Edinburgh Comedy Awards head Nica Burns CBE has announced that Emma Brünjes will step up to Executive Director of the Awards.
Having taken over the then-embryonic Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 1984, Nica has since grown them into the UK’s most prestigious honours in live comedy, widely known as ‘the Oscars of comedy’. Nica has led the Awards through many changes of sponsor and stepped in several times to sponsor them herself when needed, as the most committed champion of new comedic talent for over four decades.
Under her direction, the Edinburgh Comedy Awards have earned a reputation for spotlighting the comedy stars of the future, with award winners and nominees going on to have a significant impact on mainstream popular culture by writing, directing and acting in some of the most iconic television, film, music, radio, podcasts and stage productions of the past 45 years.
Now, looking to the future and to sustain the legacy of the Awards, Nica has appointed Emma Brünjes to lead the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in the run-up to their 50th anniversary in 2030 and for many years beyond. Emma has been the Producer of the Awards for 16 years and been involved in the comedy industry for nearly two decades.
Nica’s involvement and championing of the Awards will continue in support of Emma and the wider Edinburgh Comedy Awards team as they take on the Awards’ vital work spotlighting the next generation of comedy talent.
Longstanding Edinburgh Comedy Awards Producer Laurence Miller, who has been a crucial part of the team from 1991 to 2025, will now take on the role of Awards Producer Emeritus, with many thanks for his decades of invaluable support and dedication to British comedy’s most prestigious accolade.
Nica Burns CBE, Awards Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, said: “Looking ahead to the 50th Edinburgh Comedy Awards, only four years away in 2030, made me think about what the Awards would look like at 75 and then 100 years. As I realised I might not be at the 75th anniversary, I needed to put a long-term leadership plan in place with a leader who would be as passionate and committed to the Awards as I am. Someone highly respected throughout the comedy community, well liked, creative and thorough, a great judge of talent and an excellent, all round producer. Step forward our new Executive Director Emma Brünjes. Emma has all the skills and talent, started her comedy career in 2003 and joined the ECA team in 2010. She knows exactly what she is doing and will be brilliant. Thank goodness, she said, Yes!”
Emma Brünjes, Executive Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, said: “Working alongside Nica for the past sixteen years and witnessing her fierce commitment to live comedy and the next generation of talent has been an extraordinary education. Accepting the baton from her is both a huge honour and a tremendous responsibility. My role is to protect that legacy, nurture it and help ensure these remarkable Awards continue to discover and spotlight exceptional new talent for many years to come.”
Nica Burns learnt the fundamentals of producing her own work as a young actress at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe using her then life savings of £600. A good review in The Scotsman sold the show out ending in a profit of £48, which she split with director Colin Watkeys. Nica was Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse from 1983-89, putting on late night comedy on Fridays and Saturdays and taking over the then-embryonic Edinburgh Comedy Awards from 1984.
In 2005 Nica Burns founded Nimax Theatres with business partner Max Weitzenhoffer. They own and run the Palace, Lyric, Apollo, Garrick, Vaudeville and Duchess Theatres in the heart of London’s West End. Nica has since produced over 100 multi-award-winning shows, is Chief Executive of Nimax Theatres, and built and opened @sohoplace on the Charing Cross Road in 2022. Nica was honoured with a CBE for services to theatre in the King’s Birthday Honours June 2024.
Emma Brünjes is an independent producer and has been the Producer of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards since 2010. Emma founded entertainment company ebp in 2013 and has since produced and general managed more than 100 productions across comedy, theatre and live entertainment in the UK and internationally.
Her work spans the West End, major UK tours, immersive theatre, international productions and live entertainment experiences, including Alice's Adventures Underground, Taskmaster: The Live Experience, CBeebies Rainbow Adventure, Dinner at the Twits, Dead Funny, Emily Atack: Talk Thirty To Me, Nina Conti: In Your Face and numerous productions at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She is a member of the Society of London Theatre, founder of the Imogen Kinchin Fellowship and a Trustee of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.
