sketch comedy courses
Taught by Gemma Arrowsmith, a professional comedy writer and performer on Tracey Ullman’s show on BBC 1 as well as regular Script Editor on BBC Radio's Newsjack!
If you are new to writing and performing sketch comedy we recommend starting with our Sketch Level 1: Sketch for Stage course where you learn how to write and perform sketch comedy as a team. It’s an 8 week course with a live show at the end.
You’ll be learning about different sketch types and structures, how to come up with premises for sketches, how to develop premises into amazing comedy, how to develop characters, editing sketches to find the funny and how to start your own sketch show.
At the end of the course you’ll have created a whole sketch show together as a team that you get to perform live in front of a friendly audience at our club.
join the community!
We also provide ongoing support after the course, as you’ll be part of the huge Hoopla community of writers, improvisers and actors with loads of supportive nights for you to keep performing new material and developing as a writer and comedy actor.
We even have a full-time Producer employed by Hoopla whose job it is to give our students the best ongoing performance opportunities possible and support them after courses.
Basically….. learn some helpful skills in the course, perform an amazing show that you wrote as part of a team of new friends, form a group and then get involved with regular writing and performing to keep learning as you go. Badaboom badabing!
going pro!
If you’ve done our Sketch Level 1 Course we recommend our more advanced Sketch Level 2: Sketch for TV, Online, Radio & Podcasts course.
This one focuses on writing professionally for TV and Radio as well as making your own online video and podcast content. It includes a bonus workshop on how to film sketches, and includes access to a large supportive network of other writers, actors, editors, directors and more after the course including free use of Hoopla’s camera and sound equipment to help you get started with making your own stuff!
Our Level 2 Sketch is designed to give you the tools you need to become a professional comedy writer, taught by someone who already is a professional comedy writer and works on top BBC1 Comedy Shows and script edits BBC Radio’s top comedy show for new writers.
Gemma knows her stuff!
who runs the course
Gemma Arrowsmith is currently writing and performing on Tracey Ullman’s show on BBC1 and is a regular Script Editor on BBC Radio’s Newsjack.
Gemma’s “What were you wearing?” sketch for Tracey Ullman was featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post, Mirror, Metro and more this year with over 28,000,000 views on Facebook.
She also writes for Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 Extra) and The Now Show (BBC Radio 4).
Gemma’s performing credits include Upstart Crow (BBC), Tracey Ullman’s Show (BBC), Merlin (BBC), Hustle (BBC), Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (BBC), Nurse (BBC), Damned – Playhouse Presents (Sky Arts), Trying Again (Sky Living), Spy (Sky1) Flashprank (MTV) and Charlie Brooker’s How TV Ruined Your Life (BBC). Gemma’s radio credits include Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 extra) Reception (BBC Radio 2) and The Now Show (BBC Radio 4).
Gemma is sought after in the world of kids’ TV and radio, where her credits include: DNN (CBBC), Hacker Time (CBBC), Beano Town (Fun Kids Radio), Relic: Guardians of the Museum (online game, CBBC), Transmission Impossible (CBBC).
She has performed in and directed Newsrevue, is half of Mould & Arrowsmith, and is taking her new one-woman show Earthling to Brighton in May, after a very successful run at the Vaults Festival.
A winner of Fringe Report Awards’ Best Artist (2007), they declared: “The award reflects Gemma Arrowsmith’s seven-threat excellence as singer, dancer, actor, comedian, writer, impressionist and director.”
sketch level 1: sketch for stage
An 8 week course on writing and performing live sketch comedy, culminating in a live performance in front of a friendly audience at our comedy club.
No previous writing experience needed, but if you are new to performing it would be best to start with our Beginners Improv Course first.
Next Dates in Liverpool Street:
Dates: Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 3rd June 2019. Show on Wednesday 31st July 2019.
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm.
Price: £215. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remaining £115 at the start of the course.
Teacher: Gemma Arrowsmith (with guest teacher for one week).
Workshop Venue: Theatre Delicatessen Studios, 1st floor, next to 2 Finsbury Avenue (off Whitecross Place), London, EC2M 2PP.
Tube: Liverpool Street and Moorgate.
Next Dates in King’s Cross:
Dates: Every Wednesday for 8 weeks from Wednesday 5th June 2019. Show on Wednesday 31st July 2019.
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm.
Price: £215. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remaining £115 at the start of the course.
Teacher: Gemma Arrowsmith (with guest teacher for one week).
Workshop Venue: The Pauline Quirke Academy (previously known as Poor School), 242 Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9JY.
Tube: Kings Cross.
Topics:
- Writing sketch comedy for live shows.
- Devising sketch comedy through improv.
- Performing sketch comedy.
- How to create great comedic characters.
- Writing topical sketches for News Revue and other topical shows.
- Variety of sketch structures.
- Inspirations to get motivated and get writing.
- Introduction to writing for Radio, TV, Podcasts.
- Starting your own sketch group.
- How to perform on the live circuit.
At the end of the course you’ll have created a sketch show together as a team that you get to perform live in front of a friendly audience.
We also provide ongoing support after the course as you are welcome to come and perform sketches and develop new material at our venue.
Please note that because we will writing and performing as a team we don’t advise booking this course if you can’t commit to at least 7 of the workshops and the show, and you will also need to complete writing assignments in-between each workshop to get the full benefit of the course.
sketch level 2: sketch for TV, online, radio and podcasts
An advanced 8 week course on writing sketch comedy for TV, Radio, Online and Podcasts.
We advise only doing our Sketch Level 2 course if you have previously done our Sketch Level 1 course or have previous comedy writing and performing experience.
Dates, Times, Location:
Dates: Every Tuesday for 9 weeks from Tuesday 26th March 2019.
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm.
Price: £215. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remaining £115 at the start of the course.
Teacher: Gemma Arrowsmith (8 weeks) and Steve Roe (camera training for 1 week).
Workshop Venue: Theatre Delicatessen Studios, 1st Floor, next to 2 Finsbury Avenue (off Whitecross Place), London, EC2M 2PP.
Tube: Liverpool Street, Moorgate or Bank.
Topics:
- Writing sketch comedy for TV.
- Writing sketch comedy for Radio.
- Writing sketch comedy for You Tube and other online content.
- Writing sketch comedy for Podcasts.
- Writing topical sketches for NewsJack, The Now Show and other topical shows.
- Technical training on camera angles, lighting and sound for shooting sketches for online.
faqs
What previous experience is required for the Sketch for Stage Course?
No previous writing experience is required but previous improv or acting experience is needed. If you’re not used to being on stage it would be good to do our Level 1: Beginners Improv Course first.
Do I have to perform in the show at the end of the Sketch for Stage course?
No. The show is optional.
What other courses or classes compliment this one?
Our Performance Improv Course gives you lots of experience in performing improv, and our Stand Up Comedy Course is great for writing solo material.
Are there any performance opportunities after the course?
Yes. We run a regular nights people who have done our courses, so you can have a regular place to perform and try out new material. Just get in touch if you form a group and we will happily find a spot for you to perform.
What previous experience is required for the Sketch for Film Course?
You should have previously done our other Sketch Comedy Course or Stand Up Comedy Course or have other comedy writing and performing experience. The Sketch for Film is an advanced course for people with previous writing and performing experience.
Does the Sketch for Film Course have a show at the end?
No. Instead of a show we provide camera training on the last day of the course to help you make your own online sketches after the course.
Will you be doing this course again?
Yes, we do it about twice a year.