Theatre News

Awards flurry as Fringe closes, Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Herald Angles & more

The last days of the Edinburgh Fringe have brought with them an armada of award-winner announcements, chief among them the coveted Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

This year’s gongs went to Doctor Brown at Underbelly (Best Comedy Show), Daniel Simonsen at the Pleasance Courtyard (Best Newcomer) and The Boy with Tape on his Face, also at the Pleasance Courtyard (Panel Award).

The Foster’s awards, previously and less alcoholically known as the Perriers, are among the most prestigious of the raft of comedy accolades at the Fringe each year. Marcel Lucont has also been announced as the Amused Moose Laughter Award, aimed at newer performers.

Beyond the realms of comedy, the Bank of Scotland awarded 19 Herald Angel awards, and three still-more elusive Archangel awards. The latter were grabbed this year by experimental theatre company The People Show, with their The People Show 121, The Detective Story at Assembly George Square; children’s performer Andy Manley, whose The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk played at the Traverse this year; and Polish company Song of the Goat for their abstract musical piece Songs of Lear at Summerhall.

On the musical front Songs of Lear also picked up a Musical Theatre Matters (MTM) Judge’s discretion award, for its experimental musical work. Other MTM awards include Othello – The Remix at the Pleasance Courtyard for Best New Musical; Barbershopera – The Three Musketeers, also at Pleasance Courtyard, for Best Book; Assembly Roxy’s Death Boogie for Best Music and an Innovation Award; and Anthony Rapp – Without You at Underbelly Bristo Square for best production of an existing work.

Previously reported and awarded are Time Out and the Soho Theatre’s inaugural Cabaret Award, which this year was scooped by Lady Rizo, as well as a host of The Scotsman‘s Fringe First awards, awarded to a host of the brightest new talent.

Foremost among this year’s award-winners was a South African production of Strinberg’s Miss Julie, renamed Mies Julie to suit, which played at Assembly Hall. It won a Herald Angel, Fringe First, as well as the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award, which offers a single show the chance to transfer to New York.

For a comprehensive list of awards at this year’s Fringe, visit edfringe.com/media/award-winners.