If you think you’re pretty witty when it comes to the one liners or you’ve got more funny rhymes that a 69 year old Irishman from Ealing then the announcement for the start of the New Comedian of the Year 2013 competition might be right up your obscene joke filled street. Hosted at the Leicester Square Theatre, London, the competition might be the big break you’re looking for or just a great opportunity to see some new comedy talent.
The competition is open to all, but only the first 300 will make it onto the lengthy autumn long roster of 5 minute sets for the entrants as they battle it out to be crowned the New Comedian of the Year 2013. To enter the competition, all you need to do is email newcomedian@leicestersquaretheatre.com with your full name, the name of your act if it’s different, your mobile phone number, your address, the number of years you’ve been doing comedy, all of the dates you’re availability and any supporting material you’ve got, including video, press, previous gigs and competitions, (although, this isn’t needed to enter if you’re a complete newbie).
The first of the heats will take place on the 22nd September 2013 from 9pm, running until the 20th October when the quarter finals kick off. They’ll be followed by the semi finals on the 10th and 11th November. All of which will be taking place in the Leicester Square Theatre lounge. The grand final will be on Sunday 24th November 2013, taking the finalists onto the big stage of the Main House of the theatre.
Tickets for the heats have been released and are available to book for £6 from the Leicester Square Theatre’s online booking. Tickets for the quarters, semis and final will be added later in the year.
The competition rules require you to have 5 or less years experience in the stand-up comedy world, you can’t already be a fully professional comedian, you’ll need at least five minutes worth of your own material and you can’t have been a previous finalist in the competition. Other than that it’s game on for all, whether your act is pure stand-up, sketch based, musical comedy, character or variety.
Prizes for the New Comedian of the Year 2013 competition are £250 and a comedy night spot for the second runner up, £500 plus the comedy night spot for the first runner up and £1,000, the spot on the comedy night and the New Comedian of the Year trophy. Previous winners include Rob Beckett in 2009.
For more information about the competition, visit https://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/new-comedian.
