Search on for the North of England’s Best New Stand-up Comedian

A new competition has been launched to find the North of England’s next Peter Kay.

The search for the region’s Best New Stand-up Comedian is part of the annual Festival of Fools which takes place at Muncaster Castle in the Lake District, the home of the legendary Tom Fool.

Two finalists will go head to head at the Comedy Cabaret which kicks off the Festival on Saturday 24th May.  The winner will receive a £750 cash prize.

The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over from the North of England who had not performed stand up regularly, either paid or unpaid, before 1st January 2007.

Peter Frost Pennington from Muncaster Castle says: “Jesters like Tom Fool were arguably the earliest stand up comedians so it seems appropriate to host a competition for their modern day counterparts. The North of England has a strong reputation for producing some of the country’s best stand up acts, so we’re hoping to find the man or woman who will be a future star on the comedy circuit.”

Famous northern funny men and women have included Eric Morecambe, Steve Coogan and Victoria Wood.  Peter Kay studied stand-up at the University of Salford as part of a degree in Media and Performance, before going on to become one of Britain’s best known comedians.  

Anyone who wants to take part in the competition simply needs to submit an application form together with a film of up to 8 minutes in duration showing them performing their own stand up routine.  The films can be sent to Muncaster on a DVD or entrants can email a link to their film on a video sharing website such as YouTube. 

Entries can either be emailed to info@muncaster.co.uk or posted to:

The North of England’s Best New Stand-up Comedian
Muncaster Castle
Ravenglass
Cumbria
CA18 1RQ

The closing date for entries is 13.00 on Wednesday 14th May.  The two finalists will be selected on Monday the 19th of May.  The winner will then be decided by an audience vote at the Comedy Cabaret.

The runner up will receive a £250 cash prize.

The two finalists will need to be able to perform a stand up routine of between 6’ and 8’ at the Comedy Cabaret at Muncaster Castle on the evening of Saturday 24th May.  They will also need to be available for a rehearsal and photocall at the Castle at 12.00 on Friday 23rd May.  Accommodation and dinner will be provided on the 23rd and the 24th.

The Festival of Fools, which is sponsored by Jennings Cumberland Ale, runs from Saturday 24th May until Thursday 29th May.  As well as the Comedy Cabaret there will be a wide variety of entertainment during the day from Sunday through to Thursday. 

Media enquiries to Paul Gardner or Jon Perkins at Osprey Communications on 015394-42436 or 07766 906561.

Terms and Conditions of Entry,
 North of England’s Best New Stand-up Comedian

• Entries must be submitted by Wednesday 13th May 2008 at 13.00pm to be valid.
• Entries should either be submitted as a DVD to the address below or email a link to a film of you performing that you have put onto a video sharing website such as YouTube or Google Video.
• Entries must be available to attend a press day on Friday 23rd May 2008 at 12pm and to perform during the Cabaret @ the Castle evening on Saturday 24th May 2008 between the hours of 6.30pm and 11.30pm.
• Failure to attend forfeits any prize.
• The entries may be made available to the media for the purposes of publicising the event.  Submitting an entry implies agreement for your videos to be used in this way.
• Each finalist will agree to perform 1 x 8 min slot as part of the Cabaret @ the Castle event. Times to be allocated on the night.
• Entries must agree to any press requests and interviews as required by the organiser and or sponsor of the event.
• The winner will receive £750
• The runner up will receive £250
• Accommodation will be provided for each finalist for two people on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th May 2008 in a double/ twin room at Muncaster Castle’s Coachman’s Quarters on a bed and breakfast basis.
• Evening meals will be provided on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th May 2008. On Saturday 24th May 2008 the food will be a Hog Roast as part of the Cabaret @ the Castle event.
• Each finalist will receive one complimentary ticket to the Cabaret @ the Castle event.
• Transport to and from Muncaster Castle is the finalist’s responsibility.
• Judges decision is final, as decided upon the night.
• No alternative prize will be given.
• Each finalist should advise Muncaster of any dietary or any other special arrangements that you need Muncaster to accommodate.
• Material submitted should be aimed at a 16+ audience and should not contain any material that can be deemed unsuitable, unlawful or inappropriate in anyway,
• Muncaster accepts no responsibility for the type of material submitted.
• Entries must include your full name, postal address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, occupation and details of all stand up appearances (either paid or unpaid) including dates.

Send entries to:
 North of England’s Best New Stand-up Comedian
Muncaster Castle
Stand Up Comedy Competition
Ravenglass
Cumbria CA18 1RQ

By submitting an entry you are agreeing to abide by the terms and condition above.

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