Elf Lyons funds a new category of the ISH awards

Technicians who run the sound and lights for Edinburgh Fringe comedy shows are to be honoured with their own award for the first time this year.

Comedian Elf Lyons has put up a £500 prize to go to ‘an innovative technician and operator who creates for, and aids the vision of, performers through dynamic lighting and sound’.

It will be handed out as part of the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards, which will be returning for a third year. Lyons won their £5,000 best show prize last year.

She said:‘There are so many technicians and without them, the vision of performers wouldn't be possible.  These creatives work so hard and often run from one show to another like mad things trying to aid the visions of everyone. 

‘I am thrilled that through the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards we can honour these brilliant people.’

The ISH awards were set up by comedian Nathan Cassidy in 2022 when it looked as if the original Edinburgh Comedy Awards – which started life as the Perriers – might not take place. But in the end they did go ahead, but ISH - which stand for Insert Sponsor Here – decided to continue anyway.

Cassidy said: ‘The ISH Awards are about artists supporting artists, and Elf Lyons' generosity is just the start of the vision I have for these awards in the future in terms of prizes and further support for artists.’

Awards producer Sarah Bowles added: ‘I am over the moon that we can add a fourth award this year for best Tech, if we could add Awards for everyone involved in shows we would - maybe one day.’

Techs or the comedians and producers working with them can put forward nominations via edinburghcomedyawards@gmail.com.

The ISH Awards involves a voluntary panel of judges seeing every eligible comedy show at the Fringe, and 100 per cent of any sponsorship goes towards the artists.

To be eligible, shows must be under the primary category of Comedy, be 45 minutes long or more and not be compilation shows.

Previous winners

2024 

Best show: Elf Lyons: Horses
Best newcomer: Abby Wambaugh: The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows
Panel Prize: Shared between Alex Petty, Dion Owen, Elaine Robertson, Funny Women Glitter Project and Best in Class.

2023

Best show: Shared between Julia Masli: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha and Paul Foot: Dissolve
Best newcomer: Shared between Dan Tiernan: Going Under and Fiona Ridgewell: No-Nonsense
Panel Prize: A Show For Gareth Richards, organised by Mark Simmons and Danny Ward

Published: 7 Jul 2025