It’s been a monster of a year British sketch group This Glorious Monster, who after just 18 months working together, have gone from creating videos and performing a few live shows to hosting their own night, winning awards and securing their first TV signing.
First participating in London SketchFest’s new video sketch competition Sketch Screen, the group won Best Sketch Video and was awarded automatic entry into the COFILMIC Comedy Film Festival shortlist for 2014.
An annual Comedy Film Festival championing new comedy talent, COFILMIC was launched in 2010 with the aim of nurturing new comedy talent through industry events, showcases, partnerships and competitions. Judges have included BAFTA winning producer Charlie Hanson, Baby Cow Productions' co-founder Henry Normal and BBC Comedy commissioner Kristian Smith.
Appearing in the COFILMIC festival this week at Manchester’s Comedy Store, This Glorious Monster gained their second award, winning Best Sketch Video 2014. As winners in one of three categories they've been chosen to go into a 3-month Development programme with Wild Seed Studios where one lucky team will win a £10k development award to create a project.
Janet Harrison, director of COFILMIC, comments that the group's videos "were excellent - professional, looked fantastic and very, very funny. Great writing and excellent characters. A clear favourite among the judges."
Describing their work as subversive comedy celebrating the darker side of the human condition, the group's videos have been described as a mix of The League Of Gentlemen, The Mighty Boosh and Little Britain.
Their winning sketch ‘Coming Out Clown’ delighted audiences at both London SketchFest and COFILMIC establishing them as one of the hottest new sketch groups coming out right now. Which is a good omen, seeing as this year also saw them sign with Hat Trick Productions.
The top production company which has a slate of shows including Have I Got News For You, Fonejacker and Episodes - is now working to create a TV sketch show pilot featuring the group.
Aside from the internet and TV, the group are also now performing live. They run their own club night called Something Monstrous once a month at The Comedy Pub in Leicester Square, London. To find out more visit the troupe's Facebook page.
