£500 awards for up-and-coming female and non-binary comedians

Lara Ricote and Sikisa Bostwick-Barnes have each won this year’s £500 bursaries given to female and non-binary acts by London’s 99 Club.

The awards are open to up-and-coming acts bringing their debut show to the Edinburgh Fringe, and were decided at a showcase gig tonight.

Also taking part were Ania Magliano, Lily Phillips and  Sian Davies, who each received £100.

Mexican-American-Venezuelan comic Ricote is based in Amsterdam and won the Funny Women stage award last year. And Barbadian Londoner Sikisa, who performs just using her first name, was a finalist in the BBC New Comedy Award in 2017.

They follow in the footsteps of past bursary recipients including Sarah Keyworth, Helen Bauer, Sophie Duker, Catherine Bohart, Lauren Pattison and Janine Harouni.

Judges at the showcase were agents Hannah Martin from PBJ Management and , Poppy Hillstead  from Ebdon Management, 99 Club owner James Woroniecki and Chortle editor Steve Bennett

The club said: ‘We at are lucky to have a regular roster of brilliant female and non-binary comedians, and are excited to work with many more. We are eager to support emerging talent, and are honoured to provide a foundation for this vital artistic development.’

Published: 7 Jun 2022