Comedy agency Ditto Productions is closing down for the time being. Beth O'Brien, who runs the company, announced the news on Facebook last night and explained that this is due to illness and ongoing treatment.

Ditto was founded in 2011 and quickly carved out a reputation for promoting and supporting distinctive acts and putting on unusual, innovative shows. Most famously the company staged The Wrestling at the Edinburgh Festival, the late night show featuring comedians and professional wrestlers which won the Foster's Panel Prize in 2011.

Two other shows have been nominated for The Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer (Lazy Susan and The Story Beast aka John Henry Falle), one has been nominated for The Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality, three have been nominated for Chortle Awards and three have reached the Top 10 EdFringe Shows in the Amused Moose/2Entertain Laughter Awards. Ditto has worked with, among others, Bec Hill, Cariad Lloyd, Phil Nichol, Luke Wright and The Beta Males. In London Ditto ran sister club Really Lovely Comedy.

Writing on Facebook O'Brien said "It has been my joy and privilege to work in this business with so many talented and wonderful, kind, funny, welcoming people and I’m proud of the work we have done and how Ditto has grown over the last four and a half years. It is deeply painful to leave a thriving and lovingly built business and a job I have so loved, but it is the only practical and honourable course under these circumstances. I hope so much our paths lead us together again someday soon. Courage, right pals?"

O'Brien says her treatment may take around a year. It is hoped that Ditto will return. In the meantime BTJ wishes O'Brien well.