sketch comedy courses
Taught by Gemma Arrowsmith, a professional comedy writer and performer on the Emmy nominated Tracey Ullman’s show on BBC1 and Script Editor on BBC Radio 4's Newsjack!
level 1: live sketch comedy
Learn how to write and perform sketch comedy. As part of a team you’ll be creating a whole new sketch show from scratch that you then perform live at our comedy club at the end of the course!
You’ll be learning about different sketch structures using video examples, how to come up with premises for sketches, how to develop premises into amazing comedy, how to escalate patterns and games in sketches, how to develop characters, how to edit sketches to find the funny and how to start your own sketch show on the live comedy scene.
You’ll also receive mentorship about the comedy industry, emails with additional writing resources and inspiring homework designed by a professional comedy writer.
At the end of the course you’ll have created a whole new sketch show together as a team that you get to perform live in front of a friendly audience at our club!
No previous writing experience needed, but if you are new to acting on stage it would be best to start with our Beginners Improv Course first.
level 2: radio comedy
Learn how to write professional and funny radio comedy from a professional radio comedy writer and script editor.
This course is hugely relevant to a career in radio comedy writing as you’ll be writing sketches every week for actual radio shows and will also be learning how to submit them to be considered for broadcast.
Shows we will be targeting over the course:
- Newsjack (Radio 4)
- The Now Show (Radio 4)
- The Show What Your Wrote (Radio 4)
- Release the Clowns (Podcast)
- Sketch Please (Podcast)
All taught by Gemma Arrowsmith, a professional radio comedy writer and script editor who has successfully mentored previous Hoopla students into professionally writing for BBC Radio.
We’ll also be running a workshop on podcasting including guidance on microphones, studios, editing and releasing your own comedy podcast.
level 3: TV comedy
Learn how to write professional and funny TV comedy with a professional TV comedy writer/performer from the Emmy nominated Tracey Ullman’s Show (BBC 1) and Tracey Breaks the News (BBC 1).
This course is hugely relevant to a career in TV comedy writing as you’ll be writing sketches every week for actual TV shows and will be learning how to progress in the comedy industry.
Shows we will be targeting over the course:
- Tracey Ullman’s Show (BBC 1)
- Tracey Breaks the News (BBC 1)
- Newzoids (ITV)
- Horrible Histories (CBBC)
- Class Dismissed (CBBC)
We’ll also be running a workshop on how to film your own comedy content for online.
join the community!
After the course you’ll be joining a large community of Hoopla trained writers and performers to build up ongoing writing and performing experience. We have a monthly sketch night at our comedy club where you will be able to build up stage time, and also a friendly welcoming writing group made up of Hoopla’s sketch students.
level 1: live sketch comedy
Dates: New dates for January and February added soon, please contact us if you would like to be added to the waiting list for the next course.
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm each week.
Price: £260. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remaining £160 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, Moorgate or Bank.
No previous writing experience needed, but if you are new to performing it would be best to start with our Beginners Improv Course first.
level 2: radio comedy
Dates: New dates for January and February added soon, please contact us if you would like to be added to the waiting list for the next course.
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm each week.
Price: £260. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remaining £160 at the start of the course.
Teacher: Gemma Arrowsmith, with guest teacher for one week.
Workshop Location: KCBC Hall, Vernon Square, London, King’s Cross, WC1X 9EW.
Tube: King’s Cross.
level 3: TV comedy
Dates: New dates for January and February added soon, please contact us if you would like to be added to the waiting list for the next course.
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm each week.
Price: £260. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remaining £160 at the start of the course.
Teacher: Gemma Arrowsmith, with guest teacher for one week.
Workshop Location: KCBC Hall, Vernon Square, London, King’s Cross, WC1X 9EW.
Tube: King’s Cross.
gemma arrowsmith
Gemma is a professional comedy writer-performer. Her most recent work includes the Emmy nominated Tracey Ullman’s Show (BBC 1) and Tracey Breaks the News (BBC 1). She is also script editor on Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 Extra).
Her other TV and Radio credits include Charlie Brooker’s How TV Ruined Your Life (BBC), Paul Whitehouse’s Nurse (BBC), Dave Gorman’s Modern Life is Goodish (Dave), The Now Show (BBC Radio 4), The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4), Riot Girls (Channel 4), Class Dismissed (CBBC), Bravest Warriors (Cartoon Hangover), Upstart Crow (BBC), Stath Lets Flats, Merlin (BBC), Hustle (BBC), Home Time, Spy, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (BBC) and Dead Boss amongst other things.
Gemma is also sought after in the world of kids’ TV and radio, where her credits include: Vic Reeves’ Ministry of Curious Stuff, 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 her one-woman shows have had successful runs at The Edinburgh Fringe, Brighton Fringe and Vaults Festival.
Her “What were you wearing?” sketch for Tracey Ullman was featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post, Mirror, Metro and more, with over 35 million views on Facebook and was BBC Comedy’s highest rated video of 2017.
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.”
Tracey Ullman’s Show (BBC1)
This sketch was written by Gemma Arrowsmith and was featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post, Mirror, Metro and more, with over 35 million views on Facebook and was BBC Comedy’s highest rated video of 2017.
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 comes after the Level 1 Sketch for Stage Course?
Our Level 2 courses, either Sketch for Radio or Sketch for TV.
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.
Does it matter what order I do the Level 2 courses, Sketch for Radio and Sketch for TV?
No. You can do them in any order whenever it is convenient for you.
Can I just start straight away with the Level 2 Sketch for Radio or Sketch for TV?
We advise starting with our Level 1 Sketch for Stage. The reason is this course introduces a number of different structures and writing methods that are then used in the Level 2 courses, and there won't be time to teach them again from scratch in Level 2. However if you already have a lot of sketch writing and performing experience please contact us and it may be possible to start at level 2.
What previous experience is required for the Level 2 Courses?
You should have previously done our Level 1 Sketch Comedy Course.
Does the Sketch for TV or Sketch for Radio Course have a show at the end?
No. We focus fully on writing professional scripts for submission to TV or Radio in our Level 2 Sketch Courses so don't do a live show at the end.
How often do you do the courses?
The Level 1 Sketch for Stage course happens once every 3 months. The Sketch for Radio and Sketch for TV courses happen once every 6 months.