The Hackney Empire New Act of the Year was a long-running annual competition that ran at the Hackney Empire theatre in London in order to encourage, discover and promote new stand-up comedy and New Variety talent. It has now left the environs of the Hackney Empire and continues at various venues throughout London, and will be at the Shaw Theatre [[1]] January 21 2012
There is also a show called Best of New Act of The Year held later in the year, featuring the best acts from the final.
History
Roland and Claire Muldoon, of underground revolutionary 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. In 1986 they took over the Hackney Empire and ran the NATY from 1987 (Linda Smith winning that year's award). It is currently produced by their new organisation, New Variety Lives [2], the 2011 final was held at the Barbican Theatre and will be presented at The Shaw Theatre [[[3]]] in January 2012.
Previous winners include Stewart Lee, Ardal O'Hanlon and Linda Smith. Eddie Izzard only came third. Harry Hill is often quoted as a winner, but in fact was only a finalist. The final has been compered for many years by Arthur Smith. The 2006 final was considered to be "the best since 1994" according to William Cook of The Guardian and after the 2011 final, Bruce Dessau of the 'London Evening Standard'''' wrote ‘…..confirming that there is more to the current comedy boom than Michael McIntyre wannabes exploring their man-drawers’
Rules and eligibility
Entrants must have performed for two years and have recommendations from two established promoters/agents/venues.
Winners & finalists
2011
- David Mills - winner
- Prince Abdi + 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
- 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
- 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
- Steve Weiner - winner
- Pippa Evans as Loretta Maine - second place
- Andi Osho - third place
- Rachel Boxall
- Dylan Bray
- Pat Burtscher
- Brothers Gribble
- The Heresy Project
- Gerry Howell
- Emannual Kenallos as Manos the Greek
- Frank Sanazi
- Kate Smurthwaite
- Christian Steel
- Vikki Stone
- Jack Whitehall
- Imran Yusuf
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
- Joe Wilkinson - winner
- Diane Morgan - second place
- Stuart Goldsmith - third place
- Paul H Allen
- Matt Devereux
- Duncan Edwards
- Michael Fabbri
- Helen Keen
- Sarah-Louise Young
- Martine Pepper
- Ray Presto
- Stanley Silver
- Al Stick
- Tomi Walamies
- Robert White
2005
- Henning Wehn - winner
- Matt Green - second place
- Papa CJ - third place
- Gareth Berliner
- Simon Brodkin as Lee Nelson
- Stephen Carlin
- Janice Phayre
- Griff Griffiths
- Simon Green & James Connelly
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
- Matt Kirshen – winner
- Rhod Gilbert – second
- Simon Amstell – finalist
- Del Strain – finalist
- Ross Wagman - finalist
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
- Men in Coats – winner
- Rob Deering – second
- Les Hommes Sans Noms (Andy Sinclair and Jim Woodcock- finalist
- James Holmes – finalist
- Inder Manocha - finalist
- Adrian Poynton - finalist
2000
- Paul Hickman – winner
- Mark Felgate – second
- Russell Brand – finalist
- Francesca Martinez – finalist
- The Funjabis – finalist
1999
- Paul Sinha – runner-up
- Mary Bourke – finalist
- Shirley Goorwich - finalist
1998
- Hitchcock’s Half Hour (Neil Cole and Tom Hillenbrand) - winner
- Daniel Kitson -second
- Jocelyn Jee Esien - third
- Catherine Tate - finalist
- Susan Vale - finalist
- Mickey Flanagan
1997
- Jon Reed – winner
- The Fluffy Brothers
1996
- Noel Britten – winner
- Gina Yashere - finalist
- Kevin Precious - Finalist
- Noel Kelly - Finalist
- Jimbo - Finalist
1994
- Ardal O'Hanlon - winner
- Ricky Grover - second
- Junior Simpson - third
- Simon Pegg - Finalist
1993
- Ronnie Ancona - winner
- Tim Vine – runner-up
- Pommy Johnson - finalist
- Simon Lipson - finalist
- Ben Miller - finalist
- Jack Russell - finalist
1991
- Paul Tonkinson - winner
- Nick Wilty - finalist
- Neville Raven - finalist
- Martin Davies - finalist
1990
- Stewart Lee - winner
1989
- Keith Dover – winner
- Niall MacAnna - second
1987
- Linda Smith – winner