Cemetery comedy digs up top award

Published on Saturday 23 August 2008 10:54

A SCOTS comedy duo have picked up a coveted award for a musical about an Edinburgh cemetery.

John and Gerry Kielty are to be presented with this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival Spirit of the Fringe Award tomorrow.

The Glaswegian brothers' show, Greyfriars Twisted Tales, was picked ahead of hundreds of other acts as the one show which embodies the energy and driving force of the Fringe.

The musical show, which tells the many stories of the famous Edinburgh cemetery, has attracted five-star reviews and has been near to a sell-out for most of its Fringe run.

Previous winners of the award who then went on to far bigger things include comedy giants Ed Byrne, Ross Noble, Omid Djalili and The League of Gentlemen.

The award is the only showcase of Fringe talent that encompasses theatre, comedy, dance and music.

John Kielty, 30, said: "We got the call this week to tell us we had won the Spirit of the Fringe Award and we were completely shocked, but obviously delighted.

"There are so many great acts at this year's Festival and to win the award really encourages us for the future."

The Spirit of the Fringe Award first began in 1992 as the Grand Final of comic Melvyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe show.

It has now developed into one of the most respected prizes at the Festival.