NATYS: New Acts of the Year Show

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] when it went on the road, playing the Barbican Theatre, Stratford Circus, Bloomsbury Theatre [5] and Leicester Square Theatre.

NATYS: New Acts of the Year Showcase
Awarded forAnnual industry showcase for emerging Comedy and Variety acts
CountryEngland, United Kingdom
Presented byNew Variety Lives
First awarded1982
Websitewww.newvarietylives.com

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"..

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]

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
2020 - The Hackney Empire
  • Ali Woods - Top of the Bill
  • Adam Coumas - Runner Up
  • Blake AJ - Runner Up
  • Sheba Montserrat - Runner Up
  • Angelica
  • Charlie Partridge
  • Iona Fortune
  • Jerry Bakewell
  • Katherine Kenway
  • Rob Copland
  • Sue Gives a F**k
  • Trevor Bickles
2019 - The Hackney Empire [9]
  • Njambi McGrath - Top of The Bill
  • Eamon Goodfellow - Second Place
  • Mad Ron (Steve Lee) - Third place
  • Nicole Harris
  • JennyBSide
  • Chris Allen
  • Nicholas De Santo
  • Audrey Heartburn (Tracey Collins)
  • Trev Tokabi
  • Kuan-Wen
  • Matt Hutchinson
  • El Baldiniho
  • Josh Jones
  • Patrick Healy
  • Susan Steed
2018 - Rich Mix
  • Ada Campe (Naomi Paxton)- Top of The Bill
  • Maggie Kowalski - Second Place
  • Huge Davies - Joint third place
  • Bunny Hopkyns -(Bruce Williams) Joint third place
  • Mary O'Connell
  • Paul Cox
  • Ellis & Rose
  • Jake Howie
  • Kevin O'Connell
  • Amy Hooplovin
  • Steven Whiteley as Wisebowm
  • Dannie Grufferty
  • Will Mars
  • John Meagher
  • Jon Udry
2017 - Leicester Square Theatre
  • Rahul Kohli- Top of The Bill
  • Roland SaundersTV-TV - Second Place
  • Sindhu Vee - Joint third place
  • Phil Lucas - Joint third place
  • Arielle Souma
  • Claire Lenahan
  • EiLeAnn Harris
  • Enda Muldoon
  • Joshua Robertson (Yeah Man)
  • Lauren Pattison
  • Michael Clarke
  • Rasputin's Lunchbox
  • The Establishment (Dan Lees & Neil Frost)
  • The Monks (Yazz Fetto & Kevin Moore)
2016 - Leicester Square Theatre[10]
  • Bilal Zafar - Top of the Bill
  • Jimmy Bird - second place
  • Emma Sidi - joint third place
  • Josh Pugh - joint third place
  • Revan and Fennel - Fourth place
  • Thomas Rackham
  • President Obonjo
  • Joseph (Mr Spooky) Murphy
  • Luca Cupani
  • Svetlana the Oligarch's Wife
  • Patrick Brusnahan
  • Bucket
  • Dave Green
2015 - The Bloomsbury Theatre [11]
  • Daniel Duffy (Michael Stranney) - Top of the Bill
  • Jenny Collier - joint second place
  • The Herbert (Spencer Jones) - joint second place
  • Francis Foster - third place
    • Ashley Haden
    • Cheekykita
    • Chris Betts
    • Don Biswas
    • The Jest
    • Joe Sutherland
    • Josh R. Cherry
    • Mikey Bharj
    • Nick Elleray
    • Rachel Fairburn
    • Sean Patrick
2014 - The Bloomsbury Theatre [12]
  • Alasdair Beckett-King - Top of the Bill
  • Garrett Millerick - second place
  • Twayna Mayne - joint third place
  • Kelly Kingham - joint third place
    • Archie Maddocks
    • Candy Gigi Marham
    • Jo Coffey
    • Nick Hodder
    • Pete Dobbing
    • Thomas Ward
    • Thünderbards
    • Tina T'urner Tea Lady (Tracey Collins)
    • Vinegar
    • Wilson
2013 - The Bloomsbury Theatre
  • Paul F Taylor - Top of the Bill
  • Sam Savage - runner up
  • Darren Walsh - runner up
2012 - Stratford Circus [8]
  • Patrick Cahill - winner
  • Mark Stephenson - second place
  • Adams and Rea - third place
    • Bobby Mair
    • Mark Simmons
    • Electro Future Beard Club
    • Luke Meredith
    • Under Dogs
    • Mae Martin
    • Russella
    • Tony Cowards
    • George Rowe
    • Stuart Mitchell
    • Myra Dubois
2011 - The Barbican
  • David Mills - winner
  • Prince Abdi - joint second place
  • Julian Deane - joint second place
  • Darius Davies - third place
  • Jav Jarquin - fourth place
    • Nat Tapley
    • Steve Aruni & Henry The Hoover
    • Asian Provocateurs
    • Joe Wells
    • Rachel Parris
    • David Trent
    • Tania Edwards
    • McNeil & Pamphilon
    • How do I get up there?
2010 - The Hackney Empire (final show at this venue)[13]
  • Abandoman - winner
  • Inel Tomlinson - second place
  • Frisky & Mannish - third place
  • Andrew Ryan - fourth place
    • Luke Benson
    • Jo Selby as Tatiana Ostrakova
    • Luke Graves
    • Giacinto Palmieri
    • Val Lee
    • Nathaniel Metcalfe
    • Alan Hudson
    • Dave Gibson
    • Alyssa Kyria as Ariadne the Greek WAG
    • Richard Rycroft
    • Sir Harold Hackney, Alternative Mayor of London
2009[14]
  • Fergus Craig - winner
  • Seann Walsh - second place
  • David James - third place
    • Ross Ashcroft
    • Ro Campbell
    • Gary Colman
    • Jon Kudlick
    • Lady Garden
    • Grainne Maguire
    • Moonfish Rhumba
    • Craig Murray
    • Colin Owens
    • Jim Park
    • Jason Patterson
    • Piff the Magic Dragon
    • Ahir Shah
2008
2007
  • Luke Toulson - winner
  • Liz Carr - second place
  • Gareth Richards - third place
    • Crispin Flintoff - runner-up
    • Christian Lee - runner-up
    • Isma Almas
    • Evie Anderson
    • Tamika Campbell
    • Matt Grantham
    • Dan Hoy
    • Joe Kay
    • Teak Show
    • Holly Walsh
    • David Whitney
    • Maureen Younger
2006
2005
2004
  • Peter Aterman – winner
  • Kerry Godliman - second
  • Ava Vidal – third equal
    • Jaik Campbell – finalist
    • Roisin Conaty – finalist
    • Nelson David – finalist
    • James Goldbury – finalist
    • Pablo – finalist
    • Del Strain – finalist
    • Reverend Dick Tate – finalist
    • Vinell, Camel, Kiernan – finalist
2003
2002
  • Graham Anthony – winner
  • Nina Conti – second
    • Steve Day – finalist
    • Henrik Elmer - finalist
    • Vicky Frango – finalist
    • Patrick Monahan – finalist
    • Dave Palmer aka Dave Dynamite – finalist
    • Verity Welch - finalist
    • Graeme Casey - finalist
2001
2000
1999
  • Anton - winner
  • Daniel Kitson - runner-up
  • Paul Sinha – third
    • Mary Bourke – finalist
    • Shirley Goorwich - finalist
    • Sally Smith - finalist
1998
1997
1996
  • Noel Britten – winner
  • Kevin Precious - finalist
  • Noel Kelly - finalist
  • Jimbo - finalist
1995
1994 - The Hackney Empire[15]
1993
1991
  • Paul Tonkinson - winner
    • Nick Wilty - finalist
    • Neville Raven - finalist
    • Martin Davies - finalist
1990
1989
  • Keith Dover – winner
    • Niall MacAnna - second
1987

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.
  5. 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. Tony Cooke (1 February 2012) "New Act of the Year Final 2012", The Stage
  9. Dessau, Bruce. "News: New Act of the Year Results". Beyond the Joke.
  10. Bennett, Steve (1 February 2016). "Naty New Act Of The Year final 2016". Chortle. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  11. Bruce Dessau (26 January 2015) "Review: NATYS, Bloomsbury Theatre", Beyond the Joke
  12. Steve Bennett (27 January 2014) "NATYS 2014 Final", Chortle
  13. Tony Cooke (1 February 2010) "Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Final 2010", The Stage
  14. Tony Cooke (19 January 2009) "Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Grand Final 2009", The Stage
  15. Cook, William (22 Feb 1994). "New Act of the Year". The Guardian. London. p. 31. Retrieved 7 November 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
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