The highly desired shortlist for the renowned 2023 Breaking Talent Award has been revealed at the eagerly awaited Birmingham Comedy Festival. The selection committee had a difficult task on its hands as it had to sift through a wealth of exceptional comic talent from Birmingham and the surrounding areas. They’ve chosen five excellent talents who promise to make this year’s award show a spectacular event after careful consideration.
The Finalists
- Hasan Al-Habib – Hasan’s journey spans from North London to Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. He was formerly a finalist for the Chortle Student competition, and he currently lives in London and works as a policy analyst for the House of Commons.
- Rachel Baker – Rachel works as an assistant producer in the arts and is based in Cotteridge, Birmingham. She found her calling as a comedian while attending the University of Birmingham. Rachel characterizes her comedy as “hectic in a controlled way” and customizes her shows to appeal to each individual audience.
- Joe Bingham – Project manager Joe Bingham, who divides his time between Yardley, Birmingham, and London, made his stand-up debut in 2019. Joe specializes in observational humor, delivering witty views on his life experiences and viewpoints.
- Josh Reynolds – Josh is a digital marketer who currently resides in Newcastle-under-Lyme but is originally from different parts of Staffordshire. In January 2020, he made his stand-up debut at the Mitchell Arts Centre in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, performing with poets.
- Chris Yates – Chris, a logistics expert, resides in Malvern, Worcestershire. Chris, a University of Birmingham alumnus who once played in the local band Johnny Kowalski and the Sexy Weirdos, started his comedy career in the latter half of 2021.
The Award Night
The Glee Club in Birmingham will host the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2023 on Friday, October 6. Previous winners of this prestigious competition include Josh Pugh, Celya AB, and Andrew McBurne. The charismatic James Cook will serve as the event’s emcee, and the gifted Josh Jones will give a special performance to close things out.
Comedy fans can anticipate a night packed with laughs, surprises, and the celebration of Birmingham’s top comedic talents as anticipation for this year’s Breaking Talent Award grows.
Special Shoutout from Big Belly!
Joe Bingham has been a regular here at Big Belly and we would like to personally congratulate him for this enormous milestone and this huge step forward into comedy world success. We have all witnessed his incredible talents and has made us laugh countless times so, we are very excited for what this means for his career!
