Jack Boyles joins the team after hunt for working-class and BAME writers

Chortle has recruited a new working-class reviewer to work at the Edinburgh Fringe in a bid to widen the field of critical voices there.

Jack Boyles, from the former mining town of Ollerton in Nottingham, has been given a £500 commission - plus a contribution to his accommodation raised by crowdfunding.

He said he was ‘extremely humbled’ at being chosen for our scheme, adding: ‘As design, working-class people always expect the worse because that is what we are used to - then you’ll never be let down (Philosophy 101).’

Boyles – who previously performed stand-up for three years – added:  ‘Growing up with split young parents, spending your infant years in a damp flat playing with the woodlice inhabitants, then all you’ve got is your sense of humour, humanity and morality; all I hope to bring in my writing.

‘Working class people know, we need laugh about life’s problems, otherwise we’d cry about them. And I want to represent that importance of comedy to the working-class people.’

Our scheme sought our reviewers from a non-white or working class-background that are not well-represented at the Fringe.

The hope is that last year’s recipient, Stephanie Lim, will continue to work for Chortle at this year’s festival, and she said: ‘I’m thrilled by the continuation of this programme.’

Our crowdfunder to top up the commission to cover Boyles’ accommodation is ongoing here.

Chortle is now taking advertising bookings for this year’s Fringe. Our rates are here.

Published: 12 Mar 2019