

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Des McLean. 8pm. £5 to £6

Giggle At The Mercury Lounge: Janey Godley, Steve Day, Viv Gee 8pm. £4-£5

Jongleurs: Stu Who, Bruce Griffiths, Donna McPhail, Mark Walker. 8.45pm. £6

The Stand: Jason Byrne 8.30pm. £7 to £8

The Stand: Festival Club with Raymond Mearns, Martin Bigpig, MC Susan Morrison. 10.30pm. £5 to £6

PLUS: Woody Allen Double Bill (Ramshorn Theatre, 7.30pm. £2.50 to £5)

Friday March 28

Cottier Theatre: Rich Hall as Otis Lee Crenshaw. 8pm. £10 to £12

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Steve Day 8pm. £5 to £6

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Late Night Craic with Steve Day, Alan Carr, MC Alan Anderson. 11pm. £4 to £5

Jongleurs: Stu Who, Bruce Griffiths, Donna McPhail, Mark Walker. 8.45pm. £12

The Stand: Colin Murphy 8pm. £8 to £9

The Stand: Festival Club with Raymond Mearns, Martin Bigpig, MC Susan Morrison. 10.30pm. £5 to £6

PLUS: Woody Allen Double Bill (Ramshorn Theatre, 7.30pm. £2.50 to £5)

Saturday March 29

Cottier Theatre: Fred MacAulay. 8pm. £10

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Charlie Chuck: The Game Show Years 8pm. £6 to £8

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Late Night Craic with Steve Day, Alan Carr, MC Alan Anderson. 11pm. £4 to £5

Jongleurs: Stu Who, Bruce Griffiths, Donna McPhail, Mark Walker. 8.45pm. £12

Partick Burgh Hall: Glasgow Stands Up with Susan Morrison, Raymond Mearns, Des Clarke. 8pm. £2

The Stand: The Kevin Gildeas 8pm. £7 to £8

The Stand: Festival Club with Raymond Mearns, Martin Bigpig, MC Susan Morrison. 10.30pm. £5 to £6

Tollcross Winter Gardens: East End's Best And Guests with Des McLean, Des Clarke. 8pm. Free

PLUS: Woody Allen Double Bill (Ramshorn Theatre, 7.30pm. £2.50 to £5); Will Hay Double Bill (GFT);Utter Nonsense (For kids, The Stand, 3pm. £5, £3 kids)

Sunday March 30

Citizens Theatre: Jerry Sadowitz. 8.30pm. £12.50 to £15.50

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Charlie Chuck: The Game Show Years 8pm. £6 to £8

The Stand: Julia Morris. 8.30pm. £6 to £7

PLUS: Chaplin - The Young Genius(GFT);

Moday March 31

Citizens Theatre: Jerry Sadowitz. 8.30pm. £12.50 to £15.50

Cottier Theatre: Mark Thomas: A Minor Celebrity Discusses War Crimes. 8pm. £8.50 to £12.50

The Stand: Kevin Hayes: AlcoHoly. 8.30pm. £5 to £6

PLUS: Tribute To Tex Avery (GFT); Film Quiz (GFT, 8.45pm, £1)

Tuesday April 1

Cottier Theatre: Mark Thomas: A Minor Celebrity Discusses War Crimes. 8pm. £8.50 to £12.50

The Stand: Long Riders Tour with Bruce Morton, Michael Redmond and Parrot. 8.30pm. £6 to £7

Tron Theatre: John Shuttleworth: A Pillock Of The Community. 8pm. £10 to £12

PLUS: The Write Brothers - Four Chairs And A Table (Sketches, Cul De Sac Southside, 8pm, £5-£6); Mothers Unleashed - At Your Cervix (Gilmorehill G12, 8pm, £6 to £8)

Wednesday April 2

Cottier Theatre: Mark Thomas: A Minor Celebrity Discusses War Crimes. 8pm. £8.50 to £12.50

The Stand: Scott Capurro 8.30pm. £6 to £7

Tron Theatre: Jerry Sadowitz: More Card Tricks and Close-Up Magic. 8pm. £10 to £12

PLUS: David Benson's Bona Cornucopia: Kenneth Williams on Television (GFT); The Write Brothers - Four Chairs And A Table (Sketches, Cul De Sac Southside, 8pm, £5-£6); Morthers Unleashed - At Your Cervix (Gilmorehill G12, 8pm, £6 to £8)

Thursday April 3

CCA: Owen O'Neill: Staza-Up Comedy. 8pm. £8 to £10

Cottier Theatre: Jeremy Hardy. 8pm. £10 to £12

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Justin Moorhouse, Patrick Monahan. 8pm. £4 to £5

Giggle At The Mercury Lounge: Alan Carr, Kirsty Moss. 8pm. £4-£5

Jongleurs: Keith Fields, Colin Cole. 8.45pm. £6

The Stand: Greg Proops 8pm. £10

The Stand: Festival Club with Obadiah Steppenwolfe III, Will Smith, MC Jane Mackay. 10.30pm. £5 to £6

Tron Theatre: Jerry Sadowitz: More Card Tricks and Close-Up Magic. 8pm. £10 to £12

Friday April 4

Castlemilk Community Centre: Glasgow Stands Up with Susan Morrison, Raymond Mearns, Des Clarke. 8pm. £2

Cottier Theatre: Jeremy Hardy. 8pm. £10 to £12

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Justin Moorhouse, Patrick Monahan. 8pm. £4 to £5

Jongleurs: Keith Fields, Colin Cole. 8.45pm. £12

The Stand: Greg Proops 8pm. £10

The Stand: Festival Club with Obadiah Steppenwolfe III, Will Smith, MC Jane Mackay. 10.30pm. £5 to £6

Tron Theatre: Tina C: Twin Towers Tribute. 8pm. £8 to £10

PLUS: Quangle Wangle (for kids, Gilmorehill G12, 11am, £3)

Saturday April 5

Barmulloch Community Centre: Glasgow Stands Up with Susan Morrison, Raymond Mearns, Des Clarke. 8pm. £2

Cottier Theatre: Arnold Brown. 8pm. £8 to £9

Cul-de-Sac Southside: Alan Carr. 8pm. £5 to £6

Jongleurs: Keith Fields, Colin Cole. 8.45pm. £12

The Stand: Pam Ann 8pm. £7 to £8

The Stand: Festival Club with Obadiah Steppenwolfe III, Will Smith, MC Jane Mackay. 10.30pm. £5 to £6

Tollcross Winter Gardens: East End's Best And Guests with Des McLean, Des Clarke. 8pm. Free

Tron Theatre: Jackie Clune is Boy Crazy. 8pm. £8 to £10

PLUS: Quangle Wangle (for kids, Gilmorehill G12, 11am, £3);Utter Nonsense (For kids, The Stand, 3pm. £5, £3 kids)

Official Glasgow Comedy Festival home page