Best In Class 2020
Donation protected
Best in Class is a crowd funded profit sharing show that champions the talent of working class performers. We provide the opportunity for working class comedians to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival without charging them for the privilege.
There are many barriers facing working class performers, who are underrepresented in comedy and at the worlds biggest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe. Often parodied and mocked in mainstream comedy, working class comedians have strong voices and unique experiences that need to be heard at the fringe. Growing up, they often have little access to the arts, they don’t have industry contacts or money and are unable to finance Edinburgh shows. They also struggle to take the time off work and to justify a full run at the fringe. Best in Class gives talented comedians the opportunity to perform at Edinburgh Fringe whilst minimising some of the barriers they usually face, such as cost and length of commitment. Talented comedians from working class backgrounds can perform at Best in Class for a maximum of one week. They won’t have to pay anything towards the running costs of the show and will receive a share of any profits.
Best in Class had a successful first year at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018. The comedians received several four star reviews and excelled in front of receptive audiences from a mixture of social backgrounds. In 2019 Best in Class returned to Edinburgh with a fresh intake of working class comedians, selling out daily. This success has shown the industry that there is a need for a show like Best in Class.
Best In Class alumni have gone on to achieve fantastic successes within their comedy careers. Our acts have signed for agents, gained TV work, written for BBC radio, created sell out shows and had critically acclaimed work. Best In Class has been represented in the finals of some of the biggest comedy competitions in the UK including the BBC New Comedy Award, Funny Women Awards, Leicester Mercury Comedian of the year and So You Think You’re Funny? Our acts have also provided tour support for industry legends Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Fern Brady and Jason Manford.
We will have a fresh cohort of acts taking part in Best In Class 2020. We want a broad selection of comedians that give representation of different working class communities. We already have some fundraising shows booked in for Leicester Comedy Festival, Vault Festival, Brighton Fringe and Greater Manchester Fringe.
Please give what you can to help support working class comedians to access the worlds biggest arts festival and show the world that working class stories matter.
There are many barriers facing working class performers, who are underrepresented in comedy and at the worlds biggest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe. Often parodied and mocked in mainstream comedy, working class comedians have strong voices and unique experiences that need to be heard at the fringe. Growing up, they often have little access to the arts, they don’t have industry contacts or money and are unable to finance Edinburgh shows. They also struggle to take the time off work and to justify a full run at the fringe. Best in Class gives talented comedians the opportunity to perform at Edinburgh Fringe whilst minimising some of the barriers they usually face, such as cost and length of commitment. Talented comedians from working class backgrounds can perform at Best in Class for a maximum of one week. They won’t have to pay anything towards the running costs of the show and will receive a share of any profits.
Best in Class had a successful first year at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018. The comedians received several four star reviews and excelled in front of receptive audiences from a mixture of social backgrounds. In 2019 Best in Class returned to Edinburgh with a fresh intake of working class comedians, selling out daily. This success has shown the industry that there is a need for a show like Best in Class.
Best In Class alumni have gone on to achieve fantastic successes within their comedy careers. Our acts have signed for agents, gained TV work, written for BBC radio, created sell out shows and had critically acclaimed work. Best In Class has been represented in the finals of some of the biggest comedy competitions in the UK including the BBC New Comedy Award, Funny Women Awards, Leicester Mercury Comedian of the year and So You Think You’re Funny? Our acts have also provided tour support for industry legends Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Fern Brady and Jason Manford.
We will have a fresh cohort of acts taking part in Best In Class 2020. We want a broad selection of comedians that give representation of different working class communities. We already have some fundraising shows booked in for Leicester Comedy Festival, Vault Festival, Brighton Fringe and Greater Manchester Fringe.
Please give what you can to help support working class comedians to access the worlds biggest arts festival and show the world that working class stories matter.
Organizer
Siân Davies
Organizer
England