No laughing matter as plaque taken
‘MEMORIAL’ STOLEN FROM COMEDY CLUB
A BLUE plaque commemorating ‘all the acts who have died on stage’ at the Frog and Bucket comedy club has been stolen.
The tongue-in-cheek memorial was created and unveiled in 2015 to celebrate 21 years of Manchester’s first club dedicated to alternative comedy.
Erected in honour of all comedians to be brought down by a cutting heckle or deafening silence, it took pride of place on the wall outside.
Sadly, its recent theft is no laughing matter - and staff are appealing for its return.
Manager Jessica Toomey, daughter of Dave Perkin who founded the club 23 years ago, said both staff and comics were gutted.
She added: “It happened some time over the weekend but we only noticed on Sunday night. We are just starting to trawl through CCTV now. It wasn’t just our plaque but a plaque for the many comics who had performed on our stage and earned that acknowledgement.
“We’re on a busy crossroads and it provided many giggles to passersby.”
It’s not the first time the club has been struck by thieves.
Around a decade ago a frog’s head worn by the club’s mascot and used for regular Monday night gig ‘Beat the Frog’ - was stolen from the stage. But following an appeal in the M.E.N, it was returned by the students who took it. Jessica added: “Hopefully that will work again this time. It’s not worth money but it’s an original.” When the plaque was first unveiled two years ago, club founder Dave reminisced on his favourite ‘stage deaths.’ They included one comic who ran from the stage, another who offended a family so badly the grandmother attacked him, and a third who struck a heckler with a mic stand. The Frog and Bucket opened in 1994 - one of the first venues to launch in the Northern Quarter. Starting its life at the Britannia pub on Newton Street, its comedians lifted spirits after the IRA bombing in 1996 and hosted many up and coming stars in the years that followed. They include Johnny Vegas, Peter Kay, Lee Mack and John Bishop - who made his stage debut there. Dave Gorman, Chris Addison, Corrie’s Sally Lindsay and Lucy Porter have trodden the boards too. In 2003, Steve Coogan picked the club to rehearse his new material. If anyone has information which may lead to the return of the plaque, call the club on 0161 236 9805. Jessica Toomey