Musical Improv Workshop - Last Few Spaces!

Does the thought of improvising songs in your games and scene work fill you with dread? This short course in Musical Improv will help you strike the write note and find the right key to unlock your musical potential!

Musical Improv Workshops Manchester

Musical Improv - Not As Scary As You Think!

ComedySportz players Rachel and Felix will guide you through all the basics of improvising a song, including structure, rhythm and melody. They'll also show you how songs fit into a play to create a musical, and how to improvise lyrics that fit the plot, explore your characters wants and needs, and wow audiences.

The workshop is perfect for anyone hoping to expand their skill set or try something new and more importantly being able to sing/ having musical knowledge is NOT necessary to enjoy the workshop. Likewise, some basic improv scene knowledge would be useful for this two day intensive, but not crucial.

Classes are fun, friendly and affordable. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn a challenging new skill in a safe and supportive environment.

Where and When

The two day short course will run 15th-16th June and be held upstairs in the main theatre space of The Kings Arms, Salford. Each workshop will run 12.30pm-5pm.

How To Book

Visit our workshops page today to secure your space on the course. Don't miss out - there are only a few spaces left!

You can pay in full now (£85) or pay a non-refundable deposit (£30) to secure your space. Want to take part but have to wait until payday? Just drop us an email to make alternative payment arrangements.

This will be our last workshop before the summer as we prepare for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Our regular 8 week courses will return late September/Early October with dates TBA. To make sure you never miss a workshop sign up to our mailing list today.

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Improv Classes - Last Few Spaces!

There are just a few spaces left on our 2 day intensive workshops coming up in June. Sign up today to secure your space on these exciting short courses and improv classes.

Improv Classes Manchester

Longform Improv 1st-2nd June £75

Deposit - Full Price

Attended a few improv classes and jams and always wondered who those Armando and Harold guys are that everyone talks about? Then this short introduction to longform improv has the answer! This two day course will:

A great way to take a deeper dive into the possibilities of improv performance, be in the moment and create engaging characters and relationships. This course will be run by Braínne Edge, ComedySportz UK founder and manager. Braínne has over 15 years experience teaching Improv performance skills around the world and teaches on the University of Salford's Comedy Writing and Performance degrees, one of the first degrees of it's type in the UK.

Whilst some previous improv experience is useful this is a session for all ability levels. Attendees will also receive free entry to Improv Mullet (1st June, 7.30pm) our mixed short and longform improv show.

Musical Improv Workshops Manchester

Musical Improv 15th-16th June £85

Deposit - Full Price

Hate playing musical games in your improv scenes? Terrified of singing in public? ComedySportz players Rachel and Felix will teach you the fundamental skills to create fun, off-the-cuff showstoppers.

This class is a great way to build confidence and learn a challenging but exciting new skill to add to your improv games and scenes. You don't need to have any singing ability or musical knowledge to attend and this workshop is open to all skill levels.

Both courses will run 12.30-5pm each day and be held in the main theatre space at The Kings Arms, Salford. All our workshops are designed to be a safe, supportive environment for you to play, learn and discover.

To secure your space you can pay in full now or just pay the non-refundable £30 deposit. If you would like to attend but know you won't be able to cover the costs until the next pay day please don't hesitate to get in touch so we can make alternative arrangements for you.

There are also two spaces that have just opened up on our Stand Up "Your Next Five Minutes" 1 Day workshop. Find out more here.

These will be our last workshops before the summer so don't delay and sign up today!

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Star Wars Lessons For Improv

This May 4th we thought we’d share some Star Wars themed Improv insights that can be employed on stage and in workshops… and they’re pretty good for everyday life and communication as well!

Star Wars Improv ComedySportz

MAKE GOOD EYE CONTACT (THE FORCE AWAKENS)

Poe Dameron clearly understood the value of eye contact in this scene during Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It's just a shame that his scene partner Kylo Ren didn't join him, leading to this unfortunate moment between the two of them.  Eye contact is an important aspect of communication, especially when initiating a scene.

AVOID QUESTIONS (THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK)

If you keep asking questions you don’t have to come up with any answers. This can often result in scene’s grinding to a halt or your scene partner having to do a lot of the hard work. It’s a trap(!) that is easy to fall in too, especially if you’re worried about making a “bad” choice for a scene. However, making clear statements moves scenes along and allows relationships to grow.

That’s not to say all questions are inherently bad, especially if they can reveal something interesting about a character's thoughts and feelings (or if you’re playing the game “Questions Only”) but if you find your scenes don’t go anywhere think about how many decisions you were – or weren’t! – making.

KEEP FOCUSED (THE PHANTOM MENACE)

Yeah, we know a lot of people didn’t like this scene from the Star Wars: Phantom Menace but Qui-Gon is right here. It’s important to be mindful of your surroundings during your scenes and games; did you just walk through that meticulously mimed landspeeder? Is your scene partner playing a Wookiee or a Kowakian monkey-lizard? Is this a moon or is it a space station?

You never know when you might find a gift or offer for a scene and the improvisers who look slickest are the ones who are completely committed to the here and now, reacting in the moment to actions on - and sometimes off - stage.

Likewise, try not to get stuck in your own head (or an "excessive amount of thinking" as C-3PO might put it) and avoid planning. As Yoda also tells us, "impossible to see, the future is."

COMMIT TO YOUR PUNS (ATTACK OF THE CLONES)

DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL (THE LAST JEDI)

We’re afraid of messing up and feeling embarrassed but if you did something and fully committed to your scene, game or exercise it doesn’t matter if you “failed” at it. Similarly to when Yoda tells Luke, "Do, or do not, there is no try", we hope you feel encouraged to commit to an idea instead of holding back because of a negative fear of messing up.

You can learn from failure without having to be embarrassed by it – in workshops it’s a shared moment for growth and development, in performance it’s an opportunity to play with something new and unexpected. Failure can be fun too!

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU (ROGUE ONE)

And by force we mean scene partners. Working together as a team and looking out for your scene partner’s means you can walk out on stage knowing that everyone has your back.

Want to know more about the ways of the force? Err, we mean, Improv? Check out our workshops page for all the latest on upcoming classes and courses.

 

From all at ComedySportz UK, May The Fourth Be With You!

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Intensive Workshops - Don't Miss Out!

There are just a few spaces left on our intensive workshops this May/June so don't miss out on your chance to sign up to Manchester's longest running  comedy classes this Summer!

Whether you're looking to learn new skills, brush up on some old ones or just want to spend a fun weekend rediscovering your playful side there is something for everyone with our fun, friendly and affordable range of courses.

Musical Improv Workshop Manchester

2 Day Intensive Workshops

Foundation Improv (Full Price - Deposit)

Learn the core skills of Improv comedy with ComedySportz including Yes, And, Listening, Objects and Storytelling.

Beginning Stand Up (Full Price - Deposit)

We'll help you hone your comedic voice with this short course covering everything from material generation to mic technique.

Sketch Writing (Full Price - Deposit)

Craft your sketches in this two day course covering everything from the perfect premise to the killer punchline.

Longform Improv (Full Price - Deposit)

This short introduction to longform improv will explore popular formats and edits. A deeper dive into creating whole improvised worlds and narratives.

Musical Improv (Full Price - Deposit)

Find the key to unlock the skills needed for improvised songs and rhyme. You don't need a great singing voice to take part just a strong desire to have some fun!

1 Day Intensive Workshops

Character Improv (Full Price - Deposit)

Do all of your improv characters feel a little flat? Explore ways to bring new life to your on stage creations.

Presentation Skills (Full Price - Deposit)

Discover ways to engage your audience by employing performance skills to enliven your work presentations and brush up on your networking with confidence.

Stand Up "Your Next 5 Minutes" (Full Price - Deposit)

Completed one of our courses or looking to hone your new material? Stuck in a rut and want to put a bit of spark back into your jokes? Then this stand up comedy class is for you!

 

All prices include a non-refundable deposit (£30 for 2 Day classes, £10 for 1 Day classes). You can pay in full now or pay your deposit to secure your space and pay the rest later.

If you've taken one of our (or similar) improv comedy classes before we will also be running a six week intermediate improv course. This will run at the same time as our intensives so there are discounts for anyone who signs up to multiple courses - get in touch today to find out more.

Our courses and workshops are accredited by CSz Worldwide - one of the world's largest schools for shows and comedy classes.

comedy classes manchester improv stand up sketch

Feedback from our latest 8 week stand up course.

Want to know more about our courses? You can also come along to our Intermediate Workshops Showcase on Sunday 28th April at The Kings Arms (starts 7.30pm) which will be followed by a short improv jam and an opportunity to talk to course facilitators about our comedy classes.

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International Women's Day

To celebrate International Women's Day 2019 we wanted to take a moment to highlight all of the very funny women in ComedySportz Manchester! Below you'll find some of our player's favourite photos and a little about themselves and their time with ComedySportz.

We're extremely proud to have had so many talented women be part of our roster throughout the years, delighting audiences around the world, inspiring young people of all genders to take to the stage, and putting an end to those tired old "women aren't funny though" arguments.

ComedySportz UK was founded in 2001 by Bron Edge and we've been going strong ever since...

Bron Edge

International Women's Day Improv

Bron reffing a ComedySportz Match at the ComedySportz World Championships!

I'm so proud of our strong and funny women who are part of ComedySportz Manchester.  I learn with them and from them every week. We often get comments from some of the young girls who come and watch ComedySportz in Sale, about how funny all our women are, and I hope we inspire them to go forward and do whatever they want to do (as we do for each other). Out of the three people that effectively run ComedySportz these days, two of them are women, that's a pretty sweet ratio. 😀

Rachel Wareing

International Women's Day Improv

Performing as part of the Women in Comedy Festival at The Frog and Bucket!

I enjoy sharing...so hearing an audience laugh or when the penny drops with a workshop attendee, it fills me up with so much joy.

In CSz we are a family, there's so many different dynamics but all with the same goal, to laugh. To make someone smile. To take people away from stressful life.

We are inclusive, we represent that in the women we have in our group.
We have strong female role models to show the younger generation that everyone can be funny and everyone should be included.

Kate McCabe

International Women's Day Improv

Inspiring future funny females at our Halloween Special.

I love performing and teaching comedy SO much. Improv comedy helps me to stay playful and positive and is real life magic.

Working with CSZ has been an amazing gateway to meeting amazing and funny women from all over the world. When you feel like the problem of representation of women in comedy is too real, it’s a salve to get to take the stage with these gals.

Happy International Women's Day everyone!

Carly Tarett

International Women's Day Improv

Carly Tarett.

Maggie Nolan

International Women's Day Improv

Backstage at Waterside Arts! (sorry about the mess)

I have been a part of Csz for coming up to 5 years and I love it because I get to say I am in a team. I never got picked for teams at school because I ran the other way when a ball came at me and I was frightened of hockey sticks.

Vicki Mitchem

International Women's Day Improv

Vicki raising the Manchester flag high at ComedySportz World Championship in San Jose! #sassy

 

Laura Brook-Smith

International Women's Day Improv

ComedySportz played an all-female team at the ComedySportz World Championships last year!

There’ve been loads of great moments over the my two years with CSz. But the whole experience of the show in the photo was very surreal going from a regular customer service job at the time to performing in North Hollywood. Sometimes I have stints of feeling “am I even funny though?”, but the uplifting environment and scale of the event helped me make the most of the bizarre yet extremely fun moment.

Josie Throup

International Women's Day Improv

Josie is one of our latest recruits. See her at a show soon!

I’ve just joined Comedy Sportz and am excited to be part of a female-run team that is full of witty women. I’ve been doing improv for five years, and it’s taught me to do so many things that women aren’t taught to do: to unapologetically take up space on stage and refuse to make myself small, to take on the ‘Professor’ role in a scene and cast another woman as the ‘Astronaut’, to not be afraid to be disgusting and monstrous when the scene needs that.

I also think that Improv is one of the most accessible forms of comedy to women and non binary folks and should be celebrated for that. It breaks the macho mould of a lot of stand up with its focus on team work, support, and fun.

This International Women’s Day may we continue to accept and support people of all genders.

Happy International Women's Day to all of the very talented women in ComedySportz teams worldwide and female improvisers everywhere!

CSz Worldwide Women Improv

Want to see our players in action? Check out our shows page!

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Want to give Improv a go yourself and maybe one day join the ranks of funny ComedySportz women? Sign up to our upcoming Intensives today!

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