More comedy at Studio Liverpool

It's fun and games this week at Studio Liverpool, with an Edinburgh Festival comedy preview and the return of an old(ish) favourite. On Wednesday (July 27), comedy trio Making Faces will be trying out their new show Introspectacles. Dan Curtis, Lizzie Kevan and Ed Mayhew perform a blend of stand-up, sketches, poetry and music. The blurb says: "Introspectacles asks the tough questions, like: what are the worst possible times to sneeze? What do I do if my doubts have doubts? Whatever happened to East 17? And so on. Taking an awkward sidelong glance at issues of respect and status and talking about them behind their back, Introspectacles is aimed at stopping us living in our own heads." Tickets are £5 on the door for a 7.30pm start. And didn't one of East 17 run himself over with his own car? Embryo, a mainstay of the venue and now on its eighth show, is described as "a monthly dose of all that's new and great in performance, lovingly picked and pilfered from the best that Liverpool has to offer". The show on Saturday (July 30) is the last before a summer break and features a wealth of great acts including friends of MADEUP Jollyboat, Legion of Doom and Ladyface. Also highly recommended are the wonderfully named Clitingham Avenue, whose inventive and hilarious acapella japes make Lady Gaga look straight-laced. If that's not enough, there also seems to be a promise of free donuts and the return of the crap raffle, which we can only assume is not just a clever name. It's £5.00 on the door from 7.30pm, with the show starting at 8.00pm. For tickets or reservations for either show, email info@studioliverpool.com. And don't forget your wallet -- it's cash only on the door and the venue is on the 5th floor of Elevator Studios on Upper Parliament Street, opposite the Cain's Brewery, so it's a bit of a faff if you're not prepared. Visit the Facebook page here.