The Best in Class Edinburgh Fringe Festival Comedy Showcase for 2025 is now accepting applications! Founder of Best in Class, Sian Davies, shares how the showcase has helped launch the careers of numerous comedians and helped open the world of comedy to more acts.
The award-winning project offers eight working class comedians the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe. The selected acts are guided through the process of running a show, from writing press releases, to marketing and tech skills. The most notable part of this project is that none of the acts pay to participate and they all receive payment for the work they do.
To date, Best in Class alumni have gone on to achieve fantastic successes in their comedy careers. The showcase has proven to be a great training ground for working class acts to find their feet at the Edinburgh Fringe with alumni including Lindsey Santoro, Hannah Platt, Jamie Hutchinson and Anna Thomas.
The showcase has won panel prizes from the Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Awards and the Ish Comedy Awards, along with grants from the Keep It Fringe Fund and the Fringe Recovery Fund. All of the prize money has been reinvested into the community to provide more bursaries, training and workshops for a wider network of working class comics. Fundraising has always been a key element of their work, donations to the Best in Class 2025 campaign can be made on their GoFund Me page.
“Fair to say being part of Best in Class changed my life by making it possible to do a week at the Ed Fringe. I got an agent, made my solo debut, was featured in Rolling Stone – hopefully a new batch will get similar opportunities. If you can support, please do.” – John Meagher, Best in Class 2022 Performer
Best in Class has also announced a huge fundraising show at Leicester Comedy Festival in February 2025. The show will feature TV favourites Angela Barnes, Sikisa and Alison Spittle, alongside some of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival intake plus a host of Best in Class alumni and pals. Best in Class director Dani Johns said “It’s wonderful when big acts get behind what we are doing at Best in Class. It gives us an opportunity to create an amazing show for the public whilst raising vital funds through ticket sales. Leicester won’t know what hit it!”
“Every year it gets more difficult for working class comedians to access the fringe. Costs keep rising and talent is squeezed out. Some of the best comedies were created by working class comedians, we are at risk of losing that heritage. If Caroline Aherne or Johnny Vegas were starting out now it’s unlikely they could afford a fringe run. Consider the impact of that on UK culture. There is so much talent out there and we have to find ways to nurture and platform it.
“If you’re working class and feel like the Fringe is out of reach, this project is for you. If you want the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe whilst being part of an award winning network of comedians, this is your chance. If you can commit to being involved in the project during 2025 we can’t wait to hear from you.” – Sian Davies, Founder, Best in Class
Applications to take part in Best in Class 2025 are now open and will close on 24 January 2025. Acts can find out more, check their eligibility, and apply to the project on their website.
Tickets to the Best in Class show at Leicester Comedy Festival can be bought here.
