Foster’s Enhances Fringe Profile, 31st Comedy Awards

The 31st Edinburgh Comedy Awards, sponsored for a second year by Foster’s lager, were launched this morning at a press briefing at held at Joe Allen’s in London.

Nica Burns, director of the Awards, commented: “Unbelievably, the number of shows eligible for the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards has grown yet again to over 430 in 2011. Comedy now makes up 37% (up 2% from last year) of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme. Nowhere else in the world can rival the Edinburgh Fringe in the development of live comedic talent.”

There will be no changes in regard to Awards process this year. All shows eligible will be automatically seen by the judging panel, which consists of seven professionals and three festival goers representing the public. The panel will be chaired this year by Tania Harrison, arts and special events promoter from Festival Republic.

Often dubbed the ‘Oscars of comedy’ and previously known informally as the Perriers, after their long-standing original sponsor, the Awards currently comprise three categories: Best Comedy Show (including £10,000 prize money), Best Newcomer and the Panel Prize (both of which come with a £5,000 cheque). The 2011 Edinburgh Comedy Awards shortlists are released on Wednesday 24 August and winners announced at a lunchtime ceremony held in Edinburgh on Saturday 27 August.

This year’s Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival, runs from 5 to 29 August 2011.

Sponsor Foster’s is enhancing its profile at the 2011 Fringe by extending its support for major comedy venues Assembly, Gilded Balloon and Pleasance. Its activity in Edinburgh is part of a year-round investment in comedy which also includes broadcast sponsorship of the British Comedy Awards on Channel 4, its series of stand-up nights and seven-month pubs and clubs tour of Foster’s Funny Live and Vic and Bob’s Afternoon Delights exclusive internet series of original sketches on its branded comedy website.