Leicester Comedy Festival 2019 competitions open for entries
The UK Pun Championships, Silver Stand Up Competition and Circuit Breakers development programme, all of which are linked to the Leicester Comedy Festival, are now open for entries.
Applications close on Wednesday 5th December.
The UK Pun Championships is open to any pun-based comedian living in the UK who is able to make the live final on Punday, 11th February 2019, in Leicester. A total sell out for the past 5 years, The UK Pun Championships, hosted by Jason Byrne, celebrates the great British pun. The live show at the prestigious De Montfort Hall, follows the format of a rap battle and takes place in a boxing ring surrounded by the audience. Audiences vote for their favourite pun (by way of whoops & cheers) and the winner goes through to the next round. After a full evening of pun based comedy, 2 finalists then fight it out until a winner is crowned. Further details are available on ukpunchampionship.co.uk
Silver Stand Up Competition is a unique contest for comedians aged over 55. The final will take place on 21st February 2019 at Leicester Comedy Festival. The format sees a longlist of both semi-professional and professional comedians announced, and they perform in front of a judging panel who short list the finalists before performing at the live final, hosted by Mrs Barbara Nice. Entry details
Circuit Breakers is a development programme which benefits comedians who are just starting out and enable them to perform at Leicester Comedy Festival 2019. The programme, which is open to comedians from across the UK who don't currently have a manager or agent nor a full hour long show, will culminate with performances during the festival as well as industry networking opportunities across the weekend and support from Festival producers. The Circuit Breakers programme has been funded by members of the public who donated money via a crowdfunding campaign. Comedians wanting to apply can email alex@bigdifferencecompany.co.uk
Geoff Rowe, founding Director of Leicester Comedy Festival, says: "We're really proud of the support we give new and emerging talent and it is really important for us to ensure the festival is as welcoming as possible to comedians from across the UK. Our competitions are a crucial part of this and we know new and emerging comedians value being part of the biggest comedy festival in Europe. Each year we are inundated with applications for our competitions and we look forward to hearing from acts who want to take part."
Leicester Comedy Festival also hosts the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition. The 25th edition will take place on Saturday 23rd February 2019. Entry is via nominations from selected comedy promoters, and thus this particular competition cannot be applied for.
The Leicester Comedy Festival 2019 takes place from the 6th to 24th February. For details see comedy-festival.co.uk
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