THE LEADING showcase for British female comedy talent, the Funny Women Awards, has launched their annual search for the next household names.
Now in their 16th year, previous winners and finalists of the awards include renowned names such as Katherine Ryan, Zoe Lyons, Sara Pascoe, Sarah Millican and Susan Calman. Thanyia Moore is the current title holder.
Once again Funny Women will look to empower women in comedy with the Stage Award for performance, the Writing Award and Comedy Shorts Award for film making. There is also an award for Best Show based on nominations from the public.
The 2019 competition to find the next female comedy icon opened this month with a new way of entering the Stage Award.
Aspiring entrants can submit a five-minute YouTube clip of a stand-up performance by 30th April to be considered for the live heats. There is still time!
Successful entrants from Scotland will then have their heat on Saturday 15th June at the Comedy Attic in the Beehive, Edinburgh.
Everything that aspiring entrants need to know can be found at: www.funnywomenawards.com.
Across May and June the heats will also visit London, Coventry, Bristol, Manchester, Canterbury, Ipswich, Edinburgh and Dublin.
Regional finals will take place in July and August with the finals in London in September with dates to be announced.
In addition to the Stage Award result, the winners of the Comedy Writing Award, the Comedy Shorts Award and the Best Show Award (for full-length shows during 2019) will be announced on the night of the final.
The Stage Award has attracted an important new industry partner in the form of Sky.
Morwenna Gordon, commissioning editor, Sky Comedy said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the brilliant and important work that Funny Women does by partnering this year’s Stage Award.
“With an impressive alumni of previous winners, we look forward to working with Funny Women and finding the new rising stars of the comedy world.”
Lynne Parker, founder of Funny Women, said:
“After a little break to rework and attract new partners to ensure the future of the Awards, we are back with a new format that opens up the competition to even more women than before.
“Video submission makes entry to the Stage Award more accessible, and each of our live heats will be a showcase of the best new talent around.
“Women already have a strong and important voice in the comedy industry and so many of today’s big names have taken part in the Awards at the beginning of their careers.
“This year will be no exception when it comes to trailblazing talent.”
Successful entrants from Scotland will have their heat on:
Saturday 15th June
2.30-4.30pm
Comedy Attic at the Beehive, Edinburgh
MC: Megan Shandley, Funny Women Stage Award finalist, 2017
Booking: www.wegottickets.com/event/469360
