This year is already a record breaker. We can still take your entry if you want to take part but please get registered as soon as possible. Two extra heats are taking place to accommodate you all - one as part of the London Festival Fringe and the other at the Edinburgh Fringe.
We welcome all levels of performance and the only criteria is that you are a 'new act' and we qualify this by giving you a five year break. During seven years of running the Funny Women Awards we recognise that some of you take a break from performing to have families, study or travel, so we've acknowledged this by increasing the time criteria from three to five years.
Our competition has a reputation for being one of the friendliest and most supportive of all the talent contests. We aim to see every entrant at a live showcase, or heat, on the basis that it gives you a gig and chance to perform. Even if you don't feel quite ready, give it a go just to kick start your performing career and gain a bit of stage time.
We will announce this year's SHORTLIST after the last heats at the Edinburgh Fringe towards the end of August - this is the first time we will publish a list of all the acts who have made it to the first stage of the selection process.
Each Funny Women Awards heat is judged by a 12-person panel made up of industry professionals, local media figures, representatives from any charities or institutions supporting that particular event, and audience members. Contestants are marked out of ten on an anonymous feedback sheet. The panellists are asked to consider material, delivery, stage presence and originality. Scores are then collated after the heat, with the top scoring acts going forward to the shortlist, which in turn is used to produce a definitive set of semi-finalists. All heats are filmed, and all shortlisted performances will be reviewed again by the producers as part of the selection process.
The acts going through to the semi-finals will be announced on Monday 30th August. 24 acts will be invited to compete on Monday 6th September, with 12 continuing on to the final on Monday 20th September.
The winner of last year’s Funny Women Awards was Miss London, real name Dionne Hughes, a 20 year old student from London.
