New Funny Women hunt on

The annual hunt for the best new female stand-up gets under way next week.

The Funny Women talent hunt will be officially launched at a major fundraising gig in London’s elegant Café De Paris nightclub on Tuesday night.

It’s the first in around 50 events being arranged by the organisation, twice as many as last year and up from a single event in 2002.

As well as the competition heats, a run of gigs is planned at the Edinburgh festival, as well as a couple of showcase events in London’s Lowdown at the Albany.

For the competition, you must be over 18 and have performed stand-up for less than three years. To apply to join one of the ten regional heats, click here to download an application form.

Tuesday’s gig, in aid of domestic violence charities, features the likes of Jo Caulfield, Lucy Porter, Sarah Kendall and Shazia Mirza, and will be attended by Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

The Minister said: “Last year was a huge success and I’m looking forward to being entertained by some of our finest female comics again.”

Caulfield added: “Everyone has always been able to name a few female comics but there were never enough opportunities for women to give comedy a go and prove they were funny. Funny Women have been fantastic at giving new female comics the chance they need.”

For tickets, priced £16.50, click here.

Published: 3 Mar 2005