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Funny business for MSP at award ceremony

Funny business for MSP at award ceremony - Click for larger version Christina McKelvie MSP will present this year’s NIVEA Funny Women Fringe Award on Monday 11th August 2008 at 11:30PM at the Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh.


The Funny Women Fringe Award, which was created by Funny Women in 2007 to recognise women in comedy and to highlight the imbalance of female nominations and winners in the mainstream awards which are a feature of the Edinburgh Fringe, will include nominations from a wide variety of female comedy acts being staged at this year’s Fringe.


 Christina McKelvie MSP said:


“Women’s humour has played a significant role in Scotland’s cultural identity over the generations. Scottish women who have faced challenging situations in their everyday lives have often survived poverty and oppression because of their humour.  The Nivea Funny Women Fringe Awards recognise very much the part women’s humour and comedy has, and still does play in empowering women.”


 


Every year increasing numbers of strong female-led shows appear at the Fringe, wide in range and diversity. The overall award will be given to the show that best embodies the spirit of female comedy at the Fringe.


 


“Established women are playing at established venues, and the shortlist reflects this,” explains Lynne Parker, producer of Funny Women.  “However, our panel has made a great effort to see a wide range of acts in the time frame in as many venues as possible.”


 


“It is important to celebrate female comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe, which is the world’s leading arts festival,” explains Lynne.  “We have been at the vanguard of delivering new female comedy talent to eager audiences across the UK for six years, and this is our opportunity to reward and promote talented women at the Fringe.”


 


Members of the public can purchase tickets for the awards showcase and the Award ceremony online at: http://www.edcomfest.com/shows/Funny_Women_Fringe_Award?ref=edfringe">http://www.edcomfest.com/shows/Funny_Women_Fringe_Award?ref=edfringe


 


About Nivea Funny Women Fringe Award


The producers of the leading female comedy brand and its panel have seen over 60 shows across the Fringe during the first week of the festival.  This included shows at a wide range of venues including established and free.


 


The Funny Women reviewers have selected a range of female comics and female oriented shows which will now be considered for the 2008 NIVEA Funny Women Fringe Award and a selection of these acts have been invited to perform in three exclusive preview shows at 3.00 p.m. on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August at the Pleasance Dome.


 


The best across three categories will then be selected to perform at the Awards Ceremony on Monday 11th August, also at the Pleasance Dome at 11.30 p.m. for a chance of winning the overall £1,000 cash prize.  There will also be prizes for the winners of the three categories:



The main cash Award will go to the show which in the opinion of the judges best represents female-led comedy at the Fringe.  This could be in any category as long as it is comedy.


 


The 2007 winner of the first ever Funny Women Fringe Award was Bridget Christie and her show “The Court of King Charles II” – a look at the 17th century’s deranged royals, incompetent terrorists, mentalist fundamentalists and pointless wags.  Bridget returns to the Fringe again this year with her sequel, “The Court of King Charles II – The Second”, which takes place at the Baby Belly, Cowgate, 31st July to 24th August. 


The NIVEA Funny Women Fringe Award expands the tradition of nurturing and discovering new female talent as established through the annual NIVEA Funny Women Awards, which take place across the UK during Spring. 


The nominations - Stand Up


Zoe Lyons


Janey Godley


Shazia Mirza


Fiona O’Loughlin


Josie Long


Lucy Porter


Karen Dunbar


Wendy Wason *


Kerry Godliman *


Susan Calman *


Sarah Millican *


 


NOMINATIONS - Sketch/character/theatrical


The Angry Puppy


Nina Conti - Evolution


Pam Ann – Terror at 41,000 ft


Alyssa Kyria Woman of the Year


The Suttie Show, Issie Suttie


Pippa Evans and Other Lonely People *


Adams and Rae


Girl & Dean


Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the House, Isabel Fay


* newcomer -  first show at the Fringe.


 


About Funny Women


·         Funny Women was started in 2002 by Lynne Parker as a platform to find and celebrate female comedy talent


·         Funny Women raises funds and awareness for a variety of causes that aim to help and heal women. This includes Ovarian cancer action which raises awareness and funds research into ovarian cancer, and is part of the Helen Harris Memorial Trust which is dedicated to defeating ovarian cancer. Visit: http://www.ovarian.org.uk/">www.ovarian.org.uk for email info@ovarian.org.uk or more details


·         Beneficiary charities include YWCA, Jo’s Trust, Bristol Cancer Care Centre, ActionAid and V-Day: Until the Violence Stops


·         Funny Women has raised over £80,000 for charity in the past five years


·         Funny Women has taken part at the Edinburgh Fringe for five years, running various events including a theatrical production, a series of workshops and regular stand up show in addition to the Funny Women Fringe Award.


·         The 2008 Funny Women Fringe Award is sponsored by NIVEA, who ethos is Beauty is Laughter.


 








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