You may have missed some of the hottest shows at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe – but now there’s a chance to catch them on stage in Liverpool instead.

Liverpool Comedy Festival, which opens tonight, boasts its very own Fringe event this year with around 40 acts signed up to appear on stage at 81 Renshaw Street during the 17-day festival of fun.

Confirmed acts include Gein’s Family Gift Shop, Kiri Pritchard McLean, James Meehan, Hayley Ellis, Steve Gribbin and Top Joe.

Fringe curator, Funny Looking’s Gav Cross, says: “We’re bring sold-out shows straight from Edinburgh, lauded shows, new shows, debut hours, sketch comedy, impro, character, chat shows, comedy for kids and so much more, and putting it in one place and bringing the Fringe to you.”

The Liverpool Comedy Festival has a legacy of small gigs from unknown acts that have gone on to become theatre fillers and TV regulars.

John Bishop, Jimmy Carr and his ‘Uncle Alan’ have all been through the festival when they were starting out.

Gav adds: “The Liverpool Comedy Festival has an excellent pedigree of putting on small gigs with the then unknown comics who have gone on to be nationally and internationally known for the quality of their work.

“But they were great then too!”

“Take a chance, take a punt and we reckon you’ll be seeing some of the next generation of the movers and shakers in British comedy, in a friendly an intimate space.”

Here are seven Edinburgh Fringe shows you shouldn’t miss at the comedy festival. All of them are at 81 Renshaw Street.

Doug Segal: I Can Make You Feel Good

September 16, 7pm

Following previous Edinburgh Festival Fringe sell-out runs, award-winning comedy mind reader Doug Segal is coming to Liverpool from over the border with a new show which is designed to make you feel good.

Mind tricks, jokes and an endorphin rush are all guaranteed.

Doug’s credits include winner of the best cabaret act at the Brighton Fringe in 2012 and the Three Weeks Editor’s Award at Edinburgh the same year. Meanwhile Time Out has dubbed him “the UK’s best kept entertainment secret”.

Laura Lexx: Tyrannosaurus Lexx

September 21, 7pm

Evolution is tricky _ just ask the dinosaurs. Last year Laura Lexx (Chortle Awards 2016 nominee) evolved into a full-time wife and comedian. It didnt quite go as planned.

Following her smash debut Lovely, she aims her trademark comedy kaleidoscope at marriage, feminism, identity, and the grinning idiots that built Stonehenge.

Indulge in a whirlwind celebration of everything that’s right about slowly turning into your mother and everything that’s wrong with town criers.

Juliette Burton: Decision Time

September 23, 7pm

Burton has sold out every gig at the Edinburgh Fringe over the past two years. Now see the award-winning docu-comedian in Liverpool.

Juliette Burton has to make a BIG decision. Join her as she chooses her own adventure. Can a single choice change a life? Can looking back help us move forward? It’s time to make some good life choices!

Winner of the Argus Angel Award at the Brighton Fringe in 2012 and 2015.

Ed Aczel’s Foreign Policy

September 24, 9pm

Ever thought your relationship with your next-door neighbour is in fact foreign policy? No. Well that’s lesson one…

If we all practised good manners, what a lovely world we would live in. See how this relates to the current global maelstrom, whatever that is.

No Aczel show would be complete without a prediction of the forthcoming apocalypse; this one’s no different.

Come along – it’ll probably be fine – remember just think peace for a bit.

Joz Norris: Hello, Goodbye

September 25, 7pm

This award-winning idiot is heading for Liverpool to talk about what he’s been up to.

Par for the course for most Edinburgh shows, but this year he’s encountered love and death, so what he’s saying might have some emotional heft. Probably not, though.

He’s been inventing things this year, and at least one of them is genuinely brilliant. He met a werewolf too.

Stuart Laws: So preoccupied with whether or not he could he didn’t stop to think whether he should (1hr show)

September 25, 9pm

Stuart Laws has been a regular support for James Acaster on tour.

He’s also surprised everyone by getting on to his fourth hour-long show.