The Brighton Fringe Awards celebrate the outstanding performances and events that make the festival fly. All companies who win an award also win a free registration to take part in Brighton Fringe the following year!
There will be an award for each category of the brochure, each award is judged by a separate organisation and runs slightly differently. For some, if you meet the award criteria, you will need to apply to be considered. For others, whether your show is seen and shortlisted is decided by the judging panel in question or it may come down to an audience vote.
As awards are confirmed they will be added to this page and announced in participant newsletters. Good luck!
Marlborough Development Award
The Marlborough are interested in theatre and performance from LGBTQ+ artists - people that are taking risks, trying new things or working in an interdisciplinary way. To apply you must have an event registered as part of Brighton Fringe 2018.
The winner will receive:
- 1 week of residency time at The Marlborough (in kind value of £1000.00)
- £200.00 cash
- Meetings with The Marlborough producing team
- the opportunity for a sharing of new work at The Marlborough
Deadline: Midnight 14 May
Apply now
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The International Youth Arts Festival Best of Brighton Fringe Theatre Award, Comedy Award and Family Show Award.
The International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) takes place every year in Kingston Upon Thames.The festival aims to present the greatest work by creatives and performers under the age of 26 and give a low-risk platform to the stars of tomorrow. Every year IYAF selects the best theatre, comedy and family show from Brighton Fringe and presents them at IYAF in July.
The winner in each category will be given a free performance slot at IYAF in July 2018 (please see the slots below) and will have their performance photographed by a professional events photographer.
Best of Brighton Fringe Theatre: Tuesday 10 July 20:00
Best of Brighton Fringe Comedy: Thursday 12 July 21:15
Best of Brighton Fringe Family: Sunday 14 July 11:30
To be eligible for the award a lead creator (writer, director, performer) must be 26 or under, the show must be no longer than 60 minutes in duration.
During Brighton Fringe, a representative from IYAF will see your show and the winners will be announced at the Brighton Fringe Awards on 3 June.
Apply now
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First & Foremost Entertainment Cabaret Award
Brighton entertainment agency First & Foremost Entertainment Ltd present the award for the Best Cabaret show at Brighton Fringe.
To be considered, your show must be registered in the Cabaret & Circus category of the Brighton Fringe programme, and you must complete this application form.
Deadline: Midnight 3 May
Applications closed
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The South East Dance Brighton Fringe Award
We are looking for work that surprises, challenges and excites us. You don’t have to be listed in the Dance section but your work must have choreography at its heart.
The winner will receive:
- Two mentoring sessions with the SED programming team
- Networking opportunity with one of the producers on SED’s Producer Development Scheme
- A bottle of bubbly
- One night, Bed & Breakfast for two at Brighton Harbour Hotel
- Dinner for two at The Jetty Restaurant.
Deadline: Midday, Wednesday 2 May
Applications closed
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The ONCA Green Curtain Award 2018
This award will go to the Brighton Fringe project that best manifests ONCA’s mission of supporting artists and audiences to engage with environmental and social challenges. The winner will receive support in the form of mentoring, time in the gallery and/or offices, and space on our online platforms.
The winner of last year’s Green Curtain, Jamal Harewood, will be performing The Privileged at ONCA and Word at Sweet Dukebox as part of this year’s Fringe. You can also see Green Curtain runner-up Luke Rollason in his fantastic Planet Earth is a Work in Progress at the Warren.
Apply via email
Email [javascript protected email address] with dates and information if you would like to nominate a show for the award.
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Best Design for Print Award 2018
This award is presented by our print partner Gemini Print and is open to all designs for print to celebrate the best printed publicity campaign for Brighton Fringe 2018.
Entry criteria:
- Any art director, designer, illustrator, photographer, typographer or Brighton Fringe participant.
- Only official designs for print developed for Brighton Fringe 2018 will be accepted.
Judging criteria:
- Eye-catching: Most important will be given to the immediate appeal of the artwork, including impact, originality and style.
- Informative: The quality and design of the information presented on the artwork.
- Marketable: The overall marketing effect of the artwork – why does it make me want to see this show?
The winner will be announced on Sunday 3 June 2018 and will receive £500 worth of professional print by the Gemini Print Group, plus associated publicity.
Apply via email
Simply e-mail an example of your intended printed communication (leaflets, posters, flyers, postcards and so on) for Brighton Fringe 2018 by Friday 27 April 2018 to: [javascript protected email address]
You may submit up to 5 pdfs or photographs per entry.
Please make credits and descriptions as complete, legible and accurate as possible.
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The following awards do not have an application process:
The Fringe Guru Brighton Fringe Award For Theatre
Our friends at Fringe Guru are offering an award for the most outstanding piece of theatre. But it’s not just Fringe Guru’s reviewers who’ll make the decision – they’ll be taking into account all the published reviews from a range of leading publications. There’s no need to apply, if you’re listed in the theatre section you’ll be on Fringe Guru’s radar.
The Brighton Fringe Visual Arts Award in Association with HOUSE and AOH
All exhibitions listed in the visual arts section will be visited by HOUSE and Artist Open House judges for this award. Each will be assessed on its quality, integrity and concept.
The Radio Reverb: Out in Brighton LGBTQ Award
Reviewers from Out in Brighton will choose the shortlist and overall winner based on a show’s quality and popularity.
The Bobby: Best of the Festival
Broadway Baby awards The Bobby to the most outstanding show it sees during the festival. Therefore, to even be up for a Bobby, you'll need to have a five star review from Broadway Baby already under your belt. There’s no need to apply for this award, it will be chosen by the Broadway Baby review team.
Latest Live Music Award
All performances listed in the live music section qualify for this award. Reviewers from Latest Seven and Latest TV will choose the shortlist and overall winner based on quality and popularity.
Latest Comedy Award
All performances listed in the comedy section qualify for this award. Reviewers from Latest Seven and Latest TV will choose the shortlist and overall winner based on quality and popularity. You will be contacted if you have been shortlisted.
The Argus Fringe Archangel Award
There's no need to apply for an Argus Angel Award. Their awards aren't based on an application process, rather it all comes down to the views of the review team. You will be contacted if you have won an Argus Angel. An Argus Arch Angel will be chosen and presented at the awards ceremony.
The Fringe Review Outstanding Theatre Award
There's no need to apply for an award from FringeReview. In fact, they actively ask you not to pitch your show for the award. Their awards aren't based on an application process, rather it all comes down to the views of the review team. If a reviewer believes a show is worthy of an award, it is then re-seen by another reviewer or reviewers. If the award is confirmed, the company will be notified of their success.
Primary Times Children's Choice Award
This award is for all Brighton Fringe shows suitable for children aged 11 and under. You do not need to apply for this award, rather reviewers from Primary Times will select a shortlist and overall winner based on a show’s quality and popularity.
Audience Choice Award
It’s the public, not the critics, who’ll choose the winner! Anyone can vote for their favourite Brighton Fringe 2018 event through the Brighton Fringe App or website.
Best Brighton Fringe Venue Award
Anyone who has attended a Brighton Fringe event is eligible to vote for their favourite venue via the Brighton Fringe website or App, both large and small venues will have an equal opportunity to win.
Spirit of the Fringe Award
Awarded to the person or organisation that best captures or embodies the spirit of Brighton Fringe!
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The Brighton Fringe International Touring Bursary in Association with The Pebble Trust
This award is for participants who are resident in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex or West Sussex only. The prize will enable you to tour to an international festival and includes up to £2,500 towards travel, accommodation and other related touring costs, to be used within 18 months of Brighton Fringe 2018 finishing. Judges from the World Fringe Alliance and The Pebble Trust will select the shows based on an application process.
Deadline: 6pm, Friday 6 April
Applications closed
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New Writing South Best New Play Award
This award is presented to a playwright in recognition of an outstanding, original theatre script produced at Brighton Fringe.
The criteria for entering is:
- An original scripted piece of work
- Written within the last 12 months
- Maximum of 10 previous performances
- Be at least 40 minutes long in performance time
Note: New translations of foreign language scripts will be considered if they meet the criteria above
If you would like to submit your script for consideration, please send a PDF copy, along with details of where and when it is to be performed, to: [javascript protected email address]
If you have any questions, please contact: [javascript protected email address]
Deadline: Sunday, 8 April 2018
Applications closed
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Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence in association with Brighton Spiegeltent
We are pleased to announce that for the first time, we have joint winners for the Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence! Huge congratulations to our winning shows - Hot Gay Time Machine and The Prophetic Visions of Bethany Lewis.
Each show has won a free registration to perform at Brighton Spiegeltent as part of Brighton Fringe 2018, along with £500 towards production costs and a favourable deal on venue hire.
Also, congratulations to all of the shortlisted shows!
- The Soft Subject (A Love Story) - Hyphen Theatre Company
- Ongals: Babbling Comedy - The Ongals
- The Giant Killers - The Long Lane Theatre Company
- Me and My Bee - ThisEgg and the Pleasance
- Morale is High (Since We Gave Up Hope) - Powder Keg