Factory Creatives: Crippled with Laughter

Factory Creatives is a new series where we head out into the city to find out more about the local creatives at the heart of our programme. For our first interview, we caught up with Beck and Jimmy Royals in their chosen location – outside Aviva Studios – to discuss Manchester's comedy scene, accessibility and Crippled with Laughter.

Introduce yourself 

We’re Beck and Jimmy Royals – the duo behind Crippled with Laughter, Manchester’s disability-led comedy night that proves accessibility and comedy can go hand in hand. We’re both stand-up comedians who met on the Manchester circuit and bonded over dark humour, dodgy gigs and a shared sense of chaos. Together, we’ve built a space where disabled acts have an accessible space to perform. Our goal is simple: make people howl while proving that disabled performers don’t need special treatment, just a level stage and a working mic.

What or who inspires you to do the work that you do? 

The idea for Crippled with Laughter came after months of dragging wheelchairs up stairs and performing in basements with no ramps. We went to loads of open mics together and realised how little accessibility there actually was in the comedy scene. So instead of waiting for someone else to fix it, we decided to create our own space. Working with Factory International showed us that inclusion doesn’t have to mean compromise; it can mean opportunity, laughter and proper representation. That’s what inspires us: giving disabled comics a place to perform without barriers, both literally and creatively.

Why did you choose the location in your photograph? 

We chose Factory International at Aviva Studios because it’s where we’ve been able to realise our vision and grow as a comedy duo. It’s more than just a venue – it’s where Crippled with Laughter really came to life. Factory International has supported us from day one, helping us develop our act, host accessible gigs and build a community around disability-led comedy. Their belief in what we’re doing has allowed us to take things further than we imagined, and we’re excited to keep building on that partnership and see where it leads next.

What’s your favourite thing about Manchester’s arts and culture scene? 

In terms of comedy, what we love most is how much talent there is in Manchester – disabled and non-disabled comics alike. The scene is full of people constantly working on new jokes, travelling to gigs and pushing themselves to get better. There’s a real sense of community here too; we genuinely support each other, celebrate each other’s wins and pick each other up after the bad gigs. It’s one of the most hard-working and encouraging scenes in the country, and that energy is a big part of why Crippled with Laughter was born here.

What would you say to someone who has never been to Crippled with Laughter? 

It’s like any great comedy night just more accessible. We love pushing boundaries, and so do our acts. Disabled audience members can enjoy comedy they truly relate to with full accessibility and even a BSL interpreter. It’s an inclusive, high-energy night where everyone’s welcome and everyone leaves laughing.