Can you hack it?

Jongleurs launches new act hunt

The Jongleurs chain of comedy clubs has launched a talent hunt, offering a £1,000 first prize plus a professional contract with the company.

Stand & Deliver will have its final at the Edinburgh festival in August, at the city's new Jongleurs venue.

This latest addition to the raft of new act competitions, is also backed by Metro newspapers, the Spike Milligan Trust, and sponsors Smirnoff.

Jongleurs founder Maria Kempinska, who will be one of the judges, said: "This is a great prize offering a fast track to great things.

"Most people have to have a lot of experience of working smaller venues before they can even get an open spot at Jongleurs, never mind a contract.

"That's why the selection procedure for Stand And Deliver is so rigorous. We are looking for exceptional talent and we're giving someone an exceptional opportunity, but first we've got to be sure for their sake and ours that they can hack it up there on a Jongleurs' stage."

Wannabe comics will be whittled down through open street auditions in cities across the UK. The best of those will then perform five-minute spots at showcases in London, Cardiff, Southampton, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Reading.

Eight finalists, one from each region, will then go forward to a final at Jongleurs Edinburgh on August 19.

Entrants should either send a video of themselves (no longger than five minutes) to Stand & Deliver, Jongleurs, 20 Chancellor Street, London, W6 9RN, or attend one of the open auditions detailed below.

These auditions are all on Saturdays at Jongleurs clubs. Registration for the morning slots will be from 11am to 12pm (performances from 12 to 2pm), with afternoon registration from 2pm to 3pm (performances 3pm to 4.30pm).

London (Camden): April 26
Cardiff: May 3
Manchester: May 10
Reading: May 17
Southampton: May 24
Birmingham: May 31
Leeds: June 21
Edinburgh: July 12