Funny Women Awards continues its new talent search
Funny Women Awards continues its new talent search
With last two live showcases and semi finals
The organisers and judges of this year's Funny Women Awards have been amazed at the incredibly high standard of entrants seen so far in showcases in London, the South, the Midlands and, most recently, the Edinburgh Fringe.
The last two showcases take place in London during the Camden Fringe on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August between 3.00 and 5.00 p.m.
"Being part of the Festival season has been a great way of us covering as much of the UK as we can to see new acts," explains Lynne Parker, producer and founder of Funny Women. "We round off this year's search at the Camden Fringe next week and then we have the difficult task of drawing up a shortlist for the semi finals which take place in London on Monday 7th September at the Leicester Square Theatre.
"Talent-wise this year has been phenomenal with a huge variety of female comedy from stand up to sketch, character and impressions. We still have a limited amount of entries from the black and Asian communities but this is something we hope to build on next year."
The Funny Women Awards are now in their seventh year, and a new timetable has been implemented for the Funny Women Awards to accommodate a number of changes. As part of the new structure a number of professionals from the media and entertainment world have been at every showcase.
Michael Buchanan-Dunne, the development editor for BBC Comedy Commissioning who is on the judging panel says of the competition, "I'm absolutely delighted to be judging this year's Funny Women Awards. "There's a wealth of exciting, vibrant and original female performers in comedyland and this is a fabulous chance for them to shine".
Valuable media partnerships are also in place to promote the competition. Comedy Central has supported the Funny Women Awards for the last five years and Sarah Farrell, its director of content, chairs the judging panel at the final.
"This year, more than ever, we need a laugh!" says Sarah. "We're proud to continue our involvement with Funny Women and fully back their supportive campaign to bring the funniest women to the fore."
The Funny Women Awards are open to any woman who can perform stand up in front of a live audience. Up to ten acts will be selected at the semi finals on Monday 7th September to go through to the charity final which takes place at the world famous Comedy Store in London on Monday 21st September. This year's competition has attracted nearly 250 entrants, on a par with last year's entry figures.
Anybody still wishing to enter should now register on-line as soon as possible at to guarantee a place in the last two showcases in Camden.
First prize for the winner will be a week's luxury holiday for two at the five-star contemporary boutique Londa Hotel in Limassol. The winner will also perform at the Londa as part of the increasingly successful Funny Women tour at the hotel which is attracting big audiences on the island.
Last year's winner was Canadian Katherine Ryan, now resident in the UK and a former children's TV presenter as well as a stand up. Previous winners include Zoe Lyons who won in 2004, Sarah Adams, who performed as Jade The Folk Singer in 2003 and it now half of successful comedy duo Adams & Rea, Debra-Jane Appelby who won in 2005, Suzy Bennett who took the title in 2006 and Andi Osho in 2007.
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‘If this is the future of womanly comedy, then it's in sale, exciting hands.'
Tim Arthur, Time Out
‘A superb champion of talent.' Shane Allen, Channel 4 Comedy
Ticket information:
Please visit www.funnywomen.com to book tickets on-line. Ticket prices from £5 to £8.00. Final £15.00. See venues for full details.
For more information about Funny Women please : email info@funnywomen.com
