The Charlie Hartill Fund
Applications for the Charlie Hartill Comedy Reserve 2025 are now closed.
Applications for the Charlie Hartill Theatre Fund 2025 are now closed.
The Charlie Hartill Fund supports UK-based theatre makers and comedians in bringing their work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Our flagship fund offers unique and unparalleled support to artists through direct cash investment, programming and mentoring support. Through the fund, we hope to minimise the financial risk for companies and allow creativity to take centre stage.
The fund was established in 2004 in memory of Charlie Hartill and awards three opportunities each Edinburgh Festival Fringe:
- One for UK-based 'up and coming' comedians
- One for a UK-based early-career ensemble theatre company
- One for UK-based Black, Asian and Global Majority-led theatre shows
The Pleasance Comedy Reserve
For two decades the Comedy Reserve has supported a great number of comics by providing a unique platform at the Fringe, acting as a launch pad for some of the best acts on the circuit today. After a series of tryouts at Pleasance, four of the best up and coming comics are chosen to perform in a nightly show at Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe, without any financial risk.
- A prime programming slot at Pleasance Edinburgh without financial risk
- Accommodation
- Paid subsistence
- PR and Marketing Support
- In kind support including (but not limited to); mentoring from the Pleasance Comedy team; rehearsal space, sharing and work space at our London theatre; additional marketing presence as part of our Pleasance Comedy marketing and advertising campaigns
To be eligible for our Comedy Reserve you must
- Be an ‘up and coming’ comic
- Attend a series of tryouts at Pleasance, London on Monday 10th & Tuesday 11th March
- Be able to attend Edinburgh Fringe for the FULL duration of the festival
Applications for Charlie Hartill Comedy Reserve 2025 are now open and will close at midnight on the 20th February. You can apply here.
You can keep up to date by following our artist development X account or signing up to our artist newsletter.
"I was 18 when I first performed at the Pleasance, six months into becoming a comedian and they gave me a break through the Charlie Hartill Comedy Reserve. Without the Pleasance finding ways to bring new comic talent to Edinburgh the Fringe wouldn’t be quite the same.”
Jack Whitehall, Charlie Hartill Comedy Reserve, 2007
2024 - Marty Gleeson, Rohan Sharma, Sam Williams, Sharon Wanjohi
2023 - Abby Wambaugh, Ele McKenzie, Jin Hao Li, Kyrah Gray, Micah Hall, Shalaka Kurup, Vlad Ilich, Will Robbins
2022 - Abi Clarke, Dee Allum, Katie Green & Tadiwa Mahlunge.
2019 - Josh Jones, Lily Phillips, Mamoun Elagab & Mo Omar.
2018- Helen Bauer, Jack Gleadow, Michael Odewale & Chloe Petts
2017- Catherine Bohart, Danny Clives, Sophie Duker & Nigel Ng
2016 - Alasdair Beckett-King, Jack Carroll, Kae Kurd, Tom Lucy, Darren Harriott, George Lewis, Yuriko Kotani & Michael Stranney
2015 - Malcolm Head, Tom Little, Jamali Maddix & Joe Sutherland
2014 - Chris Betts, Evelyn Mok, Phil Jerrod & Brennan Reece
2013 - Jack Barry, John Hastings , Tez Ilyas & Tom Toal
2012 - Suzy Bennett, John Kearns, Matt Rees & Chris Turner
2011 - Luke Benson, Jim Campbell, Julian Dean & Joe Lycett
2010 - Tom Goodliffe, Rhys James, Mark Restuccia & Daniel Simonsen
2009 - Doc Brown, Pat Burtscher, Jared Hardy & Chris Stokes
2008 - Daniel Rigby, Gareth Richards, Lou Sanders & Holly Walsh
2007 - Benny Boot, Brett Goldstein, Jack Whitehall & Tommi Walamies
2006 - Marlon Davis, Pippa Evans, Michael Fabbri & Stuart Hudson
2005 - Lee Bannard, Simon Brodkin, Roisin Conaty & Oliver Maltman
Early-Career Theatre Ensemble
Each year the Charlie Hartill Fund provides one early-career theatre ensemble company with the rare and extraordinary opportunity to present a fully produced world-premiere ensemble performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Tuesday 25th February
FLITCH | Pinchy Theatre
Fem Club | Ricochet Theatre
Managed Approach | Open Aire Theatre
DYKE Systems Ltd | Fag Packet
Two Tribes | Grey Castle Productions
American Candy | Mango Ensemble
Wednesday 26th February
Terry’s: An American Tragedy About Cars, Customers, and Selling Cars to Customers | Brillig Theatre
Level Up! | Level Up!
Brainsluts | Mud Fish Comedy
Dean Street | Anther
The Unstoppable Rise of Ben Manager | Bunkum Ensemble
FLUSH | Launch Box
Barking Mad | Sam MacGregor
If selected, we provide up to £10,000 funding to an early-career ensemble theatre company as well as the following:
- A guaranteed slot in our Edinburgh programme at Pleasance and programming option in our London transfer run.
- Assistance with accommodation and travel
- Edinburgh Fringe registration and brochure fees
- PR and marketing support
- Mentorship from Pleasance and partners, including Methuen Drama (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Rehearsal, development, sharing and work space
- Support to develop and deliver accessible performances (including the provision of captioned performances)
- The play must have a performing company of 4 or more cast members
- Directors and producers must not have created more than two professional productions, including Fringe
- Be able to attend the theatre try-outs at Pleasance Islington on Tuesday 25th & Wednesday 26th February 2025.
*Travel bursaries are available to companies and artists based outside of London.
Applications for 2025 are now open! You can keep up to date by following our artist development X account or signing up to our artist newsletter.
2024 - Crying Shame by Sweet Beef Theatre
2023 - PITCH by November Theatre / PUBLIC - The Musical by Stroud & Notes
2022 - Rapsody - Vision Production Company
2020/21 - Screen 9 - Piccolo Theatre
2019 - Bible John - Caitlin McEwan / A Womb of One's Own - Wonderbox
2018- Freeman - Strictly Arts
2017- Flesh and Bone - Unpolished Theatre
2016 - We Are Ian - In Bed With My Brother
2015 - Molly - Squint
2014 - Lorraine & Alan - Bucket Club
2013 - Outside on the Street - Invertigo
2012 - Don Quioxte! Don Quioxte! - Panta Rei Theatre Collective
2011 - Fit for Purpose - Catherine O'Shea (Writer) / Concorde Theatre Company
2009 - A Stroke of Genius - PIT (David Bryne, Artistic Director of New Diorama Theatre)
2007 - Greedy Scratchers - Richard Marsh
2006 - The Same ... But Different - Jacob Tindle (Playwright)
2005 - Minor Irritations - Sam Peter Jackson
“The Charlie Hartill Fund is revolutionary for a theatre company, providing an opportunity for growth and expansion that would otherwise be incredibly hard to access.” Pitch, 2023
“It was the best decision we made and was the catalyst for the rolling series of events that have followed.” Unpolished Theatre, 2017
“The Fund isn’t just a financial boost, it’s a carefully constructed program that gives you mentoring and care.” Invertigo, 2013
Early-Career Theatre Ensemble Info Pack
Global Majority Theatre
Started in 2020, Global Majority Theatre Strand provides financing, mentorship and fringe programming opportunities to support UK-based Black, Asian and Global Majority artists in bringing existing and tour ready work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time.
If selected, we provide £10,000 funding towards each UK-based Black, Asian and Global Majority-led production, as well as the following:
- A guaranteed slot in our Edinburgh programme at Pleasance and programming option in our London transfer run.
- Assistance with accommodation and Travel
- Edinburgh Fringe Registration and brochure fees
- PR and marketing support
- Mentorship from Pleasance and Partners, including Methuen Drama (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Rehearsal, development, sharing and work space
- Support to develop and deliver accessible performances (including the provision of captioned performances)
- Must be an existing show
- Must be based in the United Kingdom
- At least 50% of the lead creators (which could include the writer, director, producer, designers or makers/devising ensemble) must identify as Black, Asian or Global Majority Artists
- At least 50% of the cast must identify as Global Majority Artists
- Propose an existing theatre or children’s production to present at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. The show must be tour ready, with a minimum of two public performances staged by the end of March 2025. We hope to encourage the best work created and presented over the last year to come to Edinburgh Fringe. We are not looking for new, unstaged work.
- The show must be an Edinburgh Festival Fringe premiere.
- Due to the limitations of our available funding, and to encourage sustainable producing and fair pay, we do not anticipate the cast size for any selected production to exceed 5. This is not a restriction, but shows with larger casts will need to demonstrate additional confirmed or planned fundraising to ensure everyone is paid fairly.
- Be able to attend the selection interview for 45 minutes with the Pleasance panel on 23rd January 2025.
Applications for 2025 are now open! You can keep up to date by following our artist development X account or signing up to our artist newsletter.
2024 - For the Love of Spam by Sierra Sevilla / Duck by maatin
2023 - Unforgettable Girl by Elisabeth Gunawan and Created a Monster / Santi & Naz by The Thelmas
2022 - Block'd Off by Kieton Saunders-Browne / Made in India/Britain by Rinkoo Barpaga
2020/21 - Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with the man who used to hit her) by Martha Watson-Allpress / BOYS by The Pappy Show
“The team supported and guided us throughout - through both the highlights and challenges that face Artists of Colour. This experience has given us invaluable learnings and is an important milestone towards putting me on the map as an exciting artist that makes excellent innovative theatre.” Unforgettable Girl, 2023
“The on the ground support and pastoral care provided by the Pleasance team was invaluable in handling everything the festival threw at us. It was important to us that Santi & Naz reached the people it is about and that members of the Indian diaspora were able to witness their own history on stage at the world’s largest arts festival. Because of the Charlie Fund we were able to reach a diverse group of audiences, including South Asian people of all ages and backgrounds. We’re immensely proud of what we achieved and very grateful for the opportunity to tell this often untold story.” Santi & Naz, 2023
Global Majority Theatre Info Pack
FOR REFERENCE ONLY
Please see the relevant application packs below.
If you have any queries, feel free to contact us on [email protected].