The Funny Women Awards 2012 are officially underway for the 10th year running. We’re extending our initial search to Ireland and Scotland and looking forward to seeing some great new female comedy from all around the UK. Our first round of heats will see us visit Brighton, London, Dublin, Manchester and Edinburgh during April and May.
As it’s our 10thAnniversary we’re looking for the top 100 acts to appear in 10 regional final shows during June, July and August. The winning act from each show will be offered a much coveted place in this year’s final on Monday 24thSeptember at the Leicester Square Theatre.
The main prize this year is the Benefit Funny Women Award, sponsored by Benefit Cosmetics. The Winner will receive a bursary worth £2,000 which includes a career boosting development package with Funny Women and Red 24 Management plus £500 worth of Benefit products!
Kyra Oates, head of promotions for Benefit Cosmetics says “Funny Women is all about empowering women which is what we do through our products so the synergy is perfect! As we say at Benefit, ‘laughter is the best cosmetic….so grin and wear it!’.”
The Variety Award looks for the best new sketch, character or speciality act and is sponsored by wine company, Blue Nun. The winner will receive their very own fully promoted show in the Lounge studio at the Leicester Square Theatre.
Julia Savage of the Brand Placement Agency representing Blue Nun says “Laughter, just like a good glass of wine, connects people and we’re proud to be supporting fabulous female talent and comedy.”
The Comedy Writing Award offers non-performers with great ideas a chance to compete. Details about this award, being run for the second year running, will be announced shortly. Guidelines for the Writing Award can be found HERE.
The 2011 competition attracted 250 entrants and was won by the ‘people pleasing’ Lara A King. The Variety Award was won by sketch duo Ladies Live Longer, Victoria Temple-Morris and Louise Fitzgerald and the newly launched Comedy Writing Award, was won by Christine Robertson.
Previous winners include Thankless Child, aka Liz Black and Freya Slipper in 2010, Variety Award winner Gemma Whelan, 2010, 2009 victor and CBBC star, Miss London; Canadian Katherine Ryan in 2008; the hugely successful Andi Osho in 2007; Suzy Bennett, who hosted the 2011 final and took the title in 2006; Debra-Jane Appelby, winner 2005; Zoe Lyons, who won in 2004, and Sarah Adams, who triumphed performing as Jade The Folk Singer in 2003. You can read all about their experiences of winning the Awards HERE.
Other successful Funny Women Awards finalists include Katie Wix, Anna Crilly, Bridget Christie, Susan Calman, Diane Morgan, Emma Fryer, Kerry Godliman, Wendy Wason, Sara Pascoe, Roisin Conaty and Holly Walsh as well as the hugely successful Sarah Millican.
As with every year since the Awards were first launched, we will be partnering a charity. You can see who we’ve worked with in the past HERE. This year we are partnering Women’s Aid, (add website) the national domestic violence charity who do fantastic work helping up to 250,000 women and children every year. The charity works to end violence against women and children, and supports over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the country.
If you prefer to stay out of the limelight, tickets to the first round heats are just £5 and for this you will get to experience some fantastic new comedy with brilliant hosts to guide you through the evening. All the dates for the first round of heats along with booking information can be found HERE.
