2011

December kicked-off with the New Act Night show at Komedia and a review that made us all proud :

"New Act Night at Komedia was the finishing touch for the students of the prestigious Jill Edwards Beginners Comedy Workshop. MC Rob Heeney was a strong and funny pair of safe hands to guide proceedings with a real affection for the course, the students, the teacher and our city. Twelve terrified souls made us laugh at their delightfully fresh, cutting, dark, and off the wall material. A rounding testimony to the top quality of the course was the quality of this resulting output; a fabulous night out full of warmth, discovery (for the audience and the acts!) and more feelgood than a 70's disco." Victoria Nangle, Latest 7 ****

Workshops graduate Winner of BBC New Comedy Award 2011 Angela Barnes (left) was a popular guest speaker during the course, giving participants advice on how to get started in the comedy business. The Chortle review of her competition winning performance also made us all proud:

"A beautifully paced performance that was aided by the consistent quality of her jokes, many of which showed a great skill with self-depreciation." Steve Bennett, Chortle

Workshops graduate Seann Walsh paid us a surprise visit during the course and joined the judging panel for the New Act Night auditions. My course participants went an even paler shade of nervous pale but the friendly presence of such a supportive and encouraging top comic graduate who knew exactly how they felt proved inspiring. 

December ended with a Comic Boom that sold out a day in advance and that tired old chestnut about whether women are funny or not was laid to rest by outstanding performances that stole the show from our Angela Barnes, lovely Rachel Parris and the always brilliant Zoe Lyons. "More feelgood than a 70's disco" pretty much summed-up December for me this year!    

I'm sending out my thanks in a bit blushy uncool way to James Kendall and all at The Brighton "Source" Magazine. Their ongoing "Unsung Hero" series features an interview with a different local every month who "Source" have decided are one of the "100 people who are making Brighton what it is." I was so honoured to be chosen to be an "Unsung Hero" in their special comedy edition in October about the Comedy Festival (link to feature below):

 http://www.brightonsource.co.uk/features/39-articles/2184-unsung-hero-jill-edwards

It was just a coincidence it also featured interviews with two of my local workshop graduates top comics Seann Walsh and Simon Evans; who along with the rest of my graduates have always made me feel the absoloute opposite of "unsung, " which I guess would be "sung?"

I was invited by Andrew Kidger from "Chello Zone" who look after various cable and satellite channels' marketing to deliver training for his team that would provide "the perfect cocktail of fun and inspiration, as well as helping to develop confidence and presenting skills." Andrew chose a great location in the fascinating "Museum of Brands" in beautiful Notting Hill. It was a pleasure working with his bright, interesting and yes, very funny team. 

"Jill organised an informative and fun-filled workshop for our large'ish team, many of whom had little or no experience of public speaking and presenting, let alone being funny! Using the basic techniques of stand-up comedy is a brilliant and engaging way to build confidence and teamwork and everyone raved about it afterwards. Not only did we learn some great techniques - we all laughed, a lot!" Andrew Kidger, Chello Zone 

Our congratulations accompanied by a spontaneous dance of joy on    hearing the marvellous announcement are going out to workshop graduate Brighton's own Angela Barnes (left) on winning the national BBC New Comedy Award 2011!!! Proud, delighted, just don't cover it really...