A comedy competition night where professional and amateur comedians compete for the coveted Manic Mug, decided by audience votes.
Manic Mugday is back at Artista on Monday 7 September, and it's not just a one-off — the night runs every Monday throughout the month, so you'll find it there on the 14th, 21st and 28th as well. It bills itself as Brighton's number one comedy show on a Monday, and it's a proper cult night: a motley bunch of comedians competing for the coveted Mug, the audience's favour and a rubbish decibel meter from TEMU.
The whole thing is built on a stark divide. Three professional comedians get paid to perform, while a dozen regulars go on for free. At the end of the night, a 'clap off' popular vote decides the winner, and that victory earns them an automatic paid spot in future shows. It's a grassroots comedy competition that started a few years ago in pubs across the city and has changed venues several times as its reputation grew. One reviewer called it 'probably the best Comedy Mug in Brighton, if not the UK'.
It's run on a break-even basis, with ticket sales going to the professional acts and extra marketing. The organisers are also known to ban anyone who repeatedly fails to learn from shocking the audience, so there's a certain standard to the room. If you're after a night that celebrates the city's comedy scene from the ground up, this is a good place to start.
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Artista is at 42 Brighton Square, BN1 4HD, and tickets are £2.75 (guide price). With the show running every Monday in September, you've got four chances to catch it.
