The inaugural (ISH) Edinburgh Comedy Awards – an alternatuve in 2023 to the long-established Edinburgh Comedy Awards – returns this year with a new sponsor. The ISH Awards involves a voluntary panel of judges seeing every eligible comedy show at the Fringe, where 100% of any sponsorship goes towards the artists.
The sponsor is Jones Bootmaker. The brilliant team there will be sponsoring the 2024 Awards with £15,000, meaning that £5000 Awards will be given out in 2024 at the Fringe to the winners of Best Show, Best Newcomer and the Panel Prize.
The awards were created by comedian Nathan Cassidy, who was the only live performer at the 2020 Fringe). Awards Producer Sarah Bowles won The Funny Women Comedy Industry Award partly for her work on the Awards.
Nathan Cassidy says, ‘I am thrilled that the ISH Awards now has the backing of the very lovely people at Jones Bootmaker. There is an incredible amount of good will towards the Awards from comedians, many of whom need more support, and being recognised in 2023 was a huge boost to their Fringe and for their future careers. I’ll always remember one comedian saying to us, ‘You’ve not only changed my Fringe, you’ve changed my life, as you’ve shown that people like me can be recognised.’ That we can repeat this support and recognition, and also give a few people some year-changing money this time around is superb.’
Sarah Bowles, Awards producer says ‘I am over the moon to have secured sponsorship this year and to carry on our support for comedians and the industry at a time where costs at the Edinburgh Fringe have ballooned. We will also be doing Awards Showcases at the Fringe for last year’s long and short-listed comedians and anyone that has caught the judges’ eyes this year, where we will further be able to pay comedians for performing at the Fringe. These shows will be from Thu-Sun every week of the Fringe at 23:30 at The Counting House Ballroom, free entry with donations at the end - thanks to Alex Petty at the Free Festival and the team at the Counting House for their support.’
Dave Abbott, Head of Brand at Jones Bootmaker says: “We’re delighted to be stepping in as the sponsor of this year's Edinburgh Comedy Awards. It's a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the hard-working performers who make the Edinburgh Fringe one of the best festivals in the world. They perform great stand-up, we design great shoes, it’s a perfect fit!”
Those long and short-listed in 2023 included Ed Byrne, Seymour Mace, Lorna Rose Treen, Stuart Goldsmith, Phil Ellis, Louise Young, Huge Davies, Janine Harouni, Luke Kempner, Mark Nelson, Ania Magliano, MC Hammersmith, Paul Sinha, Phil Kay, Daniel Kitson, Frank Skinner and many, many more great comics. The 2023 Awards were won jointly for Best Show by Paul Foot and Julia Masli, and for Best Newcomer Dan Tiernan and Fiona Ridgewell. The Panel Prize was won by Mark Simmons and Danny Ward for their work on A Show for Gareth Richards. Paul Foot and Julia Masli have gone on to have hugely successful international tours following the Fringe.
Visit the website www.edinburghcomedyawards.com for more information on the awards, clips, eligibility, and to get involved this year as a judge. Find out more about the sponsor at www.jonesbootmaker.com
