Birds shortlisted for BBC Radio New Comedy Award

Hot on the heels of the sketch group's successful shows at Brighton Fringe Festival and Prague Fringe Festival this May, we're delighted to announce that Birds have been shortlisted for the prestigious BBC New Comedy Award.

From a pool of more than 600 UK-wide entries, Birds were selected to take part in the heats of the competition.

Birds performing live at the Prague Fringe Festival.

The event takes place at London's Up the Creek comedy club on 26th June 2018, with each act performing a five minute set. The winners of each individual heat will then progress through to the semi-finals, which will take place in Edinburgh during the festival in August. Highlights from all of the heats will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

The BBC New Comedy Award was first held in 1995, and previous winners and finalists include stand-ups Peter Kay, Josie Long, Lee Mack, Nina Conti, Rhod Gilbert and Lost Voice Guy. The award is also open to sketch and music acts, though until now it has only been won by stand-ups. Let's see if 2018 will be the year of the sketch...

Birds is in the Leicester Square Theatre Sketch Off final

We are delighted to reveal that our brilliant comedy sketch group Birds has been selected as a finalist at the 2018 Leicester Square Theatre Sketch Off contest.

Around 90 sketch acts from London and all across the UK entered the heats of the prestigious sketch comedy competition, which took place at the Museum of Comedy over several nights throughout February.

Birds, which is performed by Amy Spinks and Leila Nashef and written and directed by Will Noble and Joe Reaney, advanced from their heat to one of four semi-finals, also at the Museum of Comedy. Then, last night, they progressed again to reach the grand final, to be held at the Leicester Square Theatre on Sunday 25th March.

There will be 10 superb sketch acts competing in the iconic 400-seat auditorium, with a cash prize and showcase up for grabs, so why not pop along? Tickets are available for £15.50 from the Leicester Square Theatre website.

Find out more about the event on the Sketch Off Facebook page, then book your tickets through the LST box office. And you can keep up to date with all things Birds on our own Facebook page.

Birds to perform Downstairs at the King's Head this November

Image courtesy of Dan Tambling Comedy

Following our storming (citation needed) debut shows at Diminishing Returns, Comedy Virgins and Party Piece in September, Birds is back. Are back? Is back.

We've got brand spanking new comedy sketches, and we'll be premiering them at the absolutely legendary London comedy venue Downstairs at the King's Head.

On Thursday 9th November, you can see a new five-minute Birds set at the venue's famous Try Out Night, launchpad of some of the UK's biggest comedy stars.

Doors open at 8pm and tickets - on the door - cost just £4. That's less than the price of a beer. Bloody London.

The Try Out Night has been a fixture on the UK circuit since 1986. There will 16 comedy acts on the bill - a mix of new acts and old hands, sketch and stand up - with each doing five minutes. All MCed by comedian Matt Green.

So come along. It'll be a laugh - promise. Oh, and it's usually a sell out, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

P.S. Can't make it on 9th November? Don't worry. You can also catch Birds at Party Piece on 21st November.

Find out more about the Try Out Night on Thursday 9th November here.