Simon ParkinThe latest Red Card Comedy Club line-up includes a Canadian, a zany magician and a former football hooligan. Red Dwarf star Norman Lovett wil be at the Saltbox Comedy Club and former Perrier Award winner Laura Solon visits too.Simon Parkin

RED CARD COMEDY CLUB

Carrow Road, January 28, �11, 0844 8261902

The first Red Card event of 2010 offers up a pleasingly diverse array of comic talents.

Canadian comic Pete Johansson (pictured) returns with more of his deceptively simple observations, bent perception and brainy insights that lends him a unique point of view on the issues of the day. Dave Ward is a friendly, upbeat comic with a cynicism that gives his comedy a unique gentle bite. Altogether zanier is Otiz Canneloni, who has a unique mix of mirth that includes magic, mystery and madness.

Joining them will be Eddy Brimson, who is best known for a colourful past including famously writing about football hooliganism before he turned his hands to comedy. He has established himself on the live circuit and is one of the most regular comedians on the Jongleurs roster and works regularly around the UK.

www.redcardcomedyclub.com

SALTBOX COMEDY CLUB: FEAT NORMAN LOVETT

Norwich Arts Centre Bar, February 2, �10 (�8 cons), 01603 660352

Norwich's freshest alternative comedy club returns for its second year with an ever popular headliner in the shape of Norman Lovett, star of I, Lovett and still best known for playing the disembodied, morose computer Holly in Red Dwarf.

Well into his 30s before he decided to be a stand-up comedian, Norman was one of the small group of comics who played the original Comedy Store, and as well as being a regular feature at many of the country's top venues has also appeared in various 'unusual' places, including supporting The Clash in the late 1970s. He has a quiet deadpan style which spills into surrealism.

He will be ably supported by some of Norwich and the UK's rising comedy talent. Your MC, as ever, will be resident comedian, and Saltbox main man Dan McKee.

www.myspace.com/saltboxcomedy

LAURA SOLON

Norwich Arts Centre, February 10, �10 (�8 cons), 01603 660352, www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

Laura Solon exploded into public consciousness at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe with her sensational debut show. She played to sell out crowds and received glowing reviews for her writing and performance, and became only the second woman ever to win the Perrier Award.

A subtle, brilliant writer and extremely versatile actress, Laura is able to turn her hand to a diverse range of hilarious characters and voices and has since enjoyed her own show on Radio 4 and appeared on TV alongside Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse and Al Murray. She has most recently written and starred in her own show Laura, Ben and Him on ITV2.

Her comedy is dark and distinctive, crammed with acute observations and killer one-liners. This belated follow up to her 2005 stand-up debut is Rabbit Faced Story Soup, a narrative comedy where Laura plays all the parts, that was a complete sell-out at last year's Edinburgh Fringe.

www.laurasolon.com