2023 Edinburgh Fringe
Comedians' Choice Awards 2023 winners
- Best Show: Julia Masli: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
- Best Performer: Sid Singh
- Best Person: Lydia Mason
The winners have been announced for The Comedians' Choice Awards 2023, the Edinburgh Fringe trophies determined by a poll of the comedy performers at the festival.
Best Show
Julia Masli: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Julia Masli's audience-interactive clowning show, which is a late night hit at Monkey Barrel, was voted as Best Show.
After being surprised on stage with the award, Masli said: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha".
The other shows featuring in the shortlist were:
Bill O'Neill: The Amazing Banana Brothers
Christopher Macarthur-Boyd: Scary Times
Furiozo: Man Looking for Trouble
Josh Glanc: Collections 2023
Katy Berry: Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy
Louise Atkinson: Mates
Matt Price: As Seen on CCTV
Pierre Novellie: Why Are You Laughing?
Sophie Sucks Face
Stuart Goldsmith: Spoilers
Tim Murray: Witches
Best Performer
Singh, who is also a refugee lawyer and activist, is donating half the money he makes from his Cabaret Voltaire show Sid Singh: Table For One to the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies in his native America.
Singh said on winning: "I'm still struggling to find the words to express how grateful I am, but this is so cool! The only reason I've been able to perform my stand-up and raise this money for the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies is because of all the comedians who booked me, fed me, and let me sleep on their couches from Los Angeles to Bucharest to Hyderabad and everywhere in between! Comedians are truly the best people in my life. But, um, based on how Julia responded, please instead change my answer to 'Hee hee hee hee'."
Best Person
This award is presented posthumously. Mason, a producer with Laughing Horse Free Festival, died unexpectedly during the Fringe, following a short illness.
Mason has worked closely with Free Festival since 2014, "taking on many roles to help shape its direction, keeping the technical side of things running, and most importantly was the first person to be able to help performers in the organisation; comforting those needing help, and becoming instant friends with everyone she met".
Free Festival organiser Alex Petty says: "We're very happy to see Lydia's work over so many years with Free Festival recognised in this way, especially as an award voted for by Fringe performers shows the impact she had on them over the years".
A fundraising gig for the UK Sepsis Trust, with all ticket sales and donations going to the charity in memory of Lydia, will take place tonight (Friday August 25th) at 5:45pm at the Free Sisters. The trophy will be placed on stage.
Masli, Singh and the Best Show shortlist will be invited to perform as part of a season at London's Museum Of Comedy this autumn.
David Hardcastle from the venue says: "Nobody sees more shows at the Fringe than the acts themselves and the range and quality of previous winners is amazing. We hosted some fantastic acts from the competition last year and we're very excited to provide a showcase for the competition again this autumn."
For more details on the awards and the list of previous winners, see the Comedians' Choice Awards website