course
stand up comedy course
Real-life, online and on-demand video training available.
Have some fun learning how to write and perform stand-up comedy!
Includes a show at the end of the course (on the real-life version of the course) where you get to perform stand-up live on stage for the first time ever!
Complete beginners are welcome. No previous experience in stand up, writing or comedy are needed to do this course.
Our stand up comedy course is about giving you the skills to produce great work over the long-term. You’ll be equipped with the techniques and philosophies required to be more creative and fully express yourself!
We aim to help you express what is uniquely funny about you. We will instil in you a passion for comedy and the confidence to perform your own material.
We provide a playful and supportive environment for our students to perform a short set every week. This is a practical and collaborative course where you learn by doing comedy exercises every week and finding out what is uniquely funny about you.
You will learn how to write hilarious material, and how to perform it with charisma and skill. By the end of the course, you’ll have an awesome 5 minute stand up set ready to go!
Our coaches are working professional performers. They have been there and done it, so they know all about the journey from beginner to professional. They have unique insight into what it takes, and what has helped them make the jump.
PLUS you get to join our vibrant community of previous stand-up students, regularly performing at our stand-up night at our club!
next available dates
Real-Life Dates:
Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 7th June 2021 with Fran Bushe, plus show on Wednesday 28th July 2021. BOOK NOW
Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 8th June 2021 with Nick Hall, plus show on Thursday 29th July 2021. BOOK NOW
Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 20th September 2021 with Fran Bushe, plus show on Wednesday 17th November 2021. BOOK NOW
Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 21st September 2021 with Nick Hall, plus show on Thursday 18th November 2021. BOOK NOW
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm each week.
Price: £240. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remaining £140 once the course starts.
Venue: Kobi Nazrul Centre, 30 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR.
Tube: Liverpool Street or Shoreditch High Street.
Online Dates:
Every Tuesday for 6 weeks from Tuesday 13th April 2021 with Nick Hall: SOLD OUT
Every Wednesday for 6 weeks from Wednesday 17th February 2021 with Nick Hall: SOLD OUT
Every Monday for 6 weeks from Monday 12th April 2021 with Fran Bushe: SOLD OUT
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm each week.
Price: £170. Reduced to £155 for NHS workers or if your income has been greatly reduced by lockdown.
Venue: Online using zoom. All details for login for zoom will be emailed to participants on the day of the first workshop.
fran bushe
Fran Bushe is an award-winning comedian, writer and performer.
She has had sold-out runs at Soho Theatre, The Roundhouse and she has been a resident artist at Pleasance Theatre, Arts Depot and Theatre Deli.
An adaptation of Fran’s solo show Ad Libido has just been released by Channel 4 as a Comedy Blap.
Fran’s multi-award winning comedy play Ad Libido had a highly successful run at VAULT Festival (‘Highly Commended’ award winner, ★★★★ The Stage), Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh (Sold Out run, ★★★★ The Guardian, one of the Guardian’s top shows to see at the Edinburgh Fringe) and Soho Theatre, London in 2019.
Fran is a writer for Comedy Central’s sketch comedy show Laughing at Salad and her play Alive Day is published in 20 Short Plays with Big Roles for Women (Routledge Books). She has written features for The Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Metro and been a guest on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
★★★★ “Relentlessly hilarious” The Stage
★★★★ “Smart and audacious” The Guardian
★★★★★ Londontheatre1
★★★★★ Arthur’s Seat
★★★★★ Fringe Review
★★★★ Theatre Weekly
★★★★ Upper Circle Theatre
Performer of the Year – Sexual Freedom Awards 2019
The Guardian’s ‘Best Shows of the Fringe 2018
nick hall
Nick Hall is a stand-up, improviser and writer. He has written and performed for BBC2, BBC3, and BBC Radio 4.
Nick has taken six solo shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as well as performing at the Brighton Fringe, Latitude Festival, Soho Theatre, Princes Trust, and Bloomsbury Theatre.
Nick started his comedy career by beating the Gong at The Comedy Store, beating the Blackout at Up the Creek, and winning the New Act Night at the Comedy Café. He has now performed over 500 gigs across the UK and Europe.
Nick comperes a variety of live events, including cult movie night Hot Tub Cinema and hit football show Comedy Commentary. He also performs with The Committee, one of London’s hottest improvised comedy groups, and has appeared on Sky News, The Times Red Box podcast and written articles for The Independent.
“Crackingly original” ★★★★ The List
“Side splittingly funny” ★★★★★ ThreeWeeks
“Mad cap energy” ★★★★★ British Comedy Guide
“One not to miss” ★★★★ The Skinny
“Genuinely hilarious” ★★★★ Fringe Review
topics
- Introduction to stand up comedy.
- Creative techniques to generate material.
- Joke structure.
- Writing techniques.
- Emotions.
- Pulling from truth.
- Observational comedy.
- Persona.
- Character.
- Writing collaboratively.
- Creating a comedy peer group of like minded friends.
- Performance skills.
- Final show preparation.
Most of all getting up every week and actually doing it!
Also Available: On-demand Video Training
How to do Stand-Up Comedy On-demand Video Training
Learn how to write and perform stand-up comedy
A step-by-step guide to move from comedy beginner to performing your own hilarious routines. Engaging videos, fun exercises and a ton of handy tools to make your journey as quick and easy as possible!
This course is the PERFECT learning resource for anyone looking to get into stand-up comedy and achieve real results in no time.
So why not start your stand up journey today!
What you'll learn with us...
Coming up with ideas: no ideas for jokes? No problem! We’ll take you through a proven process to help you discover angles and ideas to have the audience in stitches.
Finding your voice: what is funny about you? It’s a tough question! But don’t worry: we’ll help you uncover your unique comedic persona.
Owning the stage: the comedians on TV make performing look so easy-we’ll reveal their secrets so you be charismatic on stage too.
Build your confidence: the idea of performing comedy can be a terrifying business. We get that, which is why we’ll give you practical tools to build up your confidence so fear will never hold you back.
Plus loads more! Including how to improve your joke-writing, tips to learning your material, putting together a winning routine, and the next steps to becoming a full-time comedian. You won’t find this advice anywhere else!
16 unique video tutorials
We cover everything from generating material, to stagecraft, to preparing for your first gig. With engaging in-depth video content.
In-depth course handbook
On top of all the content in the tutorials, you’ll also get access to a coursebook with notes, bonus exercises and examples of everything we talk about from the world’s best comedians.
We walk the talk
Your instructor is someone who is a current working comedian with thousands of shows under their belt. They know what it takes. So everything you learn will be road-tested and practical.
faqs
We have kept class sizes low to ensure 2-metre distancing can stay in place. We have also redesigned games to make sure physically-distanced comedy is still fun, friendly and playful! We also offer full flexibility on bookings to give you peace of mind when planning ahead.
For additional FAQs please see list below:
Who is this suitable for?
Anyone interested in writing and performing stand up comedy.
What previous experience do I need before doing this course?
None. You don't need any previous writing or comedy experience before starting this course.
What comes after this course?
We also have a variety of sketch comedy and improv courses that go well with this course.
What if I’m running late?
We’ll be starting each session at 7pm. We’re trying to form a team, so please don’t book this course if you are likely to be late on a regular basis.
What’s the class size?
We have reduced class sizes while running after lockdown in order to keep physical distancing in place, so it will be a maximum of 12 people only.
What do I need to take part in the online version?
Laptop with camera and an internet connection. Laptops work better than phones or ipads, but phones and ipads also work.
Do I need to sign up to Zoom in advance for the online version?
No. On the day of the workshop we email you with all you need for zoom.
When do you email the Zoom link to take part for the online version?
On the day of the first workshop.
Is there an end of course show for the online one?
In the real-life version there will be an end of course show at our comedy club. For the online version there won't be a show but at each session you will be performing stand up to the rest of the class online over zoom. At the end of the course you will have a whole stand up set developed that you will perform to the rest of the class.