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 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.
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.
going pro!
If you’ve done our Level 1 Sketch Course we recommend our more advanced Level 2 Sketch Courses with options including Sketch for Radio and Sketch for TV.
Our Level 2 Sketch Courses focuses on writing professionally for TV and Radio. They are 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 who works on top BBC1 Comedy Shows and script edits BBC Radio’s top comedy show for new writers.
Gemma knows her stuff!
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!
level 1: sketch for stage
Dates: Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 9th September 2019, plus show on Wednesday 30th October 2019. SOLD OUT
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm each week.
Price: £230. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remaining £130 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: sketch for radio option
Dates: Every Thursday for 8 weeks from Thursday 19th September 2019. (2 places left) BOOK NOW
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm each week.
Price: £230. Either payable all at once or with an initial payment of £100 followed by the remaining £130 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 2: sketch for TV option
New dates added soon for winter 2019/2020.
gemma arrowsmith
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.”
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.