Comedy Script Showcase Returns For A Third Season at Edinburgh Fringe
Open call: Submit your script to be brought to life by leading comedians and directed by Ed Bye.
London – April 16, 2026 DLT Entertainment, sponsors of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, and Monkey Barrel Comedy, host of ‘Best Comedy Show’ in 2022, 2023 and 2024, are thrilled to announce the return of Table Reads: New Comedy Script Showcase.
Table Reads offers a unique platform for budding and established comedy writers to have their scripts read and performed by some of the leading comedians at the Fringe. This show is more than just a performance; it is a development project designed to foster new talent, workshop original writing, and build lasting relationships between emerging creatives.
From Friday August 7th through Sunday August 30th scripts will be brought to life by a cast of top comedians and performers providing creatives a unique opportunity to gain real-time feedback on their work, as well as giving audiences a rare glimpse behind the TV development curtain, seeing some of the best new scriptwriting in UK comedy before channel commissioners do.
Some of the comedians who have performed at previous table reads include:
Adam Riches • Mark Watson • Elf Lyons • Thom Tuck • Finlay Christie • Marina Bye
Maddy Bye • Chris Forbes • John Robertson • Sooz Kempner • Kathy Maniura
Abi Clarke • Jonathan Oldfield • Lorna Rose Treen • Spring Day • Juliette Burton
Joz Norris • Alexandra Haddow • Rosco McClelland •Carl Donnely • Thom Tuck
Tiff Stevenson • Sam Nicoresti • Mollie McGuiness • Pierre Novellie • Ray O’Leary
Ria Lina • Amy Cooke Hodgson • Kate Hammer • Mhairi Black • Shaparak Khorsandi
The show welcomes script submissions from anyone, and a particular effort is being made to seek out performers and writers living and/or working in Scotland. Existing scripts can be submitted from today directly through the DLT entertainment web site at https://www.DLTEntertainment.com/TableReads. This open submission process aims to discover and elevate new and diverse comedic voices, providing an unparalleled opportunity to showcase comedy writing in a leading venue at the world’s largest performing arts festival.
Returning as director will be Ed Bye, who is known for his work on some of the UK’s best loved comedy projects, including My Family, Red Dwarf, and Absolutely Fabulous. Ed's expertise and vision will be instrumental in bringing these new scripts to life, creating a must-see event for comedy enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. Additional support will be provided by DLT Entertainment’s highly experienced development team (Darren Smith, Jon Aird, Ben Walker, Katya Balfour Lynn).
DLT Entertainment is committed to supporting this creative venture by absorbing production costs. As with previous years, DLT Entertainment and Monkey Barrel Comedy will take no fees and donate all income to charities chosen by the participants.
Donald Taffner Jr., President of DLT Entertainment, says: “We have been thinking of doing table reads at The Fringe for several years, but needed the right partner, and Monkey Barrel Comedy has been that partner for two years. We look forward to a third year of working with talented comedians and writers and inviting audiences to experience a fundamental step in the television development process.”
Giving emerging comedy writers an opportunity to showcase and develop their work is so important," adds Ross Foley of Monkey Barrel Comedy, "and we're delighted to partner with DLT Entertainment to provide that platform for a third consecutive year".
Table Reads: New Comedy Script Showcase is set to be one of the highlights of this year's Edinburgh Fringe. Be sure to catch the next generation of comedy talent as they bring fresh and hilarious new scripts to the stage at Monkey Barrel 2 from August 7 - 30 (exc. 29) at 11:00AM (40 mins).
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Further information:
Nikki Murray, on behalf of DLT Entertainment: nikki.murray@premiercomms.com | +44 (0) 20 7292 5094
Ross Foley, Head of Marketing, Monkey Barrel Comedy: ross.foley@monkeybarrelcomedy.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Monkey Barrel Comedy:
Monkey Barrel Comedy is Edinburgh’s #1 rated comedy club and was home to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s ‘Best Comedy Show’ in 2022, 2023, and 2024. It has been named ‘Scotland’s Best Comedy Venue’ at every Chortle Awards since 2023.
The club's three, year-round comedy venues in Edinburgh host shows nearly every night of the week - including recent visits from Kevin Bridges, James Acaster, and Tim Key.
About DLT Entertainment:
About DLT Entertainment:
Headquartered in London and New York, DLT Entertainment Ltd. is engaged in all aspects of television production and distribution worldwide. Founded in 1963 by Don Taffner Sr. as a distribution company, DLT expanded into television production in 1977 and has since enjoyed more than six decades of success on both sides of the Atlantic. Its production credits include iconic and award-winning series such as My Family, As Time Goes By, Three’s Company, Too Close for Comfort, and Meet My Folks. As a distributor, DLT has built a distinguished catalogue featuring classics including The Benny Hill Show, The World at War, Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Russ Abbot Show, The Olivier Awards, and Dara Ó Briain’s Go 8 Bit.
DLT’s production activities have expanded through strategic investment in Mark Watson’s Impatient Productions and the acquisition of Vera Productions, whose credits include Getting On, Bremner, Bird and Fortune, and numerous Dispatches, including The King, The Prince and Their Secret Millions.
In 1986, DLT expanded into stage production in both the United States and the United Kingdom, where it owns and operates London’s Shaftesbury Theatre, the West End home of Avenue Q. The company has also developed a strong presence in talent representation, with ownership stakes in Milburn Browning Associates, The Soho Agency, Blue Book Artist Management, The Galton Agency, Bedford Square Voices, and Gag Reflex.
In 2020, DLT launched its audio division with Very Modern Quests for Audible, starring Alice Levine. More recently, for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds, DLT produced Time of the Week, created by Lorna Rose Treen and Jonathan Oldfield and starring Sian Clifford, as well as The Many Wrongs of Christian Brighty, featuring Jessica Knappett, Colin McFarlane and Christian Brighty, alongside shows from Ria Lina and Scott Bennett.
DLT continues to expand its commitment to comedy, serving as a sponsor of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for the fourth consecutive year.