Nivea Funny Women Awards, Komedia, Brighton, April 18

1:18pm Friday 18th April 2008

Flashcards, a pink vibrator and a walking stick were some of the props used by contenders in this regional heat of the 2008 Funny Women Awards to try to win top spot.

The prize was the chance to perform a paid gig at the final at London's Comedy Store and the possible prestige of being crowned the funniest woman of 2008.

The 12 new acts were understandably nervous and, though none of the acts were perfectly polished, the supportive audience were rewarded with glimpses of raw talent.

It was hard to believe Katherine O'Neill was performing her first gig. Strutting onto stage in an all-black dominatrix-style outfit, she delivered a set about her aged father's sexual exploits which was simultaneously disgusting and delightful.

Sharon Tyas, too, possessed star quality. Displaying how un-mumsy a mum can be, she revelled in revealing her love for torturing other mums in the playground to hilarious effect.

Some of the acts weren't quite so successful, delivering tired jokes about vibrators being more reliable than men or trying to be too edgy and losing their audience.

But all the acts deserve a pat on the back for making their first foray into stand-up.