Laughing Horse New Act of the Year - Stand-up competition

  

 

 
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2008 Heats
Click on venue names for maps, directions and details
Oxford Circus
Jan 7, 14, 21
Soho
Jan 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb 5
Camden
Jan 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27
Earls Court
10, 17, 24, 31, Feb 7, Feb 14
Kingston
Jan 12, 19, 26, Feb 2, 9
Wimbledon
Jan 12, 19, 26, Feb 2, 9, 16
Richmond
Jan 13, 20, 27, Feb 3, 10
Leicester
Feb 11, 12
Bolton
Jan 29
Leamington Spa
Date TBC
Guildford
Feb 3
Edinburgh: Meadow Bar
Feb 1,2,3
Edinburgh: TBC
Jan 31
Quarter Finals
Oxford Circus
Feb 18
Soho
Feb 19, 26, Mar 4
Camden
Feb 20, 24
Earls Court
Feb 21, 28, Mar 6
Queens Head
Feb 22, 23, 29, Mar 14
Kingston
Feb 23
Wimbledon
Feb 23, Mar 1, 8
Richmond
Feb 24, Mar 2, 9
Edinburgh: Meadow Bar
Mar 7th
Semi Finals
Wimbledon
Apr 11
Apr 12
Apr 18
Apr 19
Apr 25
Apr 26
The Final
Laughing Horse Wimbledon
Sun May 18th
at the Watershed, Wimbledon Broadway
Doors Open 7.30pm
Show 8.30pm - 11.30pm
After Show Party to 1am
Entry £10
Tickets will be available for the semi--Finals and Final from early 2008

 
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WELCOME TO THE 2008 LAUGHING HORSE NEW ACT OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
  
Now in it's 8th year, the Laughing Horse New Act of the Year competition has been scouring the country for the best in new comedy talent since 2001...
  
Competition News, and Qualifiers will be updated on this page as the competition progresses.
   

Latest News

2008 Finalists Announced

Final - 18th May - The Watershed, Wimbledon

click here to book tickets

   

Finalists

Andi Osho
Ben Haymen
Darren Ruddell
Daniel Simonsen
Henry Paker
Imran Yusuf
Ismo Leikola
Nathaniel Tapley
Nat Luurtsema
Pat Burtscher
PauL McCaffrey
Tom Canty
Tom Rosenthal
   
The final this year will be Judged by Steve Bennett (Chortle Editor), Julia Chamberlain (Jongleurs/So You Think You're Funny), Alex Roachford (Comedy Store), Brett Vincent (Underbelly), Jojo Sutherland (Comedian/Promoter) and Corrie Maguire (Objective Talnet)
 

Tickets are now on Sale for the Final - on May 18th at the Watershed in Wimbledon - click here to book tickets

 
26/4/08 - Winner: Nathaniel Tapley, 2nd:Nat Luurtsema, 3rd: Paul F,. Taylor
25/4/08 - Winner: Imran Yusuf, 2nd:Pat Burtscher, Joint 3rd: Andi Osho & Henrk Paker
19/4/08 - Winner: Daniel Simonsen, 2nd: Ahir Shah, 3rd: Manos the Greek
18/4/08 - Winner: Darren Rudell, 2nd: Tom Rosenthal, 3rd: Nick Helm
12/4/08 - Winner: Ben Hayman, 2nd: Tom Canty, 3rd: Bilal Randaree
11/4/08 - Winner: Ismo Leikola, 2nd: Paul mcCaffrey, 3rd: Joe Bor

The Winner of each semi-final goes through to the final, with the best six from the 2nd & 3rd places - selected on April 27th.

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18/3/08 Semi-Final Line-Ups Annouced

Fri 11 Apr

Ismo Leikola, Jonathan Fraser, Mike O'Donovan, Christian Ancliff, Lou Cox, Dylan Bray, Josh Widdicombe, Joe Munrow, Paul McCaffrey, Joe Bor, Sarah Campbell, Olaf John, and  Graham Foster.

Sat 12 Apr

Ben Hayman, Lee Stuart Evans, Mark Angermeyer, Tom Canty, David Mulholland, Gareth Urwin, Bilal Randaree, Scott Calonico, Gerry Howell, Charlie Partridge, Helen Huscroft, John Roberts, and   David Morgan.

Fri 18 Apr

Damian kingsley, Tom Rosenthal, Peter Smith, Darren Ruddell as 'Kev', Cal Saville, Will Dunn, Tomy Mack, Rob Mullholland, Nick Helm, Luke Benson, Julian Deane and The Wee Man

Sat 19 Apr

Henry Ginsberg, Daniel Simosean, Ahir Shah, Paul Parry, Peter Beckley, Manos the Greek, Jon Lynes, Andy Learmounth, Carly Baker, Lee Jefford, Richard Ryecroft, and  Barry McDonald

Fri 25 Apr

Jon Brittain, Andrew Wallace, Imran Yusuf, Kerry Howard, Pat Burtscher, Sam Stone, Andi Osho, Henry Paker, Mel Moon, Phil James, Ola the Comedian, Sean Walsh, and  Joleod Farah.

Sat 26 Apr

Nat Luurtsema, Paul F. Taylor, Louise Scodie, Jane Hill, Mark Dandy, Bryan Lacey, Spencer Jones, Andy Learmonth, Prince Abdi, Brett Goldstein, Luke McQueen, Nathaniel Tapley and  Paul Ricketts

16/2/08 Quarter Final Line-Ups Annouced
 

Wed 20 Feb / Camden

Mike O'Donovan, Richard Atherton, Rob Tarbuck, David Meech, Eli Silverman, Manos the Greek, Emmet Glynn, Mark Angermayer, Bill Redfern, Jason Patterson, Tim Craven

Sun 24 Feb / Camden

Stand-up comedy from Gary Hartley, Peter Marsh, Dean & Petr, Lee Stuart Evans, Lance Beauregard, John Roberts, Julian Deane, Dave Gibson, Toby Brown, Andrew Wallace *, Matt Seber *.

Thu 21 Feb / Earls Court

Stand-up comedy from Daniel Simonsen, Frankie Chalet, Kev, Huw Bexley, Christian Steel, Brett O'Shaughnessy, Dan Hoy, Tom Canty, James Mason, Christian Ancliff, Paul Ricketts *.

Thu 28 Feb / Earls Court

Nathanial Metcalf, Andy Davies, Olaf John, Ben Van Der Velde, Stuart Laws, Luke Benson, Steve Straw, Pat Burtscher, Alfie Moore *, Richard Ryecroft *

Thu 06 Mar / Earls Court

Chris Cross, Adrian Burns, Susan Vale, Paul McCaffrey *, Duncan Hart *, Cherry Green, Ben Briggs, Carrie-Anne Guthrie *, Duncan Hart *, Spencer Jones *, Fiona and  Abernethy *.

Fri 07 Mar / Edinburgh

Andy Learmouth *, Gus Tawse, Martin McAllister, Jill Baxter, Gareth Johnson, Tommy Mackay, The Wee Man *, Barry McDonald, Chris Ramsey *, Jeff O'Boyle *, Daniel Webster *, Carly Baker, Graeme Mackie *, Sean and  McLaughlin *.

Sat 23 Feb / Kingston

Dave Florez, Brendan Naughton, Ryan McDonnell, Shaun O'Dwyer, Liam Tims *, Judith Faultless, Peter Beckley, Scott Calonico, Thomas Roche, Rob Mulholland, Danny Mcloughlin *.

Mon 18 Feb / Oxford Circus

Ismo Leikola, Jennie Benton-Smith, Damian Kingsley, Mark Simmons, Kevin Baker, Henry Ginsberg, Peter Ely, Gary Skipper, Paul Harry Allen, Liam Spears, Jon Brittain.

Fri 22 Feb / Queens Head

Robbie Wilson, Herbert Peabody, Cal Saville, David Saunders, Lou Cox, George Ryegold, Ahir Shah, Daniel Allen, Smurf Docker, Paul Parry.

Sat 23 Feb / Queens Head

Louise Scodie, Hannah George, Josh Widdicombe *, Dylan Bray, Wade McElwain, Richard Law, Paul F. Taylor, Joyanta Acharjee, Albion Gray, Dave Howarth, Gareth Urwin *.

Fri 29 Feb / Queens Head

Simon Holland, Sam Stone, Alex Perry, Paul Osbourne, Craig Chambers, Darshan Sangrika, Nessie Flange, Joleed Farah, Ben Mortimer, Bilal Randeree *, James   Hateley *.

Fri 14 Mar / Queens Head

Stand-up comedy from Prince Abdi, Lou Sanders, William Hamer-Lloyd, James Kermack, Mel Moon, Alex Maple, David Mensah, Ian Llewellyn-Rowe, Bobby Freeman, Daniel Gray *, Sean Finn, and   Alfie Moore.

Sun 24 Feb / Richmond

Joel Elnaugh *, Nick Helm, Charlie Partridge, Jessica Fortesque, Sam Petcelli *, James Agha, Joe Bor, George Cottier, Maureen Younger, Tom Cohen, and  Chris Tavner.

Sun 02 Mar / Richmond

Gerry Howell, Andi Osho, Mackenzie Taylor, Sara Pascoe, Jane Bostock, Rory O'Keefe, Simon Jenkins, Bryan Lacey, Will Dunn *, and  Rachael Boxall

Sun 09 Mar / Richmond

Stand-up comedy from Dave Bromage *, Dave keeling, Jane Hill, Luke McQueen, Rob Buckland, Nat Tapley *, Mark Cornell, Imran Yousif, Fergi Dean *, Paul Savage *, David and  Morgan *.

Tue 19 Feb / Soho

Stand-up comedy from Martin Hill, Bobby Carroll, Charlie Talbot, Nat Luurtsema, Jake Moore, Richard Tyrone Jones *, Johnathan Fraser, Inel, Tom Rosenthal, Andy Naylor, and  Adam Tempest.

Tue 26 Feb / Soho

Davey Butler, Leah Shand, Mark Restuccia, Kerry Howard, Joe Munrow, Sarah Campbell, Ross Davidson, John Dorney, Mark Dandy, Yariv.

Tue 04 Mar / Soho

Stand-up comedy from Annabel Gaba, Graham Foster, John Kudlick *, Tom Deacon, Sajeela Kershi, Henry Paker, Richard Todd, Tommy Mack, Gary McNulty *, Aaron   Rice *.

Sat 23 Feb / Wimbledon

Michelle Cheung, Anthony Mackie, Richard Perry, Tom Goodliffe, Ben Hayman, Bob Hanson, Josh Widdicombe, Jon Lynes, Sarah Grimstone, Vikki Stone, and  Elaine Malcolmson.

Sat 01 Mar / Wimbledon

Tom Sharpe, George Meluge, Rory O'Hanlon, Dan McKee, Laurence Tuck, Adam Smith, Andrew Jackson, Helen Hunscroft, Michael Mooney, Peter Smith *, Ola the Comedian *, Sarah Berry *.

Sat 08 Mar / Wimbledon

Ed Hands *, Joe Wells *, Brett Goldstein *, Peter Teckman, Richard Rycroft, Sean Walsh, Sarah Swaysland, Neil George, Tyrone Atkins, David Mulholland *, Lee Jefford *, Dominic Eliot *.

Acts Missining in Action

Sean Mason, 80's Luke, ishi Khan Jackson, Phil James, Daniel Gray, James Serene - if you know these acts get them to email info@laughinghorse.co.uk ASAP or they may miss out on a quarter final place.

    
10th Jan - Please Note the change of Dates for the Queens Head Quarter Finals (listed to the left)
  
8th Jan - The competition is off and running with the first acts through to our quarter finals!
    
6th Jan - A few spaces are remaining in London heats, all other heats are full
   
20th Dec - Heat in all venues except London are Edinburgh now full - please apply quickly to ensure there is space for you in a heat
    
20th Dec - Additional Edinburgh Heat added due to volume of performers, thsi will take place on Jan 31st at a venue TBC
     
19th Dec - The Edinburgh heats in 1st, 2nd and 3rd of Feb will now all take place at the Madow Bar, and the Edinburgh Quarter Final has now been moved to March 7th, at the Meadow Bar
     

Format of the Competition

  

1. Overall Information:

In all rounds the winners and runners-up will be announced on the night - if an act cannot stay until the end of the evening they should ensure that the laughing Horse Promoters have their contact details to inform them of progression to the next round. If an act is uncontactable then we reserve the right to replace that act with another act.

2: Heats

(a) The Winner and four runner-up acts at each heat will qualify for the quarter-finals by audience voting. All competitiors will progress to the London Quarter Finals except the Edinbrugh heats - competitors in Edinburgh will progress to the Quarter Final in Edinburgh.

(b) Additional qualifiers from heats may be decided by The Laughing Horse Promoters during the course of the first round, if further acts warrant being put through to the quarter finals stage

(c) Acts will perform sets of up to 5 minutes in the heats

3: Quarter Finals

(a) The Winner and one runner-up act at each quarter final will qualify for the semi-finals by audience voting.

(b) Additional qualifiers, and best runner's-up  from the quarter finals will be decided by The Laughing Horse Promoters during the course of the quarter finals.

(c) Acts will perform sets of up to 5 minutes in the quarter Finals

4. The Semi Finals

(a) The Winner of each of the six semi-finals will qualify for the final by a mixture of audience voting and voting from Laughing Horse Promoters and comedy industry professionals.

(b) The remaining six Final places will be decided by laughing Horse Promoters and comedy Industry judges from the best runners-up and third places from each of the semi-finals – using average scores across all semi-finals - depending on the strength of individual semi-finals and semi-finalists this may mean more going through from one semi-final and less from others.

(c) Acts will perform sets of up to 6 minutes in the semi-finals

5. The Final

(a) The Winner, runner-up and third place acts will be announced on the night, along with any acts the judges decide to give an honourable mention.

(b) The Winner, runner-up and third place acts will be decided by a panel of Judges, including a Laughing Horse promoter, along with a selection of Comedy Industry professionals, promoters and acts -  These judges will be announced before the final.

(c) Acts will perform sets of up to 7 minutes in the Final

At all stages of this competition the Laughing Horse Promoters decisions are final. Laughing Horse Comedy reserve the right to make any decisions or changes that we see fit regarding this competition, at any time.

If you have any questions, please contact us on 07796 171 190 or info@laughinghorse.co.uk

Rules | Prizes | Entry Requirements | Enter | Comments & Feedback via the Laughing Horse Forum

2007 Winner Daniel Rigby

2006 Winner Carl Donnelly

2005 Winner James Branch

2004 Winner Russell Kane

2003 Winner Marek Larwood

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2002 Winner Greg Davies

2001 Winner Matt Blaize

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