Best in Class 2024

BEST IN CLASS IS A CROWD FUNDED PROFIT SHARING INITIATIVE THAT CHAMPIONS THE RICH TALENT OF WORKING CLASS COMEDIANS.

Donate now to support working class comedians on their journey to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024.

Best in Class was founded by Sian Davies, who was fed up of class, money and social status being used as a barrier to performing. In 2018 she was invited to audition for a spot on an Edinburgh Fringe show, if successful she was told she would have to pay £1800 to the promoter by the end of the week to secure her place. She set up a crowdfunding page to help with her costs. Within an hour the promoter called her back and dropped her from the audition. Apparently she was not the sort of person they wanted to work with.

Sian decided to turn the situation into something positive. Realising that the barriers facing working class performers in the arts are systemic, she set up Best in Class.

The project has enabled over 30 working class comedians to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2018 and assisted a further 30 performers with bursaries since 2022. The comedians work tirelessly in the run up to the festival to crowdfund the costs involved with taking a show to the fringe. Crucially, none of the acts pay to participate and they all receive payment for the work they do.

Best In Class has been a runaway success at the Edinburgh Fringe. Audiences flock to see the show, queueing early for a seat and selling it out daily. There is a real buzz around this group of comics bringing something different to the table at the world’s biggest arts festival, which is often dominated by middle class voices.

Best In Class alumni have gone on to achieve fantastic successes within their comedy careers. Graduates of the project have had nominations for Best Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Fringe Awards, created shows for BBC Radio 4, signed for agents, gained TV work, 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?

In 2022 Best In Class were awarded the Panel Prize at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. They redistributed the £5000 prize money to other working class performers in smaller £500 bursaries. With two of the recipients being nominated for Best Newcomer in the 2023 Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

This year we hope to support as many working class acts as possible. With rising energy bills, inflation and the cost of living crisis, even more working class performers risk being priced out of the arts. Any donation is hugely beneficial. but if you are unable to financially contribute, please consider sharing our campaign on your socials or coming to one of our shows. Crowd funding is a lot like unionism, one voice can't make much of a difference but when we join together, we can change the world!

We also have a Patreon and encourage you to consider regular monthly donations if you can. Best in Class is a grassroots organisation and we are always keen to hear from anyone who is able to support Best in Class with funding, opportunities, upskilling and mentoring.