NATYS: New Acts of the Year Show

Last updated
NATYS: New Acts of the Year Showcase
Awarded forAnnual industry showcase for emerging Comedy and Variety acts
Country England, United Kingdom
Presented byNew Variety Lives
First awarded1982
Website https://www.newvarietylives.com

The NATYS: New Acts of The Year Showcase, previously known as The Hackney Empire New Act of the Year, is an annual industry showcase that promotes new waves of emerging Comedy and Variety acts. It ran at the Hackney Empire Theatre from 1988 until 2010. [1] [2] [3] [4] Since then it has toured round London theatres and performance spaces, playing the Barbican Theatre, Stratford Circus, Bloomsbury Theatre, [5] Leicester Square Theatre and The Bernie Grant Arts Centre.

Contents

History

Roland and Claire Muldoon, of underground theatre group CAST, pioneered "new variety", auditioning many of the acts that became the new wave of comedy and performance in the UK. The process evolved into the New Act of the Year Show produced by Claire and compered by Roland from 1982. [5] In 1986 they took over the Hackney Empire and ran the NATY from 1987, with Linda Smith winning that year's award. It is currently produced by New Variety Lives, Which is managed by Roland and Claire Muldoon, alongside Frank Sweeney and Tony Goodrick. The 2011 final was held at the Barbican Theatre, the 2012 final at Stratford Circus and both 2013 and 2014 finals were held at The Bloomsbury Theatre and returning there for the 2015 NATYS Showcase final. The 2016 Showcase Final was held at The Leicester Square Theatre.

Previous winners include Stewart Lee, Ardal O'Hanlon and Linda Smith. Harry Hill, Russell Brand and Simon Amstell were finalists. The final has been compered for many years by alternative comedian Arthur Smith.

In 2004, William Cook of The Guardian wrote that it "may not be the best-known comedy award, but it might well be our most important". [6]

The 2006 final was considered to be "the best since 1994" according to Cook. After the 2011 final, held at the Barbican Centre, Bruce Dessau of the London Evening Standard said the line-up confirmed ‘that there is more to the current comedy boom than Michael McIntyre wannabes exploring their man-drawers’, [7] Arthur Smith said of the night, "I cannot recall another line up with a more eclectic range of styles and delivery".[ This quote needs a citation ].

In 2012, The Stage described it as a "display of endurance, sweat, and probable performance enhancing drugs", and "the most important show of the year for new comedy and variety talent" [8]

The 2022 installment was co produced by Soho Theatre's New comedy Promoter team and took place at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham. It was hosted by Curtis Walker.

Rules and eligibility

Entrants are acts seeking to become established on the live comedy circuit that are not as yet full-time paid professional acts, must have performed for at least one year and have recommendations from two established promoters/agents/venues. Previous finalists do not qualify.

Winners and finalists


2022 - The Bernie Grant Arts Centre (Co-Produced by Soho Theatre) [9]
2020 - The Hackney Empire
2019 - The Hackney Empire [10]
2018 - Rich Mix
2017 - Leicester Square Theatre
2016 - Leicester Square Theatre [11]
2015 - The Bloomsbury Theatre [12]
2014 - The Bloomsbury Theatre [13]
2013 - The Bloomsbury Theatre
2012 - Stratford Circus [8]
2011 - The Barbican
2010 - The Hackney Empire (final show at this venue) [14]
2009 [15]
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994 - The Hackney Empire [16]
1993
1991
1990
1989
1987

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References

  1. "The Stage".
  2. "Review: New Acts of the Year Final, Bloomsbury Theatre". 27 January 2014.
  3. Logan, Brian (27 January 2014). "New Act of the Year Show – review". the Guardian.
  4. Solutions, Powder Blue Internet Business. "Reviews : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  5. 1 2 Goodrick; Tony. "New Variety Lives" . Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  6. William Cook (3 March 2004) "Stand and deliver", The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  7. Bruce Dessau (21 March 2011) "David Mills crowned New Comedy Act of the Year ", Evening Standard. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  8. 1 2 Tony Cooke (1 February 2012) "New Act of the Year Final 2012", The Stage
  9. "Viggo Venn tops the Natys bill : News 2022 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide".
  10. Dessau, Bruce (2 February 2019). "News: New Act of the Year Results". Beyond the Joke.
  11. Bennett, Steve (1 February 2016). "Naty New Act Of The Year final 2016". Chortle . Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  12. Bruce Dessau (26 January 2015) "Review: NATYS, Bloomsbury Theatre", Beyond the Joke
  13. Steve Bennett (27 January 2014) "NATYS 2014 Final", Chortle
  14. Tony Cooke (1 February 2010) "Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Final 2010", The Stage
  15. Tony Cooke (19 January 2009) "Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Grand Final 2009", The Stage
  16. Cook, William (22 Feb 1994). "New Act of the Year". The Guardian . London. p. 31. Retrieved 7 November 2017 via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg