Soho Labs: Comedy Lab Stand Up Spring Term

Let it all out on our six week online stand-up comedy lab. You can do all 6 online sessions or pick the one (s) right for you. From learning how to generate material to finding your comic voice. Day one: Living room. Sometime in the future: the stage.

All workshops led by Gemma Leader.

We have a number of full bursaries available to cover the cost for anyone unemployed or claiming Universal Credit or other benefits at the moment. Please email dimple@sohotheatre.com if you’d like to make a bursary request.

Schedule:

For all sessions there will be an opportunity to write something (using a game as a starting point) during the sessions. But if you have any ideas or material you are working on, feel free bring them along. If not – don’t worry! The material will be used for exercises that explore the different themes each week

1 – Generating Material – Sat 6 Feb
Learn writing games to generate material, identify joke structures and how to use them and start writing a stand-up set, for performance on stage, or online.

2 – Finding Your Voice/Comic Personae – Sat 13 Feb
Talk about a comedian’s ‘voice’ and look at the various comic archetypes and how they work. Consider how to develop a comedic persona, using games and performance techniques.

3 – Structuring a Set/Building Towards a Full Show – Sat 20 Feb
Examine how to structure a stand-up set, starting with 5 minutes, for the open mic circuit, 10 and 20 minute club sets and building towards a full length show.

4 – Drafting, Redrafting and Editing – Sat 27 Feb
Look at how to edit and redraft your set, using games and writing techniques.

5 – The Industry & The Audience – Sat 6 Mar
Discuss the industry. What is the open mic circuit like? How is the comedy industry adapting to the current situation. What happens when live comedy moves online? Consider the audience and how to manage them.

6 – Performance Techniques – Sat 13 Mar
Develop and refine your comedy performance techniques, for both on stage and online performances.

This is an online event. Bookers will be emailed on a link to the workshop one hour  in advance of their session.

Got a question about this lab? Head to our FAQs here.