The shortlist for the Funny Women Awards 2010 has been announced.
The Funny Women Awards have announced the 24 comedians who have made it to the semi-finals. The penultimate rounds will take place on Monday 6th September at the Leicester Square Theatre and will see the 24 hopefuls battle it out for a place in the final 10.
The selected acts are: Abigoliah Schaumaun, Arhondia Rocca, Hayley Ellis, Jessica Fostekew, Jill Baxter, Jojo Georgiou, Julia Clark, Katrina Thompson, Kerry Herbert, Lindsay Sharman, Louisa Theobald, Sarah Hendrickx, Shaista Aziz, Sunna Jarman, Twayna Mayne, Alison Thea-Skot, Claire Lomas, Gemma Layton, Helen Arney, Gemma Whelan, Iona Dudley-Ward, Kate Lucas, Rachel Parris, and Freya Slipper and Liz Black as duo, Thankless Child.
In order to help choose the semi-finalists, a host of industry professionals will sit on the judging panel. These include: Michael Buchanan-Dunne, development editor for BBC Comedy, Norma Burke, comedy producer, and Gillian Thorpe, director of the Orange Tree Theatre.
Funny Women founder Lynne Parker explained how they were shocked by the huge levels of interest in this year's awards. “Entry levels rocketed as the competition progressed- a series of emergency last-minute heats had to be scheduled”, she said. “As for the standard we've been seeing; well, let's just say it's been one of the hardest judging processes in recent years”.
Previous winners include Andi Osho, Katherine Ryan and Miss London, who have since had successful careers with stints on TV and radio. This year's winner can expect to perform a full-length show in the Leicester Square Theatre's basement in early 2011.
In a twist to the 2010 Awards, Funny Women are teaming up with The Roundhouse to invite eight semi-finalists to participate in the Laugh Chance Saloon as part of the Camden Theatre Turning Point Festival. The successful acts will be treated to a luxury stay at the five-star boutique Londa Hotel in Limassol, Cyprus. The winners and finalists will also come together to perform at the hotel as part of the Funny Women tour.
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