Dabber’s Social Bingo, London’s best loved alternative Bingo Hall is on the hunt for its 2023 ‘Next Top Bingo Caller’.
Dabbers and showbiz go hand in hand, with performers front and centre of the Dabbers bingo experience. And for the last two years, drag queens have been the performers to take home the top prize: Crudi Dench in 2022, and Kate Butch in 2019 (there was no 20/21 comp due to the pesky apocalypse). Clearly nu-bingo has an affinity with all things drag. Will 2023 see a third drag queen take the title?
“Winning Dabbers Next Top Bingo Caller has allowed me to explore a whole new passion of bingo calling, put my hosting skills to the ultimate test, interact with brilliant audiences, connect with other fabulous performers and £1000 towards my wig budget.” CRUDI DENCH – DABBERS NEXT TOP CALLER WINNER 2022
Dabbers is truly the brand that reinvented bingo, with regular nights hosted by top comics including Tony Law, Marcel Lucont, Olaf Falafel, Eleanor Conway, Thanyia Mooore, Aurie Styla and Javier Jarquin and lots more favourites. Indeed, the company has comedy and performance at the heart of everything it does, and the team visit The Edinburgh Festival every year to scout for new talent to keep their events as raucous and fun as they can possibly be.
The competition is a way to search for new callers who the team might not otherwise come across, and sometimes Dabbers catches them just as they make a bid for stardom.
Drag artists, cabaret artists, burlesque performers, comics, magicians, and more are all encouraged to apply for a chance to follow in Crudi Dench’s footsteps and win Dabbers Social Bingo Next Top Caller, 2023. Those who enter don’t need to be professional performers but it’s crucial that they have a unique talent that will wow an audience of keen bingo fans,and the charm to grab the attention of a room full of people as you revamp bingo calling and put your own spin on the classic tradition.
Entrants are asked to submit a showreel as part of their application. If you don’t have a showreel, don’t let that put you off! Entrants can record a short, one minute video introducing themselves and calling out some bingo lingo to the camera. It doesn’t have to be professionally filmed – the team just want to see your style.
2022’s finalists were character comedians Kitty Cassis (Aimee Cooper), Edgar and Jaynine (Lorna Rose Treen – double award winner, Funny Women Awards 2022 – and Jonathan Oldfield), Ferrari Roché (Stephanie Ware) and of course, the winner, Crudi Dench (Matt Stallworthy, comedian and drag performer).
This year’s competition which will be held via a series of heats at Dabber’s HQ in Houndsditch EC3 (4 min walk from Aldgate Tube), beginning in March and culminating with a grand final in July. Each heat will be hosted by BBC New Comedy Award finalist Sikisa Bostwick and Edinburgh Festival favourite, with a judging panel made up of agents, festival bookers and journalists.
Entries should be submitted via the dabbers.bingo website, before midnight on 17th March 2023. All entrants must be aged over 21.
Dabber’s Social Bingo is at 18 – 22 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7DB.
Dates for the diary
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES
17th March 2023
KNOCKOUTS – CITY
4 Weeks: March 26th, April 2nd, April 16th, April 23rd
20 Contestants, 5 perform each weekend, 2 from each show go through to Semi Finals
SEMI FINALS – CITY
2 weeks: May 14th, May 28th
8 Contestants, 4 perform each weekend, 2 from each show go through to the Final
THE FINAL – CITY
1 week: July 2nd
4 Contestants compete to win the title of Dabbers Next Top Bingo Caller 2023!
