Highlights of the Opening Weekend of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival

First weekend of the Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival features shows from Kathryn Ryan, Iain Stirling, Ayesha Harazika and Brendon Burns

Top local talent lined up to kick off the festival includes Darren Connell, Mark Nelson, Susie McCabe and Craig Hill

The opening weekend also offers cinema, theatre, family fun and workshops for aspiring young comedians

The Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival is gearing up for its sixteenth outing from 8 - 25 March. There will be over 500 shows at 54 venues across the city - the most ever in the festival's history.

The opening weekend features household names like Kathryn Ryan and Iain Stirling, plus the very best of home grown humour - with Darren Connell debuting his new show and politico Ayesha Harazika playing her home town for the first time.

Theatre shows include Alan Bissett performing his award-winning Moira shows in a double bill for the first time at the Citizen's Theatre. Comedy fans can catch a show with their lunch at Yesbar or stay up til the wee hours at the festival's Late Show at Blackfriars in the Merchant City.

Further highlights from throughout the festival's eighteen-day run include:

- Veneer Gallery in Finnieston hosting stand up for the first time with a line-up of acclaimed performers including Tom Parry, Rose Matafeo, Kieran Hodgson, Evelyn Mok, Ben Target and Trevor Lock.

- The first performances of Bridget Christie's new UK tour, What Now?

- The first two recordings of The Comedians at The King's - a new TV stand up show where all the acts are over fifty with Fred MacAulay, John Moloney and Gary Little plus 21 other comics appearing across two nights

- Shows from David Baddiel, Limmy, Tommy Tiernan, Elaine C Smith, Fern Brady, Richard Gadd, Mae Martin, Phill Jupitus, Shappi Khorsandi and many more

Tickets for all festival shows are on sale now. Keep up to date with all the latest news by registering at glasgowcomedyfestival.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter @glasgowcomedy.