Funny Women

Funny Women is the only stand-up comedy competition in the UK entirely devoted to women. It was founded in 2003 with the sole intention of honouring female comics in an otherwise male dominated profession. The finals have boasted many female comics who have not only achieved recognition in Funny Women but also have appeared in the shortlists of other stand-up comedy competition finals, or gone on to win in the case of Debra Jane Appleby at the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year. The competition was founded by Lynne Parker and not only promotes female comedians, also raises money for various women's charities.

The Awards 2007/2008

The 2008 Final will be at the Comedy Store in London on Monday 23rd June. The sponsorship for the 2008 Funny Women Awards is NIVEA. They will also be sponsoring the charity show, Funny Women Stand Up on 8th March 2008 and a new touring program around the UK and at major comedy festivals.

The Awards attract a high level of television coverage (Richard & Judy, This Morning, The Culture Show) and national press (The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph) as well as being reported on all the major radio networks. The Awards have also been featured as a series of podcasts with The Sun (semi final, final), and footage from the 2007 charity final at the world famous Comedy Store is featured on the Paramount Comedy website.

The Funny Women Awards raise funds and awareness for a variety of causes that aim to help and heal women, this year it has been the turn of Ovarian cancer action and we continue this relationship into 2008.

Our competition is now a major fixture in the comedy calendar. We received nearly 200 entries this year from all walks of life. Nurses, teachers, bookkeepers, IT professionals and mums at home of all ages, ethnicity and backgrounds, are now embracing the opportunity to become Britain’s funniest woman

Workshops

Funny women also provide a range of comedy workshops which are hosted by top female stand-up comics. These range from corporate to more private events.

Funny Women Workshops in Spain

Following the launch of the comedy workshops at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Funny women have been invited to bring their successful formula to Spain, working in collaboration with the Giggling Guiri, Spain’s leading live comedy brand with clubs in Barcelona and Madrid.

[www.comedyinspain.com]

After being at the vanguard of new female comedy in the UK for the last five years, they're now spreading our net further into Europe to develop the next generation of female comics and generally encourage women to improve their self confidence by learning some of the tricks of the comedy trade.

The Funny Women Workshop starts with basic elements such as “What is a joke?” before exploring the mechanics of what makes a gag funny. “Go on then, tell us a joke!” deals with stagecraft and delivering humour through performance and “It’s not what you know...” explains to the wannabe comic the etiquette and insider tips of being a gigging comedian.

Upon completing the afternoon course, some of the acts may get the chance to strut their new found skills as an open spot on the bill at the “Giggling Guiri” alongside this year’s IF.Comeddies Best Newcomer nominee and 2004 Funny Women Awards winner Zoe Lyons.

Charity

Funny Women likes to work with organisations that represent all aspects of women’s wellbeing – laughing about life to help and heal women. Through comedy, Funny Women has raised heaps of awareness and over £70,000 for the following charities during the last five years:

2003

*Bristol Cancer Help Centre, now Penny Brohn Cancer Care

2004

*YWCA
*Jo’s Trust
*V-Day

2005

*YWCA
*Jo’s Trust
*V-Day

2006

*YWCA
*Jo’s Trust
*V-Day
*Ovarian cancer action

2007

*V-Day
*ActionAid
*Ovarian cancer action

The Final of the Funny Women Awards is our other key charity event, with proceeds from this year’s final, plus collections and donations from raffles courtesy of our sponsor, NIVEA, at all the showcases and semi-finals around the UK raising in excess of £5,000 for Ovarian cancer action, in memory of the late Linda Smith who died of ovarian cancer in 2006.

Requirements

To date the only specified requirement for entry into the competition is that you must have been performing for less than three years.

Heats & Finals

Due to the numbers entering, this competition has three stages of competition. Heats take place over May and June and from these heats 20 comics are picked. 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 Store in London.

Prizes

The overall winner receives £2000 and two runners up each receive £500.

Winners & Finalists

2007

* Andi Osho (Winner)
* Joanne Lau (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 Morgan (2nd)
* Christina Martin (3rd)
** Susan Calman (Finalist)
** Holly Walsh (Finalist)
** Martine Pepper (Finalist)
** Liz Carr (Finalist)
** Maggie Gordon-Walker (Finalist)
** Sonya Kelly (Finalist)
** Rosie Wilby (Finalist)

2005

* Debra Jane Appleby (Winner)
* Sarah Millican (Runner-Up)
* Ruth Bratt (Runner-Up)
** Wendy Wason (Finalist)
** Steph Baker (Finalist)
** Julie Jepson (Finalist)
** Jude Mahon (Finalist)
** Emma Fryer (Finalist)
** Becky Love (Finalist)
** Helen Keen (Finalist)

2004

* Zoe Lyons (Winner)
* Anna Crilly (Runner-Up)
* Janice Phayre (Runner-Up)
** Bridget Christie (Finalist)
** Rosin Conaty (Finalist)
** Lindzi Germain (Finalist)
** Susan Hanks (Finalist)
** Sarah Ledger (Finalist)
** Millie & Tillie (Finalist)

2003

* Sarah Adams as Jade the Folk Singer (Winner)
* Anna Keirle (Runner-Up)
* Ria Lina (Runner-Up)
* Kerry Godliman (Highly Commended)
** Karen Bayley (Finalist)
** Jo Jo Sutherland (Finalist)
** Kathy Wix (Finalist)
** Helen Kane (Finalist)
** Debs Gatenby (Finalist)
** Brandy Borr (Finalist)

External links

* [http://www.funnywomen.com Official site for Funny Women]
* [http://www.chortle.co.uk/features_static/awards/funnywomen.php Chortle page for Funny Women]
* [http://www.bintmagazine.com/bint_stories/102.php?story_id=867 Bint Magazine article about Funny Women]