And if you fancy yourself as a sitcom writer of the future, this year The Sitcom Trials runs So You Think You Write Funny, a competition culminating in a final at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's free to enter, details are here.
Saturday, 23 February 2013
Sitcom Trials Bristol video
Here is a video taster of the Sitcom Trials from Bristol Feb 22 2013 (read the full report here)
And if you fancy yourself as a sitcom writer of the future, this year The Sitcom Trials runs So You Think You Write Funny, a competition culminating in a final at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's free to enter, details are here.
And if you fancy yourself as a sitcom writer of the future, this year The Sitcom Trials runs So You Think You Write Funny, a competition culminating in a final at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's free to enter, details are here.
Sitcom Trials Bristol Feb 22 - report & pix
The first Sitcom Trials of 2013 took place at The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol in front of a packed audience, showcasing five sitcoms, all chosen from online entries, with the audience voting for their favourite.
Bristol Sitcom Trials cast Feb 2013 (l-r): Louisa Smith (actor/director), Gary Colman, Anna Gallagher, Laura Ollerton, Naomi Carter, Danna McAleer, John Lomas, Lewis Cook.
The five sitcoms in contention were:
Unimpoverished Youth by Oliver Ley
Theatre by Andrew Tate
Face-Time by Brian Teles
Cliff and Elaine Fall Out by Aaron Caris
Midnight Music by Neil Tollfree
And the voting was very close with just one vote separating the top three, as chosen by the audience. The results were:
In third place Unimpoverished Youth
Runner-up Cliff and Elaine Fall Out
and the winner was...
Face-Time by Brian Teles.
A splendid show all round, with a marvellous audience whose laughter should hopefully come across well in the video that will be appearing later, and the highest quality of scripts and performance. It is worth noting that the winning sitcom, Brian Teles Face-Time, had been the most popular online entry for last Autumn's Sci Fi Sitcom Trials then failed to make the cut when it was given table-readings in both Bristol and London. Following a rewrite it has triumphed on the night, so extra congratulations for a very successful bit of development by producer Vince Stadon and his team.
The winning Pitch Fest entry (the audience's suggestions for sitcoms) was The Narcoleptic Family Robinson, written by author of tonight's runner-up sitcom Aaron Caris, who had travelled down from Manchester for the show (btw the Manchester Sitcom Trials return later this year).
Thanks to everyone who came to the show, and to producer Vince Stadon and director Louisa Smith for their outstanding work, and for letting me (Kev F, the show's creator) host the show. The video should be appearing soon, stay tuned.
This year The Sitcom Trials runs So You Think You Write Funny, a competition culminating in a final at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's free to enter, details are here.
Bristol Sitcom Trials cast Feb 2013 (l-r): Louisa Smith (actor/director), Gary Colman, Anna Gallagher, Laura Ollerton, Naomi Carter, Danna McAleer, John Lomas, Lewis Cook.
The five sitcoms in contention were:
Unimpoverished Youth by Oliver Ley
Theatre by Andrew Tate
Face-Time by Brian Teles
Cliff and Elaine Fall Out by Aaron Caris
Midnight Music by Neil Tollfree
And the voting was very close with just one vote separating the top three, as chosen by the audience. The results were:
In third place Unimpoverished Youth
Runner-up Cliff and Elaine Fall Out
and the winner was...
Face-Time by Brian Teles.
A splendid show all round, with a marvellous audience whose laughter should hopefully come across well in the video that will be appearing later, and the highest quality of scripts and performance. It is worth noting that the winning sitcom, Brian Teles Face-Time, had been the most popular online entry for last Autumn's Sci Fi Sitcom Trials then failed to make the cut when it was given table-readings in both Bristol and London. Following a rewrite it has triumphed on the night, so extra congratulations for a very successful bit of development by producer Vince Stadon and his team.
The winning Pitch Fest entry (the audience's suggestions for sitcoms) was The Narcoleptic Family Robinson, written by author of tonight's runner-up sitcom Aaron Caris, who had travelled down from Manchester for the show (btw the Manchester Sitcom Trials return later this year).
Thanks to everyone who came to the show, and to producer Vince Stadon and director Louisa Smith for their outstanding work, and for letting me (Kev F, the show's creator) host the show. The video should be appearing soon, stay tuned.
This year The Sitcom Trials runs So You Think You Write Funny, a competition culminating in a final at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's free to enter, details are here.
Friday, 22 February 2013
Sitcom Trials unbroadcast pilot - Do You Think They'll Cotton On?
The Sitcom Trials' ITV 1 series began this very week in 2003, yes ten years ago on 21st Feb 2003. To commemorate it here is one of the seven-minute-sitcoms from that first episode, in the version from the unbroadcast pilot recorded a week earlier. Do You Think They'll Cotton On was written by Bryan Meenagh and stars Gerard Foster and Wanda Opalinska. Enjoy.
The ITV1 series ran for 8 weeks, showcasing 16 brand new mini sitcoms, head to head, with the viewers at home voting for their favourite.
The Comedy Store Players episode
Jimmy James episode
Perfect 10 vs Football episode
What An Anchor vs Producer's Tale episode
Go Wild in The Country vs The Client episode
This year The Sitcom Trials runs So You Think You Write Funny, a competition culminating in a final at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's free to enter, details are here.
The ITV1 series ran for 8 weeks, showcasing 16 brand new mini sitcoms, head to head, with the viewers at home voting for their favourite.
The Comedy Store Players episode
Jimmy James episode
Perfect 10 vs Football episode
What An Anchor vs Producer's Tale episode
Go Wild in The Country vs The Client episode
This year The Sitcom Trials runs So You Think You Write Funny, a competition culminating in a final at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's free to enter, details are here.
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Bristol Sitcom Trials Friday Feb 22 - 10th Anniversary Show
There's a Sitcom Trials taking place at The Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol this Friday Feb 22nd and I've just realised, spookily and completely coincidentally, it is taking place on the 10th anniversary exactly of the live broadcast of episode 1 of The Sitcom Trials' ITV1 series.
Here we see Wanda Opalinska and Gerard Foster in the first episode's sitcom Do You Think They'll Cotton On? by Brian Meenagh, which has yet to find its way onto YouTube. Stay tuned. The ITV series ran for 8 weeks, every Friday night at around 11.30pm (times varied as a result of our clashing with the 2nd Gulf War) with two sitcoms going head to head, the audience voting by phone and text, and the ending of the winning sitcom being performed. All live. See a selection of episodes in the Sitcom Trials video archive.
Friday night's Sitcom Trials is produced by Vince Stadon, directed by Louisa Smith and hosted by Kev F, and takes place at The Wardrobe Theatre, above The White Bear, 133 St Michael's Hill, BS2 8BS Bristol, doors opening 7.30pm. Five sitcoms compete head to head, who wins, you decide. Reserve tickets here.
PS: It has just been pointed out to me that the first episode of the TV series actually went out on Friday Feb 21st 2003, which makes this week's show less spookily coincidental. Don't tell anyone. Here's my report written at the time.
Here we see Wanda Opalinska and Gerard Foster in the first episode's sitcom Do You Think They'll Cotton On? by Brian Meenagh, which has yet to find its way onto YouTube. Stay tuned. The ITV series ran for 8 weeks, every Friday night at around 11.30pm (times varied as a result of our clashing with the 2nd Gulf War) with two sitcoms going head to head, the audience voting by phone and text, and the ending of the winning sitcom being performed. All live. See a selection of episodes in the Sitcom Trials video archive.
Friday night's Sitcom Trials is produced by Vince Stadon, directed by Louisa Smith and hosted by Kev F, and takes place at The Wardrobe Theatre, above The White Bear, 133 St Michael's Hill, BS2 8BS Bristol, doors opening 7.30pm. Five sitcoms compete head to head, who wins, you decide. Reserve tickets here.
PS: It has just been pointed out to me that the first episode of the TV series actually went out on Friday Feb 21st 2003, which makes this week's show less spookily coincidental. Don't tell anyone. Here's my report written at the time.
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
The Sitcom Trials – So You Think You Write Funny 2013
Announcing The Sitcom Trials – So You Think You Write
Funny 2013
The Sitcom Trials
returns in force in 2013, with the ultimate competition to find the best new
situation comedy talent in Britain. And this year we have joined forces with The Gilded Balloon, producers of
the UK’s longest running comedy new talent competition – So You Think
You’re Funny.
UPDATE: The deadline for script entries has passed (March 31 2013), so stay tuned here and to Twitter and Facebook for the next opportunity.
UPDATE: The deadline for script entries has passed (March 31 2013), so stay tuned here and to Twitter and Facebook for the next opportunity.
Since it began in 1988, So You Think You’re Funny? has
kick-started the careers of dozens of the country’s top stand-up comedians
including Peter Kay, Dylan Moran, Lee Mack, Tommy Tiernan, Sarah Millican, Rhod
Gilbert to name a few, with heats held across the country and a grand final at
the Edinburgh Fringe. Now the Sitcom Trials are offering that same opportunity
to sitcom creators.
The Sitcom Trials has been running since 1999, showcasing
brand new sitcoms in a competition format. Its first Edinburgh Fringe show in
2001 at the Gilded Balloon starred Miranda Hart in a self-penned sitcom set in
a joke shop, with a little blonde-haired sidekick and a fanciable chap in the
café next door (sound familiar). The following year’s show starred future
Perrier-winner Laura Solon. If you think you could follow in those illustrious
footsteps, now is your chance.
The Sitcom Trials – So You Think You Write Funny is open to
writers and writer-performers whose comedy writing has never before been
broadcast on national TV or radio.
You are invited to submit a 10-minute sitcom script (to
guidelines, below). The entries
will be selected by our panel of script reading judges, and the lucky shortlist
will be showcased on stage, by our teams of professional actors, and voted for
by the audience and a panel of judges from the comedy industry. The 5 scripts
that prove most popular in the heats will be performed in the grand final at
the Edinburgh Fringe where one sitcom will win their own show at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh and a development
deal with Gilded Balloon Productions.
If you are a writer-performer, whether an actor, a comedian,
or a sketch-team, and you wish to perform the competing sitcom yourself, then
that is fine. You’re asked to submit a YouTube demo of your performers along
with your script entry, it’s as easy as that.
Oh, and did we mention The Sitcom Trials - So You Think You Write Funny is
completely free to enter?
The deadline for script & video submissions is midnight
March 31st 2013 and all details can be found at the website
sitcomtrials.co.uk
The Sitcom Trials 2013 Script Guidelines:
Sitcom Trials scripts need to be written for a maximum of 4
actors, with no more than 3 of the same sex. This can be varied only if you are
performing your own script & can supply the entire cast.
The format needs to be a script of approx 10 minutes
duration ending in a “cliff-hanger” moment (e.g. the ad-break moment, leaving
the audience wanting more). The script then needs a denouement scene of no more
than 3 minutes max. What will happen is the audience with see the first “half”
of all the sitcoms in contention, then only see the ending of the winner (of
the audience vote on the night). That way the audience never get bored by
anything they don’t like, and they’re never more than 10 minutes away from
something they might prefer.
Scripts can be laid out as TV, radio, stage or movie
scripts, whichever the author prefers.
They can be sent as word document or pdf document. Please
avoid other formats if at all possible.
Top tip: These scripts are to be performed on a minimal
theatre stage, with few if any props, so it is best not to enter scripts that
rely heavily on visuals, or on a filmic treatment. Scripts written with radio
production in mind would work best in this limited stage environment. For
examples of how previous Sitcom Trials performances have worked, see the many
video clips at sitcomtrials.co.uk
Submission:
Scripts can be laid out as TV, radio, stage or movie
scripts, whichever the author prefers.
They can be sent as word document or pdf document to
scripts@sitcomtrials.co.uk
Include your name, mailing address, contact email, and which
location you could best attend if your script is shortlisted for performance:
Manchester, Bristol or London.
If you intend performing your own script, include a link to
a YouTube (or other online) clip that shows the performers in question. If they
are performing the script that’s entered, that may be more helpful (but not
essential).
The deadline for script & video submissions is midnight March 31st 2013. Any questions, ask at the Forum.
Kev F Sutherland
Producer
The Sitcom Trials
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Time to Vote, everyone welcome
SITCOM TRIALS
BRISTOL FEB 22 2013
- TIME TO VOTE (Everyone welcome)
Right everyone. There are 38 scripts at the Sitcom Trials egroup which are in contention for the Bristol show at the Wardrobe Theatre on Friday Feb 22nd (tickets on sale now).
You can find them all here:
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/SitsVac/files/Bristol%202013/
I'd like you all to read, review and vote on them now. You post your votes here in this forum, or over in the other forum, choice is yours.
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/SitsVac/
http://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/26384/
Vote YES, MAYBE or NO to every script you read, and give a brief review of each to prove you've read it, and to provide valuable feedback. Please be honest yet tactful ("Didn't find the characters interesting, and the gags fell flat" is preferable to "This was shit and made my eyes bleed"). It would be very helpful if you could list your reviews in alphabetical order, and post them all together.
The deadline for posting your votes is midnight Sat Feb 2nd
Don't worry if you don't get to read them all, but it would be splendid if you possibly can.
Your votes are counted Yes=2, MAYBE=1, NO= minus 1. So anything you don't vote on doesn't affect the figures.
The top ten scoring scripts will be read by the team and AT LEAST THREE will be performed at the Wardrobe Theatre on Friday 22nd Feb (unless deemed unstageable - we're unlikey to have the resources to properly do justice to a sitcom set directly after the Tet Offensive and featuring a flotilla of helicopter gunships dropping napalm on villages... with hilarious consequences).
The scripts are (in alphabetical order):
A Cult Show
All the Fun of the Fair
ARE WE NOT MEN?
Cliff & Elaine Fall Out.
Donnie's Appraisal
Expecting_the_Worst
FLETCHERMALLARD.
FOURPLY (You Killed My Cat) - Don't Get Up
Giraffe
HILLY ETCETERA.
I See a Penguin
In with the new.
JUDGEMENT DAY
King Chicken and the Ning Nings
MAC BREATH
MaryGodmother
Midnight music
Nice
No-Hopers
Not Book Smart - The Date
Out of Ideas
POSTDOCS_BIOHAZARD
Poundland
Second Coming of Christ
Sodding House
Spies Like Us
Stranded
Symposium
The Boomerangers
The Dating coach
The Incompetent Hustle
The Luke Mcardle Sex Chronicles
The Regulars
THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE.
The Ward
Theatre
Toyz 4Boyz
Umbrellas of London
Best of luck to everyone who's entered, and have fun reviewing and voting!
BRISTOL FEB 22 2013
- TIME TO VOTE (Everyone welcome)
Right everyone. There are 38 scripts at the Sitcom Trials egroup which are in contention for the Bristol show at the Wardrobe Theatre on Friday Feb 22nd (tickets on sale now).
You can find them all here:
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/SitsVac/files/Bristol%202013/
I'd like you all to read, review and vote on them now. You post your votes here in this forum, or over in the other forum, choice is yours.
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/SitsVac/
http://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/26384/
Vote YES, MAYBE or NO to every script you read, and give a brief review of each to prove you've read it, and to provide valuable feedback. Please be honest yet tactful ("Didn't find the characters interesting, and the gags fell flat" is preferable to "This was shit and made my eyes bleed"). It would be very helpful if you could list your reviews in alphabetical order, and post them all together.
The deadline for posting your votes is midnight Sat Feb 2nd
Don't worry if you don't get to read them all, but it would be splendid if you possibly can.
Your votes are counted Yes=2, MAYBE=1, NO= minus 1. So anything you don't vote on doesn't affect the figures.
The top ten scoring scripts will be read by the team and AT LEAST THREE will be performed at the Wardrobe Theatre on Friday 22nd Feb (unless deemed unstageable - we're unlikey to have the resources to properly do justice to a sitcom set directly after the Tet Offensive and featuring a flotilla of helicopter gunships dropping napalm on villages... with hilarious consequences).
The scripts are (in alphabetical order):
A Cult Show
All the Fun of the Fair
ARE WE NOT MEN?
Cliff & Elaine Fall Out.
Donnie's Appraisal
Expecting_the_Worst
FLETCHERMALLARD.
FOURPLY (You Killed My Cat) - Don't Get Up
Giraffe
HILLY ETCETERA.
I See a Penguin
In with the new.
JUDGEMENT DAY
King Chicken and the Ning Nings
MAC BREATH
MaryGodmother
Midnight music
Nice
No-Hopers
Not Book Smart - The Date
Out of Ideas
POSTDOCS_BIOHAZARD
Poundland
Second Coming of Christ
Sodding House
Spies Like Us
Stranded
Symposium
The Boomerangers
The Dating coach
The Incompetent Hustle
The Luke Mcardle Sex Chronicles
The Regulars
THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE.
The Ward
Theatre
Toyz 4Boyz
Umbrellas of London
Best of luck to everyone who's entered, and have fun reviewing and voting!
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Announcing The 1st Sitcom Trials of 2013 - Feb 22 Bristol
The inaugural Sitcom Trials of 2013 takes place at The Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol on Feb 22nd and your script entries are welcomed. Enter scripts by Jan 26th (details below) and you could be one of the lucky authors whose work gets performed live on stage.
Happy scribbling
Kev F Sutherland
Executive Producer
The Sitcom Trials
The Wardrobe Theatre
(above the White Bear pub),
133 St Michael's Hill,
High Kingsdown,
Bristol,
BS2 8BS
Tickets: £3
To enter, simply read producer Vince Stadon's guidelines, here, then enter your script into the Sits Vac files here. Then stay tuned to our forums or Facebook page and you'll be invited to join in with the script selection and come to the show.
Happy scribbling
Kev F Sutherland
Executive Producer
The Sitcom Trials
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