'Oscars of comedy' head Nica Burns announces plan to take Edinburgh comedy awards 'beyond 100 years'

Now Nica Burns has announced her succession planning to see the 46-year-old awards - which have launched the careers of comedians including Frank Skinner and Stephen Fry - “to 100 years and beyond”.

Speaking at the annual Edinburgh Comedy Awards lunch in Edinburgh, Ms Burns, who has run the awards since three years after they were founded, announced the appointment of Emma Brünjes as executive director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

She said: “Looking ahead to the 50th Edinburgh Comedy Awards, only four years away in 2030, made me think about what the Awards would look like at 75 and then 100 years.

“As I realised I might not be at the 75th anniversary, I needed to put a long-term leadership plan in place with a leader who would be as passionate and committed to the Awards as I am. Someone highly respected throughout the comedy community, well liked, creative and thorough, a great judge of talent and an excellent, all round producer.”

Under the direction of Ms Burns, the Edinburgh Comedy Awards - known as the Perrier Awards, after their mineral water brand sponsor from their inception until 2005 - have earned a reputation for spotlighting the comedy stars of the future. Award winners and nominees have gone on to have a significant impact on mainstream popular culture by writing, directing and acting in some of the most iconic television, film, music, radio, podcasts and stage productions of the past 45 years.

Ms Brünjes, who has been producer of the awards since 2010, said: “Working alongside Nica for the past sixteen years and witnessing her fierce commitment to live comedy and the next generation of talent has been an extraordinary education. Accepting the baton from her is both a huge honour and a tremendous responsibility.

“My role is to protect that legacy, nurture it and help ensure these remarkable awards continue to discover and spotlight exceptional new talent for many years to come.”

Ms Burns said the awards highlights comedy as an art form.

“It’s a discipline that is not taken that seriously throughout the year,” she said. “That’s why I’m saying let’s accept that it’s an art form and a really crucial part of the economy.”

Ms Burns learned the fundamentals of producing her own work as a young actor at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe using her then-life savings of £600. She credits a good review in The Scotsman with selling out the show out ending in a profit of £48, which she split with director Colin Watkeys.

She was artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse in London from 1983-89, while in 2005, she founded Nimax Theatres with business partner Max Weitzenhoffer. They own and run the Palace, Lyric, Apollo, Garrick, Vaudeville and Duchess Theatres in the heart of London’s West End.

She has since produced over 100 multi-award-winning shows, is chief executive of Nimax Theatres, and built and opened theatre @sohoplace in London in 2022.