The people have spoken and the people have been heard.
They have spoken via Twitter and they have been heard via Edtwinge.
According to the tweeting punters at this year’s Fringe, Cariad Lloyd is the top comedy act of 2011.
She finished her Fringe run with a Karma score of 95 and was a very popular winner with the audience at the recording of the final Gilded Balloon Podcast, where she was presented with her award by honorary Twinger Richard Melvin, the podcast producer and MC.
Although tired out by a Fringe run that included not only her own show, but also performances in the sketch show Men Of War, she was flattered to receive the award despite being initially taken aback by its “bold”, clenched fist design. Indeed, upon first site of the fist she said…
“If you imagine how an 18 year old closet homosexual art student would make something for their end piece, that’s what’s happening right now.”
Later in the day she had composed herself sufficiently to issue the following, 140 character acceptance speech.
We at EdTwinge are delighted that Cariad won our inaugural award.
Her show was part of the PBH Free Fringe. And, as such, her victory is also a victory for the true spirit of the Fringe.
And our award is not just the clenched fist of triumph, but also the clenched fist of unofficial, unfettered, experimental, up-and-coming solidarity.
(The humorous potential of the Foster’s / Fisters wordplay is, of course, entirely coincidental.)
The appropriateness of Cariad’s award was not lost on fellow podcast guest Hardeep Singh Kohli.
“I’m part of the organised Fringe but I’m questioning the whole nature of the Fringe…. It’s a massive, massive deal for Cariad to win that, not just for herself but for the spirit of the Fringe… We shouldn’t be paying 15 quid a ticket and queuing up outside buildings to see comedy. There’s too much comedy. The Fringe ought to be as much about theatre and experiment, and the fact that you’ve got to lose money to come here means that people with great ideas… Arthur Smith would not come to the Edinburgh Fringe if he was a young man. He couldn’t afford to. Billy Connolly would not come to the Edinburgh Fringe cos he couldn’t afford to. Ask yourself those questions. It’s amazing who doesn’t come here. And I think it’s time we started claiming our festival back. And Cariad, the fight back starts here!”
Hardeep Singh Kohli chats about the Fisters Comedy Awards with EdTwinge by Live at Gilded Balloon
Amen.
Hardeep getting it said.
