YORK’S newish alternative comedy solution, The Burning Duck Comedy Club, is to present an extra show on Wednesday to complement the regular nights every second Tuesday in the month at The Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green.

At 8pm, Al Greaves’s club will be hosting its first Student Comedian of the Year competition, topped off by a headline set by award-winning, loud-voiced, wild-haired University of York Comedy Society graduate Will Seaward.

“Will is bringing ghosts – lots of ghosts. And also werewolves and vampires and stuff,” says promoter Al. “Join Will for the most cobweb-draped, blood soaked, spine-tingling ghoststravaganza in the history of everything.

“Fresh from a smash-hit run at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe, Will Seaward’s comedy spooktacular comes to York, the spiritual home of the ghost story. Hurrah! Ghost ships! Poltergeists! Cursed artefacts! Primitive special effects! Torches! Wailing! What could possibly be better?”

Be warned, this show may contain ectoplasm.

Looking ahead to the Student Comedian event, Al says: “We’ve decided to have a competition offering student performers the chance to win a paid slot at an upcoming show; it’s open to anyone in further/higher education and all acts will get five minutes, which will be judged by a distinguished panel of comedy industry luminaries. Further details of how to enter are on our website.”

The show will be introduced by Sean Morley, who presents the Sheffield comedy night InfoWowComedy, known as “the epicentre of luxurious avant-comedy for the discerning gentleperson”.

“Sean was our first MC at our first night last October, and we’re delighted to welcome him back with his novel MCing style, such as asking members of the audience if they have ever been on a maiden voyage?” says Al.

Later this summer, Burning Duck is to launch its first comedy festival at the Black Swan over the weekend of July 4 and 5.

“We know a lot of very good performers preparing new shows to take to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, who are very much appreciate the chance to try out their new ideas in front of a warm, responsive and comedy-literate audience like our regulars,” says Al.

“All shows will be free entry to reflect that some will be ‘work in progress’, but with a bucket contribution for performers at the end, although customers will be able to guarantee entry by buying a ticket in advance for £5. Acts booked so far include Seymour Mace and Rob Auton, a York boy currently based in London.”

Tickets will be on sale and further details will be confirmed very soon. So watch this space for festival updates, but in the meantime, what moniker might Al be contemplating for his festival?

“We thought the name ‘Woodsduck’ had something of a ring to it,” he suggests.

Woodsduck it is, then.

• Doors open at 7.45pm for Wednesday’s 8pm start of The Burning Duck Comedy Club Student Comedian of The Year competition. Tickets cost £5 (£3 students and seniors) at burningduckcomedy.com/ or £6 on the night.