Our Awards take place every year in the last week of August. Each award reflects the dedication and exceptional talent of disabled and neurodiverse acts at The Edinburgh Fringe.
Categories
Actually Autistic Excellence Award
Autistic people have been misrepresented in performance for decades, with non-autistic actors playing our parts! We want to recognise actual autistic talent at The Edinburgh Fringe, This award will be given to an autistic-led act, production or show that is exceptional, innovative and representative.
Previous winners:
2022: Cerys Bradley – Sportsperson
2023: Don Biswas – The Revolution will be Disorganised
2024: Ashley Gutermuth – Ashley Gutermuth is hard to Pronounce
ADHD Comedy Award
Awareness and openness of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has grown amongst the comedy community in recent years. We recognise that and want to champion acts who include it in their work. The Award will be given to the best act, production or show in the comedy category that identifies as having ADHD.
Winners:
2022: Colin Hoult – The Death of Anna Mann
2023: Robin Ince – Weapons of Empathy
2024: Jordan Tweddle – Pillock
Outstanding Visually Impaired Creative
Visually Impaired creatives are represented in. nearly every category of The Edinburgh Fringe, we want to champion work from this community. Given to the best visually impaired led performance, act or show.
Winners:
2022: Pippa Cleary, composer – My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do)
2023: Visually Impaired Creators Scotland – Cabaret in the Dark
2024: David Eagle: The Eagle is Candid
Birds of Paradise Exceptional Theatre
Birds of Paradise Theatre Company’s artistic vision is of a culture where disabled artists are recognised for the excellence of their work, celebrated for the stories that they bring to the stage and are a vital part of the artistic landscape. This award will be given to a production that fulfils that artistic vision.
The winner will receive a cash award of £500 from Birds of Paradise Theatre company.
Winners:
2022: Livia Kojo Alour – Black Sheep
2023: Eleanor Hill – Sad-Vents
2024: Laura Horton – Lynn Faces
Birds Of Paradise Emerging Artist
A second award from BOP will be for emerging disabled-led theatre talent. It will be given to a theatre production that shows great potential for development.
The Winner – an individual, group or company – will receive mentoring from Birds of Paradise Theatre Company.
Winners:
2022: Laura Crow – Earwig
2023: Shaharah Gaznabbi – What Can Indian Look Like?
2024: Sanjay Lago – Love me like a Chai Tea Latte
Deaf Action Deaf Excellence Award
We are glad that Deaf acts are represented with the Edinburgh Deaf Fest (now in its fourth year), as well as deaf acts being present in many major venues across the city. The award will be given to the most exceptional deaf-led act, production or show.
Winners:
2022: Rinkoo Barpaga – Made in India/Britain
2023: Jenny Sealey – Self-Raising
2024: Sign Between the Lines: Deaf Women in Literature
Disability Champions
A non-competitive category awarded to the acts or person who most demonstrates our ethos, that of championing, supporting and lifting-up other disabled and neurodiverse acts at The Edinburgh Fringe.
Winners:
2023: Mark Nicholas & Benny Shakes – Disabled Cants
2024: Aretha Nortey -Just Aretha
FringeBiscuit Trends
Since 2011, Fringebiscuit has been at the forefront of innovative and engaging theatre criticism, reaching diverse audiences across social media platforms. Powered by Stage Analytics software, this year’s Fringebiscuit Trends Award honours the neurodiverse-led show that has generated the most online buzz during the festival, thanks to our meticulous 🤓data analysis. Join us in celebrating the creativity and impact of neurodiverse voices in theatre!
2024: Missing Rib Collective: 4 girls first letter e
North Bridge Media Comedy Writing Award
Edinburgh television production company North Bridge Media champions new d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent comedy talent. This award recognises new work in any Fringe category by writers from these communities. The winner will receive a £500 commission for a television treatment and mentoring support for six months.
Winners in other categories
Lifetime Achievement Award
Given to someone who has contributed to our communities and made a lasting difference to the creative landscape for disabled and neurodiverse acts.
2022: Philip Gerrard – Deaf Action CEO
2023: Paul Wady – Guerrilla Autistics
2024: Lung-Ha Theatre Company
Neurodiversity Representation Award
2022: Harriet Dyer – Trigger Warning
2023: McClaine Beirne – Wheelie Funny
Bounce Award 2023 – Bipolar Badass
Garry Robson Memorial Award 2024 – Parky Players
How we run the awards.
Our Judges try to see as many nd/disabled-led shows during the fringe. You’re welcome to highlight your show to us, but don’t worry if not, you don’t have to do that to be nominated.
We prioritise underrepresented shows from working-class, POC and LGBTQ+ artists as well as intersecting disabilities.
The Shortlist will be published on the 18th, the awards will be held on the 21st. Acts will be contacted and the shortlisted nominees will be invited to our ceremony. You are welcome to opt-out of any nomination in the run-up to the awards too.