For female and non-binary comedians

The 99 Club has announced the finalists for its annual bursary for female and non-binary comedians.

An award of £500 will be made to each of two comics taking their first full-length solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe this August.

The last five will perform at a showcase at 99 Club’s next Tuesday before the two winners are chosen.

They are:

• Helen Bauer, whose show Little Miss Baby Angel Face, tackles the perils of overthinking and being a magnet for drama.
• Yuriko Kotani, whose show Somosomo is about  cultural differences, specifically relating to her home country of Japan.
• Sophie Duker, whose show Venus is described as ‘an unconventional journey of woke self-discovery’.
• Janine Harouni, whose show is about reconciling difference and standing up for your beliefs.
• Emily Woods, ,whose show is about navigating sexual conquests through CityMapper and moving across the world at the age of 18.

Last year's winners were Sarah Keyworth and Catherine Bohart.

The panel of judges will include comedian Desiree Burch, agents Hollie Ebdon and Hannah Martin, Chortle’s Steve Bennett  Evening Standard comedy critic Bruce Dessau and James Woroniecki, creative director of The 99 Club.

The 99 Club is London’s biggest employer of stand-up comedians, with six West End venues, and has been named London’s best comedy club at the Chortle Awards every year from 2011 to 2019.

The showcase takes place at its Leicester Square branch –  O’Neill’s in Wardour Street.

Published: 26 Apr 2019