We are so proud of the 2023 91热爆 Comedy Collective cohort and what they have achieved with us this year. We look forward to building on the success of our first year of the Comedy Collective, this year with the addition of editors, who play such an integral role in comedy. 91热爆 Comedy are committed to creating pathways into these creative roles and creating opportunities for the next generation of off-screen talent.
The 91热爆 Comedy Collective is a supercharged bursary scheme offering 10 places to up-and-coming writers, producers, directors and editors who鈥檇 like to develop their careers in scripted comedy.
The scheme is open to anyone who has had at least one previous credit in writing, producing, directing or editing in any genre, across any platform - such as radio, theatre, podcasts, stand up or commercials. Our aim is to develop the best up-and-coming talent into the comedy space, so applicants will also need to demonstrate a clear commitment to comedy.
Each bursary winner will receive up to 拢10k worth of paid shadowing on a 91热爆 Comedy production, along with an allocated production mentor, plus a 拢5k development grant to put towards new material or to further support the individuals development. They will also have a dedicated point of contact within the 91热爆 Comedy Commissioning team to help guide them through their year, as well as access to the Comedy Collective representatives.
In addition, the bursary winners will have their expenses covered to attend up to three 91热爆 Comedy events over their year on the scheme. Events last year included the 91热爆 Comedy Festival in Cardiff, a round table with Jesse Armstrong in London and the Belfast Media Festival.
Within the 10 places at least one will be guaranteed for an individual based in Scotland, one in Northern Ireland and two from Wales, the additional place supporting Cardiff, our 2023 91热爆 Comedy Festival city. We actively encourage individuals from diverse and underrepresented groups to apply and welcome applications from deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent talent to increase disabled off-screen representation in comedy.
The Comedy Collective Bursary combines the leadership and expertise of representatives from our previous bursary schemes 鈥� Felix Dexter, Caroline Aherne and Galton and Simpson - alongside Ash Atalla and Christine Gernon. This year they will also be joined by new addition Gareth Heal who will be our ambassador for editors. Bursary winners will therefore benefit from the support and guidance of Ash, Christine, Gareth, Geoff Schuman, Paul Whitehouse, Lucy Ansbro, Tessa La Bars and the Galton Family and the alumni of our previous schemes who together form the 91热爆 Comedy Collective. Find out more about those in the 91热爆 Comedy Collective.
To support the 91热爆 Comedy Collective, 91热爆 Comedy will work in close association with 91热爆 Northern Ireland, 91热爆 Scotland and 91热爆 Wales, with the support of 91热爆 Writers, 91热爆 Academy, 91热爆 Elevate, 91热爆 History and a range of screen agencies including BAFTA, North East Screen, Creative Wales and Screen Scotland.
We are looking forward to welcoming the next generation of up-and-coming comedy talent from across the UK into the 91热爆 Comedy Collective Class of 鈥�24. Previous 91热爆 Comedy bursary winners have gone on to win script commissions, get agents, produce radio shows and make BAFTA award-winning TV series.
Criteria for entry
The bursaries are open to anyone over 18 who is based in the UK and looking to further their career in writing, producing, directing or editing for scripted comedy.
Writers and directors can submit individually or as part of a duo (maximum of two people). Producers and editors can only submit individually.
Only one entry is permitted per person, and individuals can only enter within one chosen field.
Applicants must have one previous credit in their chosen field. This can be across any genre, not just comedy, and any platform. They don鈥檛 have to be TV credits, although these are welcomed. For example, you could have written, produced, edited or directed theatre, radio, or podcasts, directed music videos, produced comedy nights, written for commercials. Applicants don鈥檛 have to have representation, but this is also welcomed.
Selected individuals must be available to attend the 91热爆 Comedy Festival in Glasgow in May.
We encourage applications from underrepresented groups, and are actively targeting people from all corners of the UK.
Applicants who have applied previously are strongly encouraged to reapply. We welcome the submission of the same materials previously presented and extend this invitation to include materials submitted for other 91热爆 schemes.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate a commitment to their chosen field and a commitment to comedy.
Terms and conditions and privacy notice
Please read our terms and conditions and privacy notice in full before applying.
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Privacy notice pdf
How to apply
Submissions for the current year closed on Wednesday 31 January 2024 at midnight.
Please note, the application system will time users out after one hour of logging in and incomplete submissions will not be saved. It is therefore highly recommended that answers to application questions are prepared and saved outside of the system in advance, and the information copied and pasted into the system when applying.
Users who have entered any previous opportunities via the 91热爆 Writers submissions system can use their existing login details. Otherwise they will need to create an account as part of the submission process. Please note that this is a separate account from 91热爆 ID (used for 91热爆 iPlayer etc).