Funny Women
Encyclopedia
Funny Women is a stand-up comedy
competition in the UK entirely devoted to women. It is the only UK Comedy competition that is Pay to Play
charging performers to take part. It was founded in 2003, with the sole intention of honouring female comedians in a generally male-dominated profession. The competition was founded by Lynne Parker, and not only promotes female comedians, but also raises funds and awareness for various women's charities.
The Awards attract national television and radio coverage (Richard & Judy, This Morning, The Culture Show), and national press (The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph). The Awards have also been featured as a series of podcasts with The Sun (semi final, final), and footage from the 2007 final at the London Comedy Store is featured on the Paramount Comedy website.
in London. The 2011 final is scheduled to take place at the John Snow pub in Soho in London.
, with performers having to pay £15 to enter the competition. No other comedy competition does this in the UK. Pay-to-play is seen as detrimental within the UK comedy industry, in effect asking performers to pay for the privilege of working. As a result of the decision to charge for entry to the Funny Women competition, a group of comedians, calling themselves Funny's Funny set up a rival comedy competition for women in 2011 offering a cash prize.
The 2005 prize given to Debra Jane Appleby was queried by some when it emerged that she was born male, and had undergone a sex change
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
competition in the UK entirely devoted to women. It is the only UK Comedy competition that is Pay to Play
Pay to Play
Pay to play, sometimes pay for play, is a phrase used for a variety of situations in which money is exchanged for services or the privilege to engage in certain activities...
charging performers to take part. It was founded in 2003, with the sole intention of honouring female comedians in a generally male-dominated profession. The competition was founded by Lynne Parker, and not only promotes female comedians, but also raises funds and awareness for various women's charities.
The Awards attract national television and radio coverage (Richard & Judy, This Morning, The Culture Show), and national press (The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph). The Awards have also been featured as a series of podcasts with The Sun (semi final, final), and footage from the 2007 final at the London Comedy Store is featured on the Paramount Comedy website.
Requirements
To date, the only two specified requirements for entry into the competition is that one must have been performing for less than three years, and that you must pay £15 to enter.Heats & finals
Due to the numbers entering, this competition has three stages. Heats take place over May and June and from these heats, 20 acts are selected. Two semi-finals are held in the north and south of the UK and from these, ten acts are selected to go through to the final at the Comedy StoreThe Comedy Store, London
The Comedy Store is a comedy club located in Soho, London, England, opened in 1979 by Don Ward and Peter Rosengard.It was named after The Comedy Store club in the United States, which Rosengard had visited the previous year...
in London. The 2011 final is scheduled to take place at the John Snow pub in Soho in London.
Prizes
There is no longer a cash prize for this competition, despite performers now having to pay to enter this competition. The winners in 2011 will receive a management deal and DVD from an unnamed companyControversy
The 2011 competition lauch has revealed the organisers decision to make this competition Pay to PlayPay to Play
Pay to play, sometimes pay for play, is a phrase used for a variety of situations in which money is exchanged for services or the privilege to engage in certain activities...
, with performers having to pay £15 to enter the competition. No other comedy competition does this in the UK. Pay-to-play is seen as detrimental within the UK comedy industry, in effect asking performers to pay for the privilege of working. As a result of the decision to charge for entry to the Funny Women competition, a group of comedians, calling themselves Funny's Funny set up a rival comedy competition for women in 2011 offering a cash prize.
The 2005 prize given to Debra Jane Appleby was queried by some when it emerged that she was born male, and had undergone a sex change
2010
- Thankless Child - Liz Black and Freya Slipper (Winner)
- Julia Clark (Second)
- Rachel Parris (Third)
- Gemma WhelanGemma WhelanGemma Whelan is a comedian and actress who lives in London.As a comedian, she won the 2010 Funny Women Variety award for stand-up comedy.On screen, she played supporting roles in several films and TV shows since 2006, including in the 2010 films Gulliver's Travels and The Wolfman...
(Variety Award)- Lindsay Jarman (Finalist)
- Jess Fostekew (Finalist)
- Clare Lomas (Finalist)
- Sarah Hendrickx (Finalist)
- Iona Dudley-Ward (Finalist)
- Alison Thea-Skot (Finalist)
- Abigoliah Schamaun (Finalist)
- Helen Arney (Finalist)
2009
- London Hughes as "Miss London" (Winner)
- Eve Webster (Second)
- Jo Selby (Third)
- Charlie Covell (Finalist)
- Tania Edwards (Finalist)
- Giado Garofalo (Finalist)
- Domestic Goddi (Finalist)
- Rhona McKenzie (Finalist)
- Elizabeth Mee (Finalist)
- Catherine Semark (Finalist)
- Marie Vagen (Finalist)
- Katarina Vrana (Finalist)
2008
- Katherine Ryan (Winner)
- Sara PascoeSara PascoeSara Pascoe is a British writer, stand-up comedian, and actress.Pascoe has appeared in a number of television programmes, including The Thick of It and Being Human, as well as all-female sketch show Girl Friday , which she co-wrote.In August 2010, Pascoe performed her first show at Edinburgh, Sara...
(Runner-Up) - Rachel Stubbings (Runner-Up)
- Sarah Campbell (Finalist)
- Pippa EvansPippa EvansPippa Evans is a British comedian, known for her work in character and improvisational comedy.Having studied Drama and Theatre Arts at Birmingham University, she became a member of Scratch improvisation comedy troupe, and appeared in Newsrevue, a topical comedy show at London's Canal Cafe Theatre...
as Loretta Maine (Finalist) - Rachel Fairburn (Finalist)
- Girl and Dean (Finalist)
- Rowena Haley (Finalist)
- Grainne Maguire (Finalist)
- Elaine Malcolmson (Finalist)
2007
- Andi OshoAndi OshoAndi Osho is a British comedian and actress.In an interview for BBC Radio 4 Extra's 'MacAuley & Co' in 2011 at the Edinburgh Festival, Broadcast on August 16th 2011; Osho confirmed her age to be 38 on several occasions....
(Winner) - Joanne LauJoanne LauJoanne Lau is a Chinese-Canadian stand-up comedian based in London, and a finalist in the Laughing Horse New Act of The Year competition for 2007.-External links:* http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=152152645...
(2nd place) - Sharon Mannion (3rd place)
- Isma Almas (Finalist)
- Emily Haworth Booth (Finalist)
- Victoria Cook (Finalist)
- Nat Luurtsema (Finalist)
- Missman (Lisa Alabaksh) (Finalist)
- Katie Mulgrew (Finalist)
- Katy Schute (Finalist)
2006
- Suzy Bennett (Winner)
- Diane MorganDiane MorganDiane Morgan is an English actress, comedian and writer. Originally from Bolton she studied at East 15 Acting School before getting the role of Dawn in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights. Her work as a stand up comedian has seen her placed second in the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Award 2006 and...
(2nd) - Christina MartinChristina MartinChristina Martin is a British comedian, actor and writer.She came third in the 2006 Funny Women Awards. She was a feature writer for Viz Comic between 2006 and 2009 and wrote for New Humanist magazine between 2007 and 2009...
(3rd)- Susan CalmanSusan CalmanSusan Calman is a Scottish comedian. She is a frequent panellist on BBC Radio 4 topical shows The News Quiz and I Guess That's Why They Call It The News, has appeared in Channel 4 sketch shows and covers for Fred MacAulay on his BBC Radio Scotland show. She has also appeared in Rab C. Nesbitt...
(Finalist) - Holly WalshHolly Walsh (comedian)Holly Walsh is an English comedian and comedy writer from Guildford in Surrey, known mainly for her work on TV and radio in the UK.- Early life :...
(Finalist) - Martine Pepper (Finalist)
- Liz CarrLiz CarrLiz Carr is a British actor, stand-up comedian, television presenter and international disability rights activist. She frequently refers to her disability in her stand up, and is frank about the difficulties inherent in doing so - "I've had some tuts, which is fantastic.....
(Finalist) - Maggie Gordon-Walker (Finalist)
- Sonya Kelly (Finalist)
- Rosie Wilby (Finalist)
- Susan Calman
2005
- Debra Jane Appleby (Winner)
- Sarah MillicanSarah MillicanSarah Millican is an English stand-up comedian. Millican won the if.comedy award for Best Newcomer at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.-Career:...
(Runner-Up) - Ruth Bratt (Runner-Up)
- Wendy Wason (Finalist)
- Steph Baker (Finalist)
- Julie Jepson (Finalist)
- Jude Mahon (Finalist)
- Emma FryerEmma FryerEmma Fryer is a British stand-up comedian, actress and writer from Coventry, best known for playing Tania in BBC Three's Ideal, Janine in E4's PhoneShop and Gaynor in BBC 2's Home Time, which she co-wrote with Neil Edmond....
(Finalist) - Becky LoveBecky LoveBecky Love is a musical comedy performer and writer. She was a finalist in the 2005 BBC New Comedy Awards and the 2005 Funny Women competition.-External links:* entry on Chortle website...
(Finalist) - Helen KeenHelen KeenHelen Keen is an English alternative comedian and writer born in Yorkshire, now living in London.-Career:In 2005, along with writing partner Miriam Underhill, she won the first Channel 4 New Comedy Writing Initiative award. Judges included station executives, as well as Annie Griffin, Victoria...
(Finalist)
2004
- Zoe LyonsZoe Lyons-Stand-up Career:Lyons graduated from the University of York in 1992 with a degree in psychology; in 2004 she was crowned winner of the Funny Women Awards. Since then, she has toured the UK stand up circuit, as well as playing regular gigs in London and Brighton...
(Winner) - Anna CrillyAnna CrillyAnna Crilly is an English actress and comedian. Secondary school: Kent College, Pembury. Crilly attended Middlesex University where she studied performing arts...
(Runner-Up) - Janice Phayre (Runner-Up)
- Bridget ChristieBridget ChristieBridget Christie is an award winning British comedian, actress and writer. She studied acting at The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts.She has appeared in several TV and radio shows, including The Omid Djalili Show on BBC One and The Culture Show on BBC Two...
(Finalist) - Rosin Conaty (Finalist)
- Lindzi Germain (Finalist)
- Susan Hanks (Finalist)
- Sarah Ledger (Finalist)
- Millie & Tillie (Finalist)
- Bridget Christie
2003
- Sarah Adams as Jade the Folk Singer (Winner)
- Anna Keirle (Runner-Up)
- Ria Lina (Runner-Up)
- Kerry GodlimanKerry Godliman-Television:She has appeared in Law of the Playground, Spoons, Rush Hour, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow and Home Time.She appears in the 2011 Birds Eye polar bear commercial for their new frozen king prawns.-External links:* at Chortle*...
(Highly Commended)- Karen Bayley (Finalist)
- Jo Jo Sutherland (Finalist)
- Kathy Wix (Finalist)
- Helen KaneHelen KaneHelen Kane was an American popular singer; her signature song was "I Wanna Be Loved By You". Kane's voice and appearance were a likely source for Fleischer Studios animator Grim Natwick when creating Betty Boop, although It-girl Clara Bow is another possible influence.-Early life:Born as Helen...
(Finalist) - Debs Gatenby (Finalist)
- Brandy Borr (Finalist)