This Monday the Leicester Square Theatre plays host to the 12th Funny Women Awards Final. Over the years the awards have unearthed some of the finest new female comedy talent from the UK and beyond. Previous winners have included Katherine Ryan (2008), who comperes this year’s final, and Andi Osho (2007). Finalists have included Sarah Millican, who was a runner-up in 2005, and Bridget Christie (2004). Susan Calman, Kerry Godliman, Gemma Whelan and Roisin Conaty are four more performers who got early breaks through Funny Women.
This year’s awards, sponsored by Benefit Cosmetics (have a look at their ad here, it is hilarious) are invite-only and not open to the public, which is a shame, but here is a run-down of this year’s finalists. A winner will be chosen by a panel of comedy industry experts. First prize includes a bursary worth £2000 and a development package with Funny Women, £500 worth of Benefit Cosmetics and the opportunity to become a brand ambassador for Benefit Cosmetics.
The awards have previously been criticised for charging entrants to register but this year the registration fee is in aid of domestic violence charity Refuge. There will also be a collection on the night.
Click on the names of each of the ten finalists below for more information on them.
There are also shortlists for the Comedy Writing Award and, new for 2014, the Comedy Shorts Award. The judges for these awards were Andrea Mann (Huffington Post UK Comedy Editor), Gavin Smith (The Comedy Unit), Gurinder Chadha (Award winning film director) and Lourdes Diaz (Comedy Central). The winners will be announced at the Final on Monday. The shortlists are as follows.
Comedy Writing Award
Chorus by Natalie Willbe
In These Shoes? By Sophie Fletcher and Megan Heffernan
Single Young Professionals by Joanne Lau
Comedy Shorts Award
Time Again by Sally Cancello
Ashes To Ashes by Aurora Fearnley and Carolyn Goodyear
Paula Bear by Letty Butler and Lucy Pearman
