Applications are now open for Best in Class Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Showcase 2025.
The award-winning project offers eight working class comedians the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe. Acts selected work tirelessly in the run up to the festival. They are guided through the process of running a show, from writing press releases, to marketing and tech skills. Crucially, none of the acts pay to participate and they all receive payment for the work they do.
Best In Class alumni have gone on to achieve fantastic successes within their comedy careers. The showcase has proven to be a great training ground for working class acts to find their feet at the Edinburgh Fringe. Alumni include Lindsey Santoro, Hannah Platt, Jamie Hutchinson and Anna Thomas.
The showcase has won panel prizes from the Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Awards and the Ish Comedy Awards, along with grants from the Keep It Fringe Fund and the Fringe Recovery Fund. All of the prize money has been reinvested into the community to provide more bursaries, training and workshops for a wider network of working class comics. Fundraising has always been a key element of their work, donations to the Best in Class 2025 campaign can be made here:
John Meagher, part of Best in Class 2022, took to X to say “Fair to say being part of Best in Class changed my life by making it possible to do a week at the Ed Fringe. I got an agent, made my solo debut, was featured in Rolling Stone - hopefully a new batch will get similar opportunities. If you can support, please do.”
Best in Class have also announced a huge fundraising show at Leicester Comedy Festival in February. The show will feature TV favourites Angela Barnes, Skikisa and Alison Spittle, alongside some of the 2025 squad plus a host of Best in Class alumni and pals. Best in Class director Dani Johns said “It’s wonderful when big acts get behind what we are doing at Best in Class. It gives us an opportunity to create an amazing show for the public whilst raising vital funds through ticket sales. Leicester won't know what hit it!”
Tickets for the Best in Class Leicester show are available here: https://comedy-festival.co.uk/events/best-in-class/
Founder of Best in Class, Sian Davies said “Every year it gets more difficult for working class comedians to access the fringe. Costs keep rising and talent is squeezed out. Some of the best comedies were created by working class comedians, we are at risk of losing that heritage. If Caroline Aherne or Johnny Vegas were starting out now it's unlikely they could afford a fringe run. Consider the impact of that on UK culture. There is so much talent out there and we have to find ways to nurture and platform it.
If you’re working class and feel like the fringe is out of reach, this project is for you. If you want the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe whilst being part of an award winning network of comedians, this is your chance. If you can commit to being involved in the project during 2025 we can’t wait to hear from you.”
Applications to be part of Best in Class 2025 are now open and will close on 24/01/2025. Acts can find out more, check their eligibility, and apply to the project here:
https://bestinclass.org.uk/apply/
