Stow College

Understanding Comedy

This course is designed to run over 11 sessions, each lasting 3 hours. The last session is run as a “comedy night” at a venue where the students will perform the material they have worked on.

Students will participate in a full length comedy / variety show which they have created! It is anticipated that this audience will be composed of friends and family or other members of the general public, and the show will take place within a recognised venue. For the final session, the comedy night will be recorded. This will allow for the creation of a DVD for students to take away at the end of the course as a memento and as the start of a portfolio of work. This is considered to be of significantly greater value to the student than the award of a certificate.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements

Course Content

· Different Types and Forms of Comedy
· Understanding Different Techniques
· Writing Comedy – Centrality of Character
· Writing Comedy – Joke Creation / Types of Jokes
· Comedy Improvisation
· Bringing the Elements Together
· Performance & Stagecraft
· Formulation of Final Piece
· Dress & Technical Rehearsal
· Stand Up Comedy
· Improvisation
· Character Comedy
· Slapstick
· Sketch Comedy
· Situation Comedy
· Written Humour