How comedy's influence has spread

Comedy is a major influence on Britain’s cultural life, Fosters award producer Nica Burns has claimed.

Speaking at her traditional welcome to the industry at the start of the Edinburgh Fringe, the West End theatre owner highlighted how previous winners and nominees had infiltrated almost every genre of the arts.

Of her own field, she said: ‘Tom Basden has just opened in a play at the National; Daniel Kitson has sold out the Lyttelton Theatre and Tim Minchin has a hit musical, the adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, transferring to the West End.

‘These are three comedy graduates who have reached the heart of British cultural institutions in such a short space of time.’

She also cited the directorial film debuts of Ben Miller and Richard Ayoade, and Jim Field-Smith, formerly of sketch group Dutch Elm Conservatoire and recently director of the Hollywood movie She's Out of My League, as examples of how comedians were making waves in the world of film.

Burns added that there were more shows than ever eligible for the Edinburgh Comedy Award, up from last year’s 430 to ‘a stonking 505’.

Published: 7 Aug 2011