ComedySportz Manchester is the UK's only ComedySportz franchise, founded in 2001 by Brainne Edge as a one-off charity show that grew into the North West's longest-running improv entertainment. The company's competitive short-form improv format features two teams, a referee, and penalties for bad jokes, and has performed at Waterside Arts in Sale as its primary monthly venue since 2012.
History
Founding (2001)
Brainne Edge founded ComedySportz Manchester in 2001 at age 22 after approaching ComedySportz creator Dick Chudnow for franchise permission following a trip to see the show in America. The first performance, with original players Edge, Rachel Wareing, Rachael Hilton, Phil Melling, Ste Martin, Tom Kirk, Paul Thompson, Emily Cookson, and Katie Griffiths, was intended as a one-off charity benefit for Children in Need. After that first match's success the company decided to make competitive improv a regular offering.
Venue History
The company performed at Chorley Little Theatre and Chorley Football Club from 2001 to 2004, appeared at the Manchester Comedy Festival's Frog and Buck venue in 2005, and rebranded as ComedySportz Manchester in 2005. Shows moved to Salford Arts Theatre and the University of Salford in 2006, then to the Manchester Comedy Store from 2007 to 2008. Waterside Arts in Sale has served as the primary monthly venue since 2012.
Key Milestones
The first player sent to the ComedySportz World Championship in 2003. The 100th show marked in 2009. The 10th anniversary in 2011 was celebrated with a visit from Dick Chudnow. In 2025 the company hosted the inaugural Greater Manchester Improv Festival.
Artistic Identity
ComedySportz Manchester brings the family-friendly competitive improv format to the North West as the UK's only ComedySportz franchise, running continuously since its 2001 founding by Brainne Edge.
Key Events
ComedySportz Manchester Founded
Brainne Edge founded ComedySportz Manchester in 2001, launching the UK's only ComedySportz franchise with a first charity performance intended as a one-off event.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). ComedySportz Manchester. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/comedysportz-manchester
The Improv Archive. "ComedySportz Manchester." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/comedysportz-manchester.
The Improv Archive. "ComedySportz Manchester." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/comedysportz-manchester. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.