Wool scoopes festival prize

British-based Canadian stand-up Glenn Wool has been named ‘best of the fest’ at the Sydney Comedy Festival.

He won the accolade from the city’s Time Out Magazine, which said: ‘This tightly-written show took in everything from men in suits destroying the world to metrosexual homophobia – and his Glenn-vs-London-taxi-driver round of “I'm Not A Racist But” takes a familiar subject in gasping-for-breath hilarious new direction.’

Wool said: ‘This is my first festival honour and I would like to thank Sydney for breaking my comedy award virginity. I feel like a girl putting her prom dress back on with messy hair and a story to tell her friends.

‘ I'm sure there will be other awards in the future but this one is special. Hey, it's not like we're going to get married. We're young. I don't want to be tied down to one city. There are going to be other towns with other journalists and judges – and let's be honest, come next year, you'll be giving this to some other comedian, so let's just enjoy what we have now and not think about the future.’

Irish musical outfit Dead Cat Bounce won the jury prize, while New York’s Pajama Men added to their award tally by being named best international act for their show Last Stand To Reason. Ireland’s Jason Byrne was runner-up.

Axis Of Awesome were named best local act,with Steve Hughes as runner-up; while Cloud Girls won best newcomer and Tommy Brandson won the people’s choice accolade.

Published: 27 May 2010