New bursary for five comedians making their Edinburgh Fringe debuts

Chortle today launches a new initiative to showcase and support comedians making their debut at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe.

We will be selecting five acts from across the UK to receive a bursary to cover the Fringe early-bird registration fee as well as £250 worth of advertising on Chortle, as well as other help and support.

Applications are now open for the Chortle Hotshots scheme, which is being financed from the proceeds of our Fast Fringe showcases at Edinburgh.

Those shortlisted will be showcased at five Chortle Hotshots gigs, run in conjunction with some of the country’s top comedy clubs. One act from each showcase will be chosen to receive the bursary.

The shows will be:

February 5: Edinburgh Monkey Barrel
February 10: London Top Secret Comedy
February 16: Manchester A Lovely Time at Multiplex
February 19: Birmingham Glee Club
February 25: Bristol TBC

Tickets will be on sale for the showcases soon.

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: ‘Thanks to all the acts who played our Fast Fringe showcase at Edinburgh last year, we’re able to launch this scheme to put something back and make some contribution to helping the next generation of comics meet the dizzyingly expensive costs of performing at the festival.’

The Chortle Hotshots scheme is open to any stand-up, sketch team or musical, character or clowning act performing their first 50-minute-plus show in the comedy section of the Fringe programme for at least 12 dates.

The bursary package also includes directorial-style help putting the show together, if wanted, a guaranteed review at the Fringe, an invitation to perform at Chortle’s Fast Fringe gig in London next summer, and at the Fringe. 

The act chosen from the Birmingham and Bristol showcases will additionally receive a slot in the Fringe preview seasons at those venues.

Applications close at midnight on December 31, 2025

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Chortle Hotshots showcase will be filmed, with a short extract being posted online. By taking part you give us permission to host this footage at least until he start of the 2026 Fringe.

All costs incurred by acts in participating in the showcases will be at the performers’ own expenses, although a proportion of the ticket revenue will be shared among the  acts taking part.

Personal information submitted on the application form will be used for the purposes of organising the event and related marketing and promotional activities.

The organiser – Chortle Comedy Ltd –  reserve the right to make amendments to the Hotshots scheme, but any such changes will be communicated to those who have applied.

Published: 11 Dec 2024