The ever popular Lady HaHa returns to Norwich this week offering a unique chance to catch a line-up of the UK's funniest upcoming female comedians. HOLLY HAYMAN reports.

If you fancy getting a glimpse of the future female stars of stand-up comedy before they make it big, uniquely, Norwich is the place to do it.

Held annually on International Women's Day, Lady HaHa is an evening of stand-up comedy from the UK's most talented up and coming female comedians.

Since 2010, Lady HaHa has been showcasing funny ladies before they hit the big time; blink and they'll have made the mainstream breakthrough and gone sky high and expensive.

Since its beginning, Objective Talent Management's Corrie McGuire has been responsible for putting the show together.

Although working with some of the biggest performers in the business, including Derren Brown, she is also on the lookout for anyone 'whose star is on the rise and who's new and exciting.'

She explains 'There are some brilliantly talented female comedians on the circuit but you'll rarely find more than one on a comedy club bill.'

She adds, 'Lady HaHa has been a huge success, which proves there's an audience out there for a more female friendly night.'

The latest Lady HaHa returns to the Playhouse on March 8 with four more funny females you'll want to keep track of.

It will include an appearance from currently the funniest upcoming female on the comedy block in Aisling Bea the winner of the So You Think You're Funny Award 2012. The Irish comic b3ecame only the second woman to have won the prestigious wards in the 25 years that Edinburgh Fringe venue Gilded Balloon has been running the contest. And her triumph came a full two decades since Scottish female comedian Rhona Cameron took the coveted comedy prize.

She will be joined by the hugely enjoyable class-conscious comedy will be Tiffany Stevenson, who has previously appeared as a comedy actress in The Office and Absolute Power, and super funny new girl on the block Amy Howerska who was raised in Wales by a Polish, Irish, Catholic Jewish family, which certainly giving her comedy stylings unique origins.

And making her second Lady HaHa appearance will be musical comedian Vikki Stone who's mix of stand-up and musical comedy has made her one of the fastest rising stars of the comedy circuit.

Her debut Edinburgh Show, Big Neon Letters, played to sell-out audiences both in Edinburgh and London's Soho Theatre, and received critical acclaim including The Observer's Comedy Top 5 Edinburgh Shows in 2011. While her follow up, Hot Mess, sold out its entire run at the Edinburgh last summer and her Phillip Schofield Song became an online viral hit.

Reminiscing on her most memorable moments since first visiting Norwich for Lady HaHa in 2010 she saidL: 'Probably ersuading Philip Schofield to be in the video for the song I wrote about him, and writing a bespoke song for Dragon's Den star Hilary Devey. Let's just say I've been slowly taking over the world, one funny song at a time.'

Originating in 1911, International Women's Day was created to recognise suffrage and the economic, social and political developments of women.

Chosen to honour and inspire women and their achievements, Lady HaHa's past performers have included Isy Suttie, now a household name starring as the hilarious Dobby in Peep Show and the current series of Shameless; Holly Walsh, who has gone on to become a TV panel show regular, including stints at the desks of 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks; Susan Calman, who has appeared on Have I Got News For You, QI, The News Show as well as earning her own Radio 4 show, Calman Is Convicted.

Vikki Stone's advice on becoming a female comedy superstar is simple. 'Be the funniest you can be, whilst also being yourself. There are no rules, so there's no need to try and conform to any.'

t Lady HaHa, Norwich Playhouse, March 8, 7.30pm, £10.50, 01603 598598, www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk