Another lively and packed night at The Frog and Bucket last night, once again bringing some of the best comedians of the local area. The venue is simple for a comedy club but seems incredibly effective, I particularly like the layout for the audience's seats but I suppose it could be quite daunting for a new act who looks up to two levels of audience, but most of the comedians last night seemed quite well equipped and calm.
I’ve got to admit it isn’t the Comedy Club setting I am used to, so it did throw me at first, but throughout the night I did become more relaxed at put at ease, it may have been the nightclub music and flashing lights that surprised me on first glance! There were two standout performers of the night who included John Warburton and the MC himself Pete Otway, both were very used to this club in particular and seemed to have a strong love for the atmosphere and audience. 
Firstly to John Warburton, he’s a great local comedian who was an obvious fan favourite with his unexpected stories and at times crude nature. I believe Warburton has done Stand Up for many years alongside also having a role on Coronation Street and also taking part in a big budget thriller alongside Robert Carlyle in The Tournament (2009). He really did steal the show on this occasion, it could have been tricky for him as he was the first to perform but he was a true professional, the stories that became the most hilarious were those that involved long plots with a whole manner of hijinks between them. A favourite of mine being when he believed he was getting an iPhone for his birthday when in fact it was the surprise of his wife being pregnant which was his real birthday present. I’m sure you can tell the devastation from Warburton’s reaction.
Finally, onto Pete Otway, our MC for the night- he was a natural at this venue and made us sure we knew who was in charge. Most of his humour came from the audiences situations rather being married, single etc. Not so fun for the front row but unbelievably enjoyable for us out of reach. Otway is quite new to the stand-up industry, having his first gig in just 2010, but has surely garnered much attention thanks to his razor sharp wit and natural love for comedy, he was chosen to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013 and I’m sure he brought down the house there too. I believe he also travelled all around the UK to attend comedy club gigs which means you may see him near you!
A great a charismatic night at The Frog and Bucket, the perfect venue for somewhere to have a great laugh with friends. See website for details on upcoming shows: http://www.frogandbucket.com/manchester/
Reviewer: Brad Wilson
Reviewed: 6th February 2016
