The winners have been announced for the Luke Rollason Memorial Bursary – an award set up by the physical comedian to support new comedy creatives from alternative backgrounds bringing unusual work to the Brighton Fringe.
The winners are:
- Freddie Hayes, presenting POTATOHEAD – a one-potato adaptation of Doctor Faustus, with puppetry, about a humble spud who dreams of become a stand-up comedian. Freddie Hayes: POTATOHEAD will debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022.
- Aruhan Galieva, presenting ECO MANIAC – a musical comedy exploration of the “mammoth headf*ck” of the climate crisis, with some absolute bangers. Aruhan is a comedian, eco-activist and actress presenting her first solo show.
The award is also supporting two runners-up, who are:
- Sara Segovia, presenting ¡SUPERNUEVA! – an apocalyptically funny alien invasion from a Gaulier-trained Spanish idiot.
- Hanna Winter, presenting SNOWFLAKE – an ambitious and absurd performance art-comedy-collage tackling inherited trauma.
The prize for the winners includes the cost of their registration, £75 towards marketing, free rehearsal space at the OSO Arts Centre and mentorship, as well as fizzy drinks and crisps of their choice. The runners-up will also have their registration costs covered and might get some crisps if they are lucky.
Applications were judged by the comedian and a panel of professionals working in the comedy industry.
Luke said “I hope this unbearable vanity project will do a little to draw attention to the fantastically creative work being made on the fringes of the comedy industry. The judging process introduced the panel and I to the work of so many brilliant performers. Now I can die knowing that comedy will survive without me.”
Freddie Hayes: Potatohead will perform at the Brighton Spiegeltent on the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th May. Tickets available here.
Aruhan Galieva: Eco Maniac will perform at Komedia on the 2nd and 3rd June. Tickets available here.
Sara Segovia: ¡SUPERNUEVA! will perform at the Rotunda on the 7th and 8th of May, and the 4th June. Tickets available here.
Hanna Winter: Snowflake will perform at the Rotunda on the 7th, 8th, 19th and 29th May. Tickets available here.
Luke Rollason: Bowerbird will perform at the Brighton Spiegeltent on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th June. Tickets available here.
There will also be a showcase of the winners and best of the rest at Komedia in Birghton on June 1.
