Seven Dials Playhouse funds more Chortle reviews

More Edinburgh Fringe sketch shows are to be reviewed on Chortle this year, thanks to the support of London’s Seven Dials Playhouse.

The Covent Garden venue is seeking to reinvigorate the genre and will be launching a subsidised training programme in the autumn inspired by similar schemes in the US.

And as part of that focus, the theatre will be funding a number of additional reviews from Chortle’s team of professional critics to raise the profile of British sketch troupes, as well as comedians and double-acts that perform multiple characters in the same show.

It’s thought that the number of sketch shows has declined in recent years, given the higher costs of performing them – as well as fewer opportunities to progress onto TV compared to stand-ups.

Amanda Davey, chief executive of Seven Dials Playhouse, said: ‘Sketch and character comedy are often overlooked, despite the sheer amount of exciting, inventive work happening in the space. 

‘With rising costs and few clear routes for progression, it can be a tough genre to sustain – but we believe it is due a renaissance. By supporting more reviews at the Fringe, and through the launch of our own dedicated training programme later this year, we hope to give these artists greater visibility and further opportunities to develop and grow. 

‘We are proud to support the work they are presenting – both at the Fringe and beyond.'

Chortle editor Steve Bennett added: ‘With spiralling costs across the board, providing comprehensive coverage of the Fringe is financially precarious as performing there. 

‘So we’re very grateful to the Seven Dials Playhouse for providing this extra support to help us cover more sketch and multi-character comedy than we would otherwise have been able to.

‘And hopefully by exposing those shows to a professional critical eye will help given the best the exposure they go to Edinburgh hoping to achieve, and so provide an extra fillip to these genres which are often overlooked in favour of stand-up.’

While Seven Dials Playhouse is financing the reviews, it will have no editorial input.

After the Fringe, the venue will be launch its Sketch Comedy Collective, a subsidised 12-week course that will cost participants just £10 a week, with workshops and tutorials culminating in a showcase gig. 

Standout participants will be invited to join a paid sketch comedy residency at Seven Dials Playhouse.

Around 20 places will be offered on the scheme,  which was inspired by American set-up  The Groundlings – originally an improv group founded in  Los Angeles in 1974  – which has helped launch the careers of Will Ferrell, Jennifer Coolidge, Kristen Wiig, Conan O’Brien, Melissa McCarthy and many more.

• Six Edinburgh Fringe comedians have been picked to perform at a showcase in front of broadcasting executives at the city’s TV Festival on August 20. Ayo Adenekan, Olga Koch, Chortle Hotshot Shalaka Kurup, Marjolein Robertson, Sharon Wanjohi and Rohan Sharma will all get to impress at the gig organised by the  TV Foundation, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, and Universal Studio Group.

Published: 24 Jul 2025