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!
View our 2018 award-winning events
2019 Awards:
Edinburgh Fringe 2019
Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence in association with Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT)
Applications are now open for the Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence in association with Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT), inviting one production from Edinburgh Fringe 2019 to perform at Brighton Fringe 2020. The winner will receive a free registration to take part in Brighton Fringe 2020, along with £500 towards production costs and a free reworking / rehearsal space from BOAT.
Brighton Fringe is the largest fringe festival in England and takes place in May. No artistic judgement or selection criteria are imposed on participants, enabling the development of both new and established work to attract fresh audiences, press and promoters. Brighton Fringe will take place from 1 – 31 May 2020.
Now in its 5th Year, BOAT will host over 140 performances from local, national and international companies. Featuring drama, comedy, circus, cabaret, music, dance and even a Pop Bingo for dogs. Put simply ‘Everything Under the Sun!’
With a capacity of 425 we have welcomed over 50,000 people through the gates. The classical Greek form makes BOAT an intimate outdoor space loved by Audiences and performers alike. BOAT enjoys 5 stars across the board from Facebook and Trip Advisor and has been listed in the top 10 outdoor theatres in the world (The Guardian) and shortlisted for Best Family Venue by ‘Fantastic for Families’.
Set in a park, BOAT is a relaxed venue where birdsong and open skies set the scene. From a performers perspective BOAT is an exceptional space to play, whilst we can’t always guarantee the weather, we can assure you that we will treat you exceptionally, support your marketing, invite you to our launch, and importantly we don’t double programme our days so when you are resident – the space is yours.
BOAT suits companies with ambition of scale where the sky’s the limit!
Find out more at www.brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk
Productions will be shortlisted by a panel of arts industry practitioners, who will select work based on the above and the following considerations:
* The production has not been performed in Brighton before
* Companies are available to perform during Brighton Fringe 2020, 1 - 31 May
Process:
Shows are welcome to apply by completing the application form and sending a press release about the event. Please note that there is no commitment from Brighton Open Air Theatre or the judges to see all shows put forward.
Please email a supporting press release to [javascript protected email address]
The shortlist will be announced at our workshop How to take part in Brighton Fringe which will take place on 18 August 13:00 – 14:30 at Fringe Central, Appleton Tower, EH8 9LE.
The winner will be announced at the Scotsman Awards Ceremony (details TBC)
BOAT is a registered charity
Charity Reg No: 1156051
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: FRIDAY 26 JULY 2019
Brighton Fringe 2019 Award Winners
The Balkan / Otherplace Award
Win a one week R&D Residency at the Balkan Retreat, followed by a short run at a fringe theatre in Belgrade, a possible co-production with the Balkan Producing House AND entry to Brighton Fringe 2020 at The Warren (including a favourable deal). A full week of sunshine, food, drinks, forest, a lake, but of course, and especially, a rehearsal space, which will be exclusively yours 24/7.
2019 Shortlisted Companies:
- Bright Buoy Productions (WINNER)
- Ensemble Dance Co
- Animate
- Fright Wig Theatre
- The Biscuit Barrel
The Brighton Gin Cabaret & Circus Award
The Brighton Gin Cabaret & Circus Award is open to all performers whose work falls into the category of Cabaret & Circus. We are looking for originality, innovation and ingenuity, something which challenges an audience or just makes us roar with laughter.
2019 Shortlisted Events:
- What Doesn't Kill You [blah blah] Stronger by Holland St Productions
- Railed by Head First Acrobats
- David Hoyle: Tuesday Night is David Night by Tim Whitehead Management (WINNER)
- Honourable mention: 2100: A Space Novelty and the Nordic Fringe
Latest Live Music Award
2019 Shortlisted Events:
- Herbie's Jazz Breakfast by Herbie Flowers with Beach Without Sand (WINNER)
- Alabaster - Bunty - Cosmo - Sonic Gumbo by The Rose Hill with Brighton Spiegeltent
- Kakande West African Drummers By Batafon Arts
Latest Comedy Award
2019 Shortlisted Events:
- Fannytasticals Cum Again By Fannytasticals / Sweet Productions (WINNER)
- QUADRUPLE THRE4T By Mr Henry Moss
- Barry and Sian: Exposed By Act 1 Productions
The Brighton Fringe Visual Arts Award in Association with Artist Open Houses
All exhibitions listed in the visual arts section was visited by Artist Open House judges for this award. Each was assessed on its quality, integrity and concept.2019 Shortlisted Events:
- Stare By Ripple Collective
- Unframed Lives By Unframed Lives
- Cultureground @ B.Fest By B.Fest / Brighton Youth Centre (WINNER)
- Open Studios 2019 By Phoenix Brighton
The FringeReview Outstanding Theatre Award
Winner:
- Quintessence By Emily Carding / Sweet Productions
The Gemini Print & Brighton Fringe Design for Print Award
Open to all performers, art directors, designers and venues. It could be the design for your postcards, leaflets, flyers, posters, brochures, invitations, banners, A Boards... whatever superb creativity you are planning to print to promote your events and performances.2019 Shortlisted Events:
- Cards Against Humanity, The Shame Show By Junkyard Dogs Productions. (WINNER)
- Members Only By Resound
- Witch-Hunt By A&E Comedy
The ONCA Green Curtain Award
the ONCA Green Curtain Award 2019 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.
Previous Green Curtain winners are Jamal Harewood’s The Privileged and Subira.
2019 Shortlisted Events:
- Bright Raven By HOAX
- How Disabled Are You? By The Queer Historian (WINNER)
- Blue Planet III By Bright Buoy Productions
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 movement and choreography at its heart.2019 Shortlisted Events:
- George by Contingency Theatre
- The Luncheon by The [a] Company
- WITCH-HUNT by A&E Company
- History of Ireland by Moxie Brawl/Sarah Blanc
- Sleuth, Could you be a Detective? by ZoieLogic Dance
- Sullied by Kristi-Leigh Gresse (WINNER)
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 2019 finishing. Judges from The Pebble Trust and the World Fringe Alliance will select the shows based on an application process.
2019 Shortlisted Events
- Unmythable by Out of Chaos
- All I See Is You by Queer Street Productions (WINNER)
- Individual Medley by Katrina Quinn
The International Youth Arts Festival Best of Brighton Fringe Awards
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 aged 26 and under and give a low-risk platform to the stars of tomorrow. There will be 1 winner selected from each of the following categories:
- Children & Families
- Comedy
- Theatre
The winner in each category will be given a free performance slot at IYAF in July 2019.
Comedy Shortlist:
- Alex Cofield: Supernova By Alexander Cofield (WINNER)
- Josh Berry: Voice Thief By RBM Comedy
- Gut Buddies By Gut Buddies Theatre (WINNER)
- Everywhere By Windmill Young Actors
Theatre Shortlist:
- Euan By ChewBoy Productions (WINNER)
- Feat. An Asteroid By Brighton College
- The Art of Caring By Little Bit of Theatre
New Writing South Best New Play Award
New Writing South, in partnership with Brighton Fringe, is running the Best New Play Award 2019. This award is presented to a playwright in recognition of an outstanding, original theatre script produced at Brighton Fringe.
New Writing South are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Best New Play Award 2019.We received 68 entries this year and 11 plays have been shortlisted. These are:
- After Aulis by Rowena Cooper
- The Art of Caring by Sam Cartwright
- Black Peter by Christopher Schaunig
- Clean by Sam Chittenden (WINNER)
- The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Luke Ofield and Pip O’Neill
- The Geminus by Ross Dinwiddy
- Like the Sea by Zoe Sharpe
- Lights! Planets! People! by Molly Naylor
- Seven Ages of Mam by Mark Evans with contributions from Pauline O’Driscol
- Wolf Tamer by Rachel Mae Brady
- 25/The Decriminalisation Monologues by Sean Denyer
Voice’s Best Newcomer Award at Brighton Fringe
At Brighton Fringe 2019, Voice Magazine will be awarding a prize to the Best Newcomer.
2019 Shortlisted Events:
- Wolf Tamer By Savage Heart Productions
- A Super Happy Story (About Being Super Sad) By Silent Uproar
- Unmythable By Out of Chaos (WINNER)
Audience Choice Award
It’s the public, not the critics, who’ll choose the winner! Anyone can vote for their favourite Brighton Fringe 2019 event through the Brighton Fringe App or website.
2019 Shortlisted Events:
- End Times: An Immersive Adventure By 2headedpigeon Theatre Co.
- Pole Circus By Gemini Pole Studio
- George Sawyer: True. Mostly. By Sawyersaurus Ltd.
- Bleach By Dan Ireland-Reeves
- In Loving Memory of Pat Riarchy By Clap Back Club (WINNER)
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.
2019 Shortlisted Venues:
- Nether Regions (WINNER)
- Sweet @ The Mayo
- Junkyard Dogs: The Kennel
- The Warren
- Brighton Spiegeltent
Spirit of the Fringe Award
Awarded to the person or organisation that best captures or embodies the spirit of Brighton Fringe!
Winner: Hannah Mermaid McInnes