Photo of David and gang by Steve Ullathorne
The David Johnson Emerging Talent Award
£11,000 Prize to Winner on 28th August 2022
The David Johnson Emerging Talent Award aims to celebrate the life of maverick producer David Johnson who died in 2020. The cash prize, which comes with no strings, will be presented to a performer/show on 28th August at a mixed bill comedy show.
David Johnson (DJ) was a fixture on the Fringe for over 30 years. DJ’s ‘fringe finds’ included Graham Norton, Puppetry of the Penis, and bars that were still open at breakfast time. He produced scores of shows on (and off) the Fringe including The Rubberbandits, Sue Perkins, Alfie Brown, Fascinating Aida, The Reduced Shakespeare Company, Malcolm McLaren, Stewart Lee, Alexei Sayle, Christeene, Kim Noble, Sandi Toksvig, Mark Almond, Mark Ravenhill and many others. He was mostly known for his raucous laughter, his generosity of wallet and his unnerving ability to spot an unexpected hit. His flair for commercial theatre was matched by – and often combined with – his fervent support for new and emerging artists. The award will be made that that spirit.
A team of scouts lead by Helen Hawkins (arts and culture journalist) will recommend potential recipients during the first 3 weeks of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A winner will be selected during the last week of the festival and the inaugural DJ ETA presentation will take place on 28th August.
The line-up will include popular fringe performers including comedian Stewart Lee and cabaret queen Dillie Keane, very special guests plus the brightest and the best of emerging Fringe talent!
