Five of the very best new and emerging comedy acts from across the West Midlands are in the running for the fifth annual EG Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award.
The prestigious annual prize aims to recognise and support ‘breaking talent’ from the region, offering the winner a much-valued career boost.
A collaboration between the festival and The Glee Club, the award show is sponsored by Edinburgh Gin (EG) and officially kicks off the 10-day festival on Friday 5 October 2018.
The nominated acts are Adam Beardsmore, Phil Carr, double-act Good Kids, Laura Monmoth, and Sham Zaman.
Originally hailing from Staffordshire, Adam Beardsmore now lives and works in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. An animation editor by day, he made his stand-up debut in 2017 after a friend signed him up for an open mic night, and has since taken part in the BBC New Comedy Award 2018. Among his inspirations are Ross Noble, Bill Burr, “as well as endless Billy Connolly videos that I watched from far too young an age.”
Self-employed marketing consultant Phil Carr also made his stand-up debut in 2017. Stoke born and bred, the Staffordshire stand-up describes his comedy style as simply “short dark jokes.”
Kieran Ahern and Tom Dowling, aka Good Kids, met in the playground at the age of four. They started writing at university and have performed their songs and sketches across the country. Both teachers, and both based in the south Birmingham suburb of Hall Green, Tom says: “The stories we tell and characters we play are always full of life, and based on the real humour of people we’ve known growing up.”
Born in Birmingham and now residing in West Bromwich, Sandwell, Laura Monmoth has been performing for nearly five years. Though initially “influenced by the storytelling of Jasper Carrott and energy of Rowan Atkinson,” she’s since taken a new direction and her debut show, LGBTQZX, has garnered high praise from several other arts festivals.
NHS worker Sham Zaman lives in Alum Rock, Birmingham. Two years on from his debut at The Roadhouse, Stirchley, he’s gone on to perform at many leading comedy nights and recently participated in the Muslim Kings Of Comedy tour. He describes his stand-up as a “mixture of observational comedy with witty one liners and audience interaction.”
The five West Mids acts were nominated by a panel of comedy professionals based on live performances over the last 12 months.
A spokesperson for Birmingham Comedy Festival said: “There’s so much incredible talent out there across the West Midlands, making the selection of just five names an extremely difficult job.
“But after much deliberation, we’re pleased to see Adam, Phil, Laura, Sham, and Kieran and Tom, shortlisted for the region’s biggest comedy prize and look forward to seeing them perform on the festival’s opening night.
“These acts are all deserving of attention, and we wish them all the very best of luck. However, there can only be one Breaking Talent winner, so it’s going to be a very exciting night – a must-see for fans of live comedy and home-grown talent.”
Judges on the night include Free Radio’s breakfast co-host, and award-winning comedian, Lovdev Barpaga.
The EG Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2018 takes place at The Glee Club, The Arcadian, Birmingham, on Friday 5 October 2018. The night is compered by James Cook and closes with a set from rising Irish comic Andrew Ryan. Tickets £11 (£8 NUS) from 0871 472 0400. For more information see: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk
