Our bid to widen the range of critical voices at Edinburgh

Chortle today launches a search for a new comedy reviewer for the Edinburgh Fringe.

In an attempt to widen out the critical voices at the festival, the commission will go to a writer who is either

• from a black, Asian or other minority ethnic background
• is not educated – or is not being educated – to degree level 

Or both. 

The writer selected will receive a commission worth at least £500 to write reviews at the world’s biggest showcase of live comedy, as well as mentoring from Chortle editor Steve Bennett.

He said: ’There’s a lot of comment that comedy reviewing is dominated by white, middle-class people – and you don’t have to look far to find evidence to support that.’

‘This is clearly only a drop in the ocean towards addressing this, but hopefully it’s a small move in the right direction. And we can always dream that more backers might come forward to expand the scheme.’

And thanks to a crowdfunding effort, our chosen candidate will also get their travel and accommodation paid for.

Our selected reviewer will also receive a free place on Amused Moose Comedy's Becoming A Reviewer seminar on May 20, led by The Scotsman’s chief comedy reviewer, Kate Copstick, along with Bennett.

The seminar is presented by Comedy Training Courses whose other courses on topics such as stand-up for beginners, MCing, sketch and character work, improving stand-up, presenting, sitcoms, viral videos and political gag-writing, are here.

To apply for the Chortle place, you must submit a 500-word review (with 50 words leeway) of either a live comedy gig or a stand-up special that has been professionally released, for example via DVD or the likes of Netflix. Entries must be received at feedback@chortle.co.uk by 5pm on March 23.

In writing your review, try to think about the themes covered, the construction of the show, the personality and attitude of the performer and the originality of the jokes, material and their take on the world. And the aim is to write in a conversational but informative style.

THE SMALL PRINT

The selected writer will receive a commission to write at least 20 reviews during the Edinburgh Fringe at £25 a time, Travel and accommodation are also included, up to a value of £500.

You would not have to stay in Edinburgh for the full duration of the festival if you don’t want to; we expect this workload could be achieved in five to seven days. Festival shows run from August 1 to 27 and we would prefer you to be available towards the start of the festival. However, all the details can be sorted out my mutual arrangement later.

This initiative is open only to writers over 18 who fill the criteria above and who apply before 17.00 on March 23. The winner will be announced by the end of March.

The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. We cannot commit to providing feedback on entires

Published: 1 Mar 2018