Funny Women


Funny Women is an online and in-person workshop community dedicated to the support of female comedians. It was founded by Lynne Parker in 2002 as a reaction to misogynistic comments from a comedy promoter. Funny Women helps women find their voice, promote them, and assists charities.
During the 2019 Funny Women Awards Final, Funny Women announced that their new Patron, would be Jo Brand.
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Live events

Funny Women runs "Stand Up to Stand Out" comedy workshops hosted by Parker.
In 2013, Funny Women hosted the first Workshop Weekend at the women-only business club B.Hive in Covent Garden. This comprised two days of intensive comedy and confidence training, including a Stand-Up to Stand Out comedy workshop run by Lynne Parker, an improvisation workshop facilitated by Courtney Cornfield, writing for radio hosted by Paul Dodgson and character creation with Hattie Naylor.
Funny Women also hosts regular comedy showcases in London and Brighton; residencies include comedy venues at the Leicester Square Theatre and Komedia. Following a successful trial at the Richmond Literature Festival, Funny Women is now also branching out into literary festivals with a new format discussing writing female comedy with a panel of writers and performers.

Website

The Funny Women website contains a ‘magazine’ containing opinion pieces, podcast reviews & recommendations, live show critiques and actively encourages submissions from budding writers wanting to sharpen their comedy writing skills and get online presence for their work. They also offer feedback and help develop the writers of the future.

The Funny Women Awards

The Funny Women Awards were launched in 2003. Contestants include female talents such as Bridget Christie, Susan Calman, Katherine Ryan, Andi Osho, Kerry Godliman, Sara Pascoe, Zoe Lyons, Holly Walsh and Sarah Millican.
The Awards have attracted national television and radio coverage, and national press. The Awards have also been featured as a series of podcasts with The Sun, and footage from the 2007 final at the Comedy Store, London is featured on the Paramount Comedy website.
Due to the numbers entering, this competition has three stages. Heats take place over April, May and June and from these heats, 20 acts are selected. Four semi-finals are held in Brighton, Manchester, London and Edinburgh and from these, ten acts are selected to go through to the final. Previous venues include Leicester Square Theatre and Kings Place in London.
It was announced at the 2019 Funny Women Awards that Jo Brand would be the Patron of Funny Women. The prize for the Stage Award 2019 would include mentoring from Brand.

2023

Source:

Stage Award Finalists

  • Kate Cheka
  • Hannah Platt
  • Victoria Comedy
  • Blank Peng
  • Charlie Vero-Martin
  • Nikola McMurtrie
  • Rachel Baker
  • Sascha LO
  • Su Mi
  • Tal Davies

Content Creator Award

2022

Source:

Stage Award

Comedy Writing Award

  • Ruby Carr
  • Nicki Lucas
  • Ellie Silver

Comedy Shorts Award

Industry Award

Content Creator Award

Source:
  • Chan Wills
  • Anne Crowther
  • Bluenbroke
  • Cocosarel
  • Castmeimjane
  • Katerina Robinson
  • Martha Writes
  • Mrs Smith Says It
  • Nikola McMurtrie
  • Quirks & Foibles
  • Rants and Big Pants
  • Rosie Holt
  • Sooz Kempner
  • Stacey Annor
  • The Sugarcoated Sisters
  • Thenjiwe Comedy

2021

Source:

Stage Award

Comedy Writing

Comedy Shorts Award

  • Ada Player

Content Creator Award

  • Hayley Morris

2020

Source:

2019

2017–18

2016

2015

2014

2013

  • Twisted Loaf
  • Katie Lane
  • Elf Lyons
  • Reven & Fennell
  • Cassie Pope
  • Alex Maher for 'Hope And Gloria'
  • * Rachel Gleaves
  • * Bisha Ali
  • * Tevashnee
  • * Rachel Slater
  • * Bethan Roberts
  • * Becky Brunning
  • * Sindhu Vee
  • * Saskia Preston
  • * Dotty Winters

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

Charity

Funny Women works with organisations that represent aspects of women's wellbeing. It Women has raised awareness and over £70,000 for Refuge, Womankind Worldwide, Rise UK, The Victoria Foundation, Women's Aid, V-Day, ActionAid, Ovarian Cancer Action, the YWCA, Jo's Trust and the Bristol Cancer Help Centre.

Collections

The University of Kent holds material relating to Funny Women as part of the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive. The collection includes material relating to the Funny Women Awards, audiovisual recordings and promotional material for the network.