A packed audience at The Exchange in North Shields spent a Sunday afternoon laughing and giggling at some of the region’s finest comedy talent both established and brand new.
For the fifth year running, the team behind Sunday for Sammy hosted a competition to find a talented new comedy sketch writer with the winner receiving the coveted Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais Comedy Award 2019.
The six shortlisted original sketches by Glenda Young, Barbara Hignett, Ian McCormick, Jamie Diffley, John Hickman and Julie Meredith were performed by South Tyneside’s Laffalang Gang to a capacity audience. There were also performances by Steffen Peddie, Cal Halbert, Your Aunt Fanny, Omar Abid and Louise Young. The event was hosted by Sunday for Sammy trustee and one-time previous recipient of a Sammy grant, Jason Cook.
Celebrity judges, actress, presenter, writer, producer Kim Tserkezie, (Balamory) comedy writer Elliott Kerrigan (Boy Meets Girl) and Chairman of the Sunday for Sammy Trust, Tim Healy deliberated over the winning sketch which may be considered for inclusion in a future Sunday for Sammy show. The winner of the competition with his sketch entitled, “Tribulations” was civil servant Ian McCormick from Shiremoor. His winning sketch examined the hero worship of Alan Shearer by a fanatical Newcastle United supporter and the implications for his long-suffering wife. Ian said: “It’s been a fantastic journey from the initial writing to seeing my script performed live on the stage. As comedy writers you can’t get much bigger than Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais and I’m privileged to have my name on their award.”
Chair of the Trustees for Sunday for Sammy, Tim Healy said, “The standard of entries was once again very high. We had more than 30 entries and it was incredibly difficult choosing just six for the finals.
Sunday for Sammy are completely self-funded and its income from show tickets and DVD sales allows the Trust to fund young performers.
Ends
Tickets for the Sunday for Sammy 20th Anniversary Show on 23rd February 2020
are on sale from the Utilita Arena and Theatre Royal.
PHOTO: JudgesElliott Kerrigan, Kim Tserkezie, winner Ian McCormick and Tim Healy.
Photo Michael Bailey – more available on request
www.sundayforsammy.org www.mawson-wareham.co.uk
For further info contact Ray Laidlaw on 07710 596 749 – ray@lindisfarne.co.uk
PR by Highlights PR Contact Keith Newman 07814 397951