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THE NATYS (New Acts of The Year)

The theatre group CAST held the first New Variety auditions at the Old White Horse in Brixton in the early 80s With help from Greater London Council they were able to set up an across London circuit of eight one night venues Introducing artists such as Julian Clary Paul Merton Benjamin Zephaniah French and Saunders Curtis Walker Attila the Stock Broker Felix Dexter and Capt. JJ Waller and many more; some became household names in the exploding galaxy of live modern comedy. In 1986 CAST New Variety took on the almost forgotten Hackney Empire and there through it's 'New Acts' policy of encouraging new acts, the auditions formulised into the annual NATYS. On leaving their Hackney venue twenty years later the show transferred to the Barbican theatre and other venues. From 2013 the NATYS have found a home In London’s leading comedy venue the Bloomsbury Theatre. Anxious to continue their encouragement of diversity the NATYS has increasingly emphasised the importance of the variety Bill. It isn’t a competition of rival artists but a celebration of all the talent on stage. At the end of the show a panel of comedy professionals will declare which act is to be proclaimed as ‘ Top of the Bill’

The NATYS is a project of New Variety Lives, the show is coordinated under the direction of Claire Muldoon supported by Frank Sweeney, Roland Muldoon and Tony Goodrick.