Funding troubles put event on ice

This year’s Manchester Comedy Festival has been cancelled, following problems securing funding.

The city council pulled its financial support before last year’s event, but continued with the backing of the Comedy Store, which had always been the prime mover in organising the festival.

However, after failing to secure a sponsor for the second year running, the Store’s founder Don Ward has decided to put the event – which traditionally takes place over two weeks in October – on ice.

The event has been running for ten years, and last year featured more than 200 shows in 30 venues, although without a marketing budget, many smaller shows struggled to sell tickets.

Ward said he was ‘disappointed’ to have to pull the plug, but said he hoped the festival could return in 2013. ‘We are not saying goodbye but goodnight,’ he told City Life, ‘And we will re-evaluate for next year.’

Manchester City Council said they had to withdraw their funding after being told by central government hat they had to reduce their budget by £109million over two years.

Published: 11 Aug 2012