This was a bumper year for the Comedy Writing Award, with a funded development prize with Sky Studios up for grabs as well as £1000 cash and a Funny Women Tatty Devine necklace. As always judging was tough but the panel decided to award the multi-talented comedian, actor, and writer Kathryn Bond! We caught up with Kathryn to talk about winning, her creative process and her acceptance speech…
Funny Women: How does it feel to win the Comedy Writing Award?
Kathryn Bond: It feels magic. I was and am over the moon and was very overwhelmed on the night – as you could tell by the amount of time it took me to get up one stage to accept my award and say the legendary speech that began: “Do I go now?” It felt so amazing to be part of the night and can’t thank Funny Women and Sky Studios enough. Feels like a lovely community to be part of and I’m excited to develop my script and for what’s to come.
FW: Tell us about your script Personal.
KB: Elevator pitch.
Personal is a fast-paced TV comedy-drama about the powerful need to be needed. PA Cassie obsessively runs the life of her ‘celebrity’ boss, Razzle, on a broken iPhone, penny sweets, and a three-a-day own-brand Red Bull habit, in an attempt to escape her own reality.
FW: Can you share a little about your writing process?
KB: I write a silly short draft of something and say it doesn’t matter. Have to turn the bad cop off for a bit. The initial idea is often based on my real life. Then I work on an outline if I like the idea. What do I want to happen? Drives of characters and their points of view etc. Then I go back to the dialogue. It’s like making a multilayered cake. My writing tends to be inspired by feeling a bit ‘odd’. which after years of trying to fight against, I now embrace with very awkward open arms and so often my starting point is other odd characters.
What would you say to anyone thinking about entering the 2022 Awards?
KB: Go for it. Write a new ten pages that feels exciting to you or build on something you already have. Don’t worry too much about the first draft – it is just something that you can either agree or disagree with yourself on. You’re just getting the chat going with yourself. Also, apply if you like meeting lovely people and necklaces from Tatty Devine.
FW: And lastly, who are your favourite funny women?
KB: All the live funny women finalists this year. What a lineup. Also Julia Davis is a queen isn’t she?
