'Exciting examples of the Scottish stand-up scene'

The Stand Comedy Club is sponsoring five Scottish-based comedians to meet the cost of performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. 

They are Ifrah Qureshi, Matthew Gallagher, Chris Rutter, Amanda Dwyer and Jack Brookmyre 

All are regular acts at the chain, which will cover costs, provide creative mentorship, marketing support and guarantee they will not make a loss.

Mike Jones, The Stand’s chief executive, said: ‘These five acts are exciting examples of how strong, diverse and incredibly funny the Scottish stand-up scene is. We are delighted that they are part of our Fringe programme and we want to give them the best possible platform to play on.’

Dwyer said on getting the sponsorship: ‘To get the backing of my favourite comedy club is a huge opportunity and I can’t quite believe it’s happening! I’m so, so bloody grateful!.’

Brookmyre said: 'The Fringe is an international festival, but I think it's important that Scottish comedy has a place there. Not just because Scotland hosts the festival, but because Scotland has a long history of punching above its weight culturally, especially in comedy. The Fringe is a chance for us to share our own favourites with the rest of the world.’

Last week, Scottish production company Brass Tacks announced they would recovering the upfront costs of Eva Peroni under a similar scheme.

And Chortle’s Hotshots helps five acts with their registration and advertising costs. Another showcase of potential acts takes place at Top Secret Comedy Club in Covent Garden, Central London on Wednesday (tickets).

Others are at Cultiplex in Manchester on Sunday (tickets); Birmingham Glee on March 11 (tickets) and Edinburgh Monkey Barrel on March 22 (tickets)

Published: 2 Mar 2026