Musical Comedy Awards 2013: Guide to the Heats
The heats for the WeGotTickets Musical Comedy Awards 2013 begin this weekend in London.
The competition, which is now in its 5th year, aims to find the musical comedy stars of the future. Previous finalists include Frisky & Mannish, Abandoman and Jay Foreman.
For the 2013 contest, the top 40 acts have been selected from online entries via the competition's Facebook page. These acts will now battle it out in live heats at the Wilmington Arms in London, with audience votes and a panel of judges deciding who will progress to the final at the Bloomsbury Theatre on the 5th April.
The organisers say: "This year there is almost a 50/50 balance between male and female entrants, which is really pleasing! A huge thank you to all of our colleagues in the industry who have recommended that acts take part! We have also invited back many acts who previously taken part in the competition as our headliners."
They add: "If you're coming to a show - all tickets are £7 via WeGotTickets and £10 on the door, so definitely cheaper in advance."
Below are details of the line-ups.
Heat 1 - 5th January
Ben Glasstone, I am I am, Hannah Brackenbury, David Elms, Slap & Giggle, Ross Hughes, We are Goose and Steven Seller.
Such Small Portions' guide to the acts in Heat 1
Horse & Louis (runners-up 2010) provide the headline entertainment.
Heat 2 - 12th January
Paddy Cullivan, Dan Lees, Lovely & Jason, Jonny & the Baptists, Tina Turner Tea Lady, Jacky Wood, Joe Charman and Eric Davidson.
Such Small Portions' guide to the acts in Heat 2
Rob Carter (2012 winner) headlines.
Heat 3 - 19th January
Laurence Owen, Trine Munk, Ben Champion, Christiane Mahoney, Jo Browning, Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, Jo Stephenson and Emily Rose.
Such Small Portions' guide to the acts in Heat 3
Fair & Square (best-newcomers 2012) headline.
Heat 4 - 19th January
Howard & Dan, Lucy Rebecca Cox, Angus Barr, I Once Was a Dinosaur, Big Clown Little Clown, Jenny Bede, Helen Goldwyn and Austin Francis Connection.
Such Small Portions' guide to the acts in Heat 4
Rachel Parris (runner-up 2012) headlines.
Heat 5 - 2nd February
Tamar Broadbent, Gabriella Burnel, Cecilia Delatori, Nat Wicks, House of Blakewell, Hill & Weedon and Tammy Stone.
Such Small Portions' guide to the acts in Heat 5
Carly Smallman (2011 finalist) headlines.
Quarter Finals & Semi-Finals
The Quarter Finals and Semi-Finals will also be at the Wilmington Arms on Saturdays. Details of the headliners below:
Quarter Final 1, 9th February: Jay Foreman
Quarter Final 2, 16th February: Christian Reilly
Quarter Final 3, 23rd February: Rob Deering
Quarter Final 4, 2nd March: Loretta Maine
Semi-Final 1, 9th March: Earl Okin
Semi-Final 2, 16th March: Adam Kay
The heats, quarter finals and semi-finals start at 1:30pm in the afternoon at the Wilmington Arms (Clerkenwell, EC1R 4RL). For tickets to any of the shows visit WeGotTickets
The final will be held at the Bloomsbury Theatre on the 5th April. Tickets are not yet on sale, but keep an eye on the venue's website as tickets to the final are always very popular.
Here is footage from the 2012 final:
To find out more about The Musical Comedy Awards visit www.musicalcomedyawards.com
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