Bridging The Gap

Leicester is a diverse city - it’s well known that people from all over the world have made it their home. That is why it’s important for a festival such as ours to take what steps we can to improve representation in festival performers, which will then be reflected in festival audiences, helping them enjoy the benefits of live comedy.

Our Bridging The Gap fund supports comedians from underrepresented groups, in particular those from working class backgrounds or otherwise facing barriers to entry, in performing at Leicester Comedy Festival. The support package will cover costs such as transport, accommodation and festival fees.

In 2026, the fund will support 6 comedians by:

• Providing £150 to help cover their costs. We know travel is one of the most common barriers acts face when deciding to participate in a Festival. This fund could cover their train fare for example. If travel isn’t an issue for the participant, they can chose to use this fund for any other festival-related cost, such as marketing, BSL interpretation, or getting a baby-sitter or carer for the evening.
• Providing a hotel room (value approx. £80-£100). Acts will be offered a room at one of the festival’s hotel partners in the city. 
• Waiving their festival participation fee waived for their show (value between £72 - £88 depending on their venue size)
• Giving all acts a paid performance slot at the Bridging The Gap Showcase.
• Professionally recording their showcase slot for their portfolio.
• Providing additional exposure for their festival shows through the programme.

The Bridging The Gap Showcase is delivered as an affordable event thus improving access to the show, any surplus generated will be reinvested into the Bridging The Gap fund and other Big Difference Company projects.

We are proud to be continuing to offer Bridging The Gap and we hope its continued success will help us raise more funds to grow the project and allow us to support performers even further.

Applications will open Monday 8th September 2025 and close Wednesday 24th September 2025.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/ANgmc4ApwDUSgBv56

If you have any queries about the initiative, please email info@bigdifferencecompany.co.uk