£50 grants for those who need kit

Comedian Red Redmond has set up a fund to help working-class comedians from the north of England make online content during lockdown.

The stand-up and drag queen has put £500 of his own savings into the scheme, which will make grants of up to £50 to allow applicants to buy kit such as microphones, video lights, webcams or tripods.

Another £100 has been added in donations and has recruited fellow comics Stephen Bailey, Lauren Pattison, Amy Gledhill and Rob Mulholland. as patrons.

He said he was lucky to have a job eligible for the government's furlough scheme, but wanted to help the self-employed comics who would not be able to access such financial help.

‘The comedy circuit is built on the careers of the self-employed,’ he said. ‘Without them there are no comedians, no comedy promoters, no sound engineers, no stage managers, no doormen. It is clear a large portion of our industry need support and urgently.

‘All of this is particularly true in the north of England where comedy remains a largely working-class pursuit.'

All applicants must be from the north of England, from a working-class background or struggling financially and have worked as a comedian before lockdown.

To apply, email red@deadcatcomedy.co.uk including links to previous work, your full comedy CV and details of what equipment you want and what you plan to do with it.

Published: 29 May 2020