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Writing Courses
We've listed the courses we know about below (as we only update this page about once a quarter some of these might have already started or finished but if you check the associated websites you might find the course you're interested in is about to start again so don't pay too much attention to the dates). If you've attended to any of the below (or know of a course that we don't have listed) do get in touch as we'd love to hear from you. Clicking on to your local university website might also be worth a go - we don't always spot their courses in time! You need to book onto the courses below in advance of turning up. See the website links for full instructions. Jan Etherington's Comedy Course (Middlesex)
Location: The Riverside Arts Centre, Sunbury on Thames, Middx
Date & Time: 17th-18th May / June 8th More Info: comedycourse.biz Tony Kirwood - Writing Quickies (London)
The venue is 5 minutes from Bethnal Green tube, one stop from Liverpool St Station and accessible from all London termini. Location: Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green
Date & Time: 19th April, from 11am to 5pm
Cost: £48 (discounted to £38 if you've attended one of Tony's other courses). More Info: TonyKirwood.co.uk Comedy Central (London)
- an industry overview and a chance to explore the cross-overs with theatre-writing - an introduction to a variety of comic forms as well as a practical showcase of samples and examples - a lively Q and A with Richard Herring - an insider's perspective on various topics including: the Edinburgh Festival, spin-offs and other media, and the comedy scene and current market in London - a creative forum in which to generate and road-test new material and get constructive feedback Location: Soho Theatre (W1)
Date & Time: 5th April 2008, 11am - 6pm
Cost: £75, includes lunch
More Info: sohotheatre.com Tony Kirwood - Grotesque Comedy (London)
This two weekend course could be ideal for duos, trios, etc, building up ideas for sketch comedy. Some performing experience is needed. The course will be at Richmond College's Parkshot building 2 minutes walk from Richmond Station. Location: Richmond College
Date & Time: 29th March and 5th April 2008, from 11am to 5pm
Cost: £95
More Info: To find out more or contact Tony visit: TonyKirwood.co.uk Logan Murray - Stand Up and Deliver (London)
Logan Murray runs about eight or nine courses a year. Midweek evening course consists of 12 three hour sessions and the weekend course runs for 8 weeks (all day). More Info: LoganMurray.com Gill Smith - Writing A Comedy Sketch (Reading)
Gill Smith is a full-time comedy writer and performer. Gill performs stand up comedy around the country on a regular basis. Recent gigs have included Exeter, Eastbourne, Edinburgh, and numerous gigs around different parts of London. Location: Reading University
Dates: Monday 7.00pm - 9.30pm, 14th April 2008 - 9th June 2008
Cost: £79.00
More Info: University of Reading Website James Daniel - Writing a Sitcom (Cardiff)
Places on this course are limited so pre-enrolment is essential. Location: Cardiff University
Date: 10 weeks each term (Wednesdays, 7-9pm)
Cost: £65.00 (concessions available)
More Info: Cardiff University Website Jenny Roche - Writing Situation Comedy (Manchester)In a friendly and practical way, this 8 week course will cover the special features of the situation comedy genre, the devising of characters and situation, and the basics of radio and television writing. Students will be encouraged to devise and write an original sitcom. The course will be tutored by Jenny Roche who has sold comedy material to TV, Radio, theatre and is the published author of many articles on comedy writing and the book 'Teach Yourself Comedy Writing' Location: Manchester University
Length: 8 weeks from 22nd January - 11th Match 2008 (6:30pm - 8pm)
Cost: £112
More Info: The University of Manchester Website Tony Allen Stand-Up Attitude WorkshopsStand-up comedy workshop based on Tony Allen's ground breaking best selling book 'Attitude: Wanna Make Something Of It? The Secret of Stand Up Comedy'. These workshops are now in their 20th year. It's a 7 week course culminating in a showcase in the 7th week. Newcomers as well as experienced comics re-thinking their act are welcome. Location: Carpenter's Arms Date: Mondays, 28th Jan to 10th March Cost: £120 More Info: www.newagenda.demon.co.uk and angwat63@aol.com Raindance Writing Course with Dave Cohen (London)
Location: Diorama Arts Centre (NW London)
Length: 2 days, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December
Cost: £225 + VAT Discount: BSG members can claim a 10% discount. Mention 'BSG' on your form. Note: you need to have been a joined up member of this website since at least the start of November to take advantage of this discount - they will be checking with us. Marc Blake - Writing Sitcom / Writing Comedy (London)
Location: City University, London
Length: 10 weeks Time: Mondays at 6.30pm from 14th Jan 2008 More Info: www.marcblake.net Writing Comedy: This general comedy writing course has run successfully for twelve years, producing many luminaries including Katherine Tate, Gina Yashere, Rudy Lickwood and other professional writers and stand ups. It comes highly recommended and places go fast. Sign up now to avoid disappointment. It covers the history of comedy. How to write all kinds of jokes, Stand up, sketches and a broad base of other comedy disciplines, such as theatre, animation film and TV/Radio. Location: City University, London
Length: 10 weeks Time: Tuesdays at 6.30pm from 15th Jan 2008 More Info: www.marcblake.net Sally Holloway (Hastings)
Location: Hastings Length: 9 weeks Time: Wednesdays at 8pm from 9th April 2008 More Info: www.comedycourses.biz Joke Writing Course: Takes place over three consecutive Sundays. Topics include the logic behind jokes and how to apply it, how to find jokes within difficult subject, how to write topical jokes directly from newspapers, how to write under pressure and how to overcome joke writers block. Location: Hastings Length: 3 weeks Time: Sundays at 11:30am from 13th Jan 2008 More Info: www.comedycourses.biz Discount: BSG members can claim a 10% discount. Mention 'BSG' when booking. Note: you need to have been a joined up member of this website since at least the start of December to take advantage of this discount. Bull Comedy Workshops (London)
Location: N8, London
Length: 1 day, various times in the year
Cost: £100+ Disclaimer: These course listings are based upon the marketing material available from the course organisers. The entries above may be inaccurate or out-of-date. We can accept no responsibility for these listings. Please contact the course organiser for further information. Do please report any inaccuracies or omissions to us so we can promptly correct. |
WRITERS' AREA
Attending a writing course or workshop will almost certainly push your enthusiasm and motivation to a new level, provide you with a bucket load of new ideas for your current project and furnish you with the skill you need to ensure that your script is good enough to be broadcast or material good enough to ensure you won't be heckled.
After the huge success of her last comedy writing course, where legendary writer, Alan Simpson (Hancock and Steptoe co-creator) was a guest speaker, the award-winning comedy writer Jan Etherington (Second Thoughts, Faith in the Future, Next of Kin, Duck Patrol) has just announced two new courses. The first takes place on the weekend of May 17th and 18th when her guest speakers will be actor and sitcom star Keith Barron and stand up comic Jay Sodagar. The second course on June 8th is 'Start Funny', a more intensive one day course devoted to advising on your script. Places are limited to ensure that everyone is given as much individual attention as possible.
Nothing is more creative than writing quickies, the 30 second mini-sketches
which punctuate sketch shows, and which give many comedy writers their first
break. This one-day course will get your mind fizzing and give you some
invaluable techniques which could help you make your first sales. As part of
the price, I'll read and give my personal feedback on any quickies you post
to me up to 2 weeks after the course.
A comedy masterclass for writers and performers from all backgrounds and levels of experience. This one-day workshop led by 
This acclaimed course (as recommended by the Times and The New Statesman) has introduced over 900 people to the craft of stand up comedy since it began in 2000. By the end of the course you will know how to write jokes and will have the confidence to stand up on your own and make a group of total strangers laugh.
Would you like to write short comic pieces for stage, screen or the airwaves? Beginners and more experienced writers will be introduced to potential markets and learn how to target their comic writing for the different media and comedy show styles.
Write your own sitcom from start to finish. Over 10 weeks, students learn character, format, story and scripting, with an emphasis on building humour into key areas of the story. By the end of the course you'll have a pilot script and advice on what to do next.
The course is tutored by James Daniel who has co-written sitcoms for BBC Wales. In a 20-year writing career, James has also written video game scripts and sketch material for TV and radio.
This intensive and practical two day course is designed to help aspiring professional comedy writers find their way in to the business, and to develop the skills required to create sitcoms, panel games and sketch shows. If you're already selling jokes or sketches, then it'll help you take further steps down the road to earning full-time. Run by Have I Got News For You writer Dave Cohen. 
Writing Sitcom: An intensive course in the mechanics of writing sitcom, from character through relationships, monsters, plotting and scene by scene breakdowns. This is a highly popular and intensive course. All that is required is an interest in the form. Sign up soon as places quickly disappear! Previous students have gone on to write professionally (e.g. Blue is the Colour, My Family, The Thick of It)
Stand-up Course: Course to develop performance skills. Topics include opening lines, finding your stage persona, writing jokes, getting gigs on the comedy circuit. Also features an end of course show. 
A series of comedy workshops taken by the likes of BBC scriptwriter Keith Lindsay and BBC comedy website editor Brian West. Bull Comedy run three workshops: a tutorial day for sitcom writers, a sketch writing 'boot camp' and a stand-up day.