LATEST NEWS | JANEY GODLEY WINS FRINGE AWARD
Before an excited crowd at the Pleasance Dome, stand-up comic and writer Janey Godley won the NIVEA Funny Women Fringe Award 2008. Godley, whose show "Domestic Godley" won her the accolade said "Women who choose comedy as a career have significant challenges ahead, The Nivea Funny Women Award supports women in comedy and I am very happy to have won the award"
Janey Godley, who was nominated for her show "Domestic Godley" is little short of a legend. On top of performing stand-up comedy around the world, In 2005 she published her autobiography 'Handstands in the Dark' which was number 3 bestseller in Scotland. She writes a popular column in 'The Scotsman' and is regular guest on BBC Radio 4’s 'Just a Minute'. In addition to performing stand-up comedy, television, writing books, and running comedy and drama workshops for ex-heroin addicts, she finds time to work unofficially within the Scottish Court system advising women bringing abuse cases.
"Janey Godley is quite simply one of the most prolific and extraordinary stand-up comedians working in the UK today, and represents the real spirit of the Fringe" Explains Funny Women Producer Lynne Parker
"It is important to celebrate female comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe, which is the world’s leading arts festival," explains Lynne. "We have been at the vanguard of delivering new female comedy talent to eager audiences across the UK for six years, and this is our opportunity to reward and promote talented women at the Fringe."
The NIVEA Funny Women Awards 2008 Best Sketch Show went to Scottish based sketch group Angry Puppy. Featuring the perfect comic combination; a top cast of talented performers, a mouth watering array of material and a bar. Produced by the Comedy Unit who produced the 2007 Edinburgh smash-hit Ugly Kid. Angry Puppy are Leah MacRae, Susan Calman, Marj Hogarth, Kirstin McLean
The NIVEA Funny Women Awards 2008 Best Newcomer was won by Pippa Evans for her show ‘Pippa Evans and Other Lonely People’ which showcased Evans extraordinary talent as a performer and writer combining slightly unhinged characters with taciturn withering one liners from larger than life characters that you are never likely to see in all walks of life. Evans, who was also a runner up in the 2008 Hackney Empire New Act Competition and a finalist in the NIVEA Funny Women Awards 2008 was delighted by her award, saying “'I'm very excited to be at the fringe and to be in the Pleasance Courtyard which I think is best venue at the Fringe, it's so wonderful there are fringe opportunities just for lady comedy.'