The festival, held in conjunction with Sideline Productions, will see performances from Colm O’Regan, Rose Henderson, Deirdre O’Kane, Tara Flynn, Paul Tylak and Catriona Ennis.

Notably absent from the programme is Sean Hughes, hosting the panel show ‘Don’t Quote Me!’. Due to Hughes’ unfortunate passing in October 2017, the panel has been cancelled permanently and a moment of applause will be held on the first and final nights of the festival to honour his memory.

This is the third year of the Comedy Showhouse, which began with a one-off episode of the aforementioned ‘Don’t quote me!’ in Christmas 2015. Following the extremely positive reaction, Billy McGrath from Sideline and RTÉ Radio’s Ann-Marie Power developed the idea to stage a week of live comedy shows with the best Irish talent around. Over the last couple of years, the festival has hosted names like Alison Spittle, Andrew Maxwell, Foil Arms & Hog and Katherine Lynch.

Have a look at the full programme below:

April 30, May 1 and 2
Waiting

Waiting, the sketch series written by Fiona Looney, received standing ovations at the last performance at Comedy Showhouse. The series has been altered – it is now a six part series, with six half hour segments being recorded over the course of the three nights. Waiting features Deirdre O’Kane (Moone Boy, Noble), Catriona Ennis and Rose Henderson. Plans for Waiting include a TV pilot before the year is out, a live tour in 2019 and the iconic Edinburgh Festival in summer 2019.

Tickets are €11 and are available at www.projectartscentre.ie

May 3, 4 and 5
Colm O'Regan Wants A Word

May 3 will see comedian Colm O’Regan bring his show, ‘Colm O’Regan Wants A Word’ to the Project Arts Centre. The show, which discusses O’Regan’s favourite topic – our use of language – won the Irish PPI Award for Best Comedy in 2016 and 2017, and the Celtic Media Award 2017.Colm O’Regan Wants A Word has O’Regan picking a broad theme, and using stand-up to attempt to dismantle the way we speak about the world. O’Regan’s show also features Tara Flynn and Paul Tylak.

Tickets again are only €11 at www.projectartscentre.ie.

May 5

Radio Sitcom Trials

Recently, RTÉ Radio 1 and Sideline Productions sought new scripts for the first ever Radio Sitcom Trials – with successful writers being announced on April 19. The winners will have their scripts performed by professional actors in front of a live audience. Admission is free.