MEET 2025 STAGE AWARD FINALIST: SHALAKA KURUP
Shalaka Kurup is an Indian stand up comedian and writer. Her observational humour has been described as deadpan joy. A doctor by education and a comedian by choice Shalaka has shot onto the UK circuit receiving numerous awards, winning West End New Act of the Year, runner up Brighton Komedia New Act of the year and a finalist Channel 4 Sean Lock Award. Performances include opening for Eshaan Akbar, Grace Campbell, Ria Lina, and was selected for Leicester Comedy Festival Circuit Breakers and Pleasance Reserve in 2023. She has starred on Comedy Central Live Season 3, Jokes Only A…Can Tell (Channel 4 Digital) Asian Network Comedy (BBC) Arts Hour Comedy Special (BBC) and Sunday Morning Live (BBC1).
MEET 2025 STAGE AWARD FINALIST: SOPHIE GARRAD
Sophie Garrad is a stand-up comedian, writer, and content creator celebrated for her high-status humour with her delusional silliness. She first made her mark online with viral sketches that have amassed over 100 million views across Instagram and TikTok, before quickly establishing herself as one of the most exciting new voices in British comedy. Sophie is also a So You Think You’re Funny finalist and her debut hour Poor Little Rich Girl sold out at the Edinburgh Fringe and earned rave reviews, cementing her reputation as a rising star to watch.
MEET 2025 STAGE AWARD FINALIST: MADELEINE BRETTINGHAM
Madeleine is a writer-turned-performer who has recently scooped a string of competition wins including the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny 2025. She’s been praised for her “distinctive worldview” (Chortle), “tight and gag-packed” writing (Bruce Dessau), and a “knack for blending offbeat observations with pacey, unexpected punchlines” (The List). She lives in London.
MEET 2025 STAGE AWARD FINALIST: SAMANTHA DAY
Samantha’s comedy career kicked off about six years ago, after three decades as an accountant and single mum. Now she’s been freed from the city, she’s really hit her stride, as a truly original act who’s winning awards and progressing fast on the circuit.
MEET 2025 STAGE AWARD FINALIST: KATE HAMMER
Kate Hammer is an anemic Canadian comedian and writer living in Glasgow, and is a regular host and weekend performer at clubs in Scotland. She has performed on Just for Laughs, Latitude Festival, Kelburn Garden Party, Late N Live, PopMontreal, and is a finalist for the Funny Women competition 2025, as well as being a semi-finalist for the 2022LGBTQ and Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year competitions. She is the resident host and co-producer of the queer comedy show All Mouth and has opened for Sam Lake and Mark Nelson. Kate is high energy, wears high-waisted trousers, and always stays true to her goat farming heritage.
Meet our 2025 Industry Award Nominees
The Funny Women Comedy Industry Award has been created to recognise the unsung heroines working tirelessly behind the scenes in the comedy industry.
