This year's winner of the Fringe's biggest award could be going for a song.
The organiser of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, known for many years as the Perrier awards and now sponsored by Foster’s, said this year’s award could go to a new act which includes music, comedic song or musical sketches.
This year’s Fringe, which begins on August 5, has a record number of shows described as “cabaret”, more than 60, and now the programme has a separate section for cabaret alone.
The addition of the genre and the presence of musical acts could mean the main prize of the Fringe moves away from the traditional stand-up to a more tuneful performer.
Nica Burns, the director of the comedy awards, whose past winners include some of the most famous names in comedy, including Rich Hall, Al Murray, The League of Gentlemen, Steve Coogan and Frank Skinner, said there could well be a musical winner this year.
She also said the huge number of free shows – there are more than 600 this year – has re-invigorated the Fringe, which sold nearly two million tickets last year.
“The cabaret genre is very interesting, and some of the acts fit in and some don’t, but if you have a specialist in comedy songs, like Tim Minchin and, in this year’s Fringe, Fascinating Aida, that will qualify.
“Comedy song writing was big in the early 1980s, but it went out of fashion and then the stand-ups came in, but maybe it is the time for it now. We also have not had a sketch show for a while, although they are hard to find. What comedians do know is that the award can propel them – they can often go straight to TV.”
The size of the Fringe has never been bigger – it has increased from 2453 events last year to 2542, a record, this year, in 258 venues across the capital.
Cabaret, is an art form loosely containing song, dance, comedy and a master of ceremonies in a late-night or evening venue or bar. In contrast, there are 935 comedy shows – not all of which are eligible for the comedy award – 761 theatre shows, 359 music shows, 607 free shows and 105 children’s shows
Ms Burns said: “Can the Fringe get any bigger? Everyone has already thought it had peaked and it is still bigger. What makes the Fringe different this year is the free Fringe, more than 600 shows – that is a big change.
“We are going to see more than 430 shows for the award, and we have to see them all in 10 days, so it is going to be a challenge.”
Comedy is the largest single genre representing 37% of all shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Last year, 111 free shows were eligible for the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards and best newcomer nominees Imran Yusuf (2010) and Mike Wozniak (2008) were both performing at the free fringe.
Last year’s winner Russell Kane went on to win a Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, embark on an 80-date sell-out tour and had many appearances on television.
The shortlist for this year’s comedy award will be announced on August 24, with the winners announced at a lunchtime ceremony on August 27.
The prize money for best comedy show is £10,000, with £5000 each for the Best Newcomer and the Panel Prize winners.
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