Workshops Start This Weekend!

Our latest batch of workshops and courses start this Saturday 30th September. We're excited to meet plenty of new people about to start their journey into the worlds of improv and stand-up comedy.

Our Beginning Stand-Up Comedy course is now full. There are still a couple of spaces left available on our Foundation Improv and Intermediate Improv courses. Foundation Improv can be joined from the second session (14th October) if you would like to join but are unable to attend on the 30th. You can sign up here. Intermediate Improv can also be attended on a drop-in basis - you can find the full schedule of workshops here. Not sure which course is right for you? Get in touch today.

If you're looking to learn new performance skills, develop soft skills in communication and collaboration, or just looking to do something fun on a Saturday afternoon, sign up to one of our courses today! Want the regular updates on our upcoming shows and workshops? Sign up to our mailing list.

Intermediate Classes Announced

We're excited to announce our new line-up of Intermediate Improv classes. Building on skills developed in our Foundation course, each week will take a deep dive on a specific facet or skill of improv comedy. You can sign up for all eight sessions now or attend on a drop-in basis. The full cost of the course is £75 or you can drop-in from £10 a session.

New to Improv comedy? Try our Foundation Improv classes instead. Under expert tutelage you'll learn the core skills and tenets of improvised performance. Not sure which course is right for you? Get in touch today.

Here is the full line-up of Intermediate Improv workshops starting this month!

Sept 30th | GETTING BACK INTO IT with Bron Edge and Sean Mason

After the Summer Break it's time to get back into the groove with this fun and friendly session. Bron and Sean are ready to help you develop your improv skills, with guidance on games and scene work.

Oct 14th | MUST GO FASTER with Sean Mason

Ever stood on the side lines of a scene, overthought an idea and missed your moment to join the fun? Being in the moment and catching lightning in a bottle requires speed and bravery. This workshop will look at ways we can overcome hesitation and get into the action of scenes and games!

Oct 21st | CLOWNING FOR IMPROVISERS with Tom Short

Clowning explores play and struggle and the grotesque. Clowning is an anarchic art form that is rooted in silliness to subvert what is presented and to stay present. Join Tom to learn how to combine this anarchy with traditional improv games to stay present on stage.

Oct 28th | SILENCE IS GOLDEN with Bron Edge

Be in the moment and create whole narratives without saying a word. Bron will help you build better relationships in your scenes using physicality and emotion. Discovery, observation and playfulness are the words of the week... we just won't be saying them out loud.

Nov 11th | GAME THERAPY with Sean Mason

Do you struggle with certain shortform games or game types? In this workshop Sean will explore ways to find new perspectives on games, overcome obstacles and help you build the confidence to conquer those games that get you sweating!

Nov 18th | WELCOME TO THE PUN SHOW with Stephen Armstrong

Are your wits as quick as your feet? The pun game is a type of game that excites some and daunts others. In this workshop, Stephen "Stretch" Armstrong will explore the techniques and skills to step forward and cause pundamonium, create some smash wits and brew up a big mug of the hilari-tea… (Okay, we'll stop for now).

Nov 25th | PLAYING GENRE with Kate McCabe

Ever taken a genre suggestion and not had a clue what to do with it? Don't know your Spaghetti Westerns from your Film Noir? Join Kate as she navigates some of the common and uncommon genre suggestions. In this workshop you'll look at ways of playing with genre conventions for maximum effect.

Dec 2nd | SHOWCASE WARM-UP with Bron Edge and Sean Mason

It's end of term and that always means games! Get ready for the Intermediate Showcase as we revisit some of the skills and games explored throughout the last 8 weeks. Stretch those improv muscles and get show fit!

Dec 6th | SHOWCASE at Fierce Bar, Manchester

Combined with our Beginning Stand-Up Comedy course, the course culminates in a free show for family and friends. All attendees of our Intermediate course are welcome to attend whether you signed up for the full run or just dropped-in.

Excited? Head over to our Intermediate Improv workshops page and sign up for your next improv classes today! We hope to see you at a show or workshop soon!

Autumn Shows and Workshops

It might not feel like it during this heat wave but summer is nearly over! We've just about recovered from our Edinburgh Fringe run - full houses, glowing audiences, lots of fun and very little sleep - and it's time to look to what the rest of the year has in store. With more improv comedy shows and workshops to look forward to there's something for everyone...

The fun kicks off with some fierce competition as ComedySportz heads to Fierce Bar, Manchester on Tuesday 12th September. Get ready for a night of all action, all improvised competitive comedy fun. The venue may be adults only but it'll still be a good clean match! Tickets are just £5 and available online or on the door.

Fierce Bar is also the new home of The Totally Improvised Musical. We'll be composing brand new comedy musicals every first Tuesday of the month. Our next show there on Tuesday 3rd October - get your tickets here. Fierce Bar is a really exciting space in the heart of Manchester's Northern Quarter with plenty of great shows every week.

Wait, there's more...?

We're back for another season at Waterside Arts starting with ComedySportz on Saturday 23rd September (tickets here). Join us for some award-winning family friendly fun and don't forget to dress up for Halloween Spooktacular in October!

The Totally Improvised Musical will also be returning to Chorley Theatre in September. Then we'll once again be celebrating another ComedySportz birthday there in November.

The New Adelphi Comedy Night will be returning to the University of Salford from next month. A night of improv, stand-up and sketch featuring some of the best and brightest up and coming voices in comedy. The first show is in October - tickets are available on the door only.

And is it too early to start talking about the return of The Totally Improvised Pantomime in December? With family friendly and adults only shows there will be plenty of festive fun! Oh yes there will! Some dates are on sale now with more dates and venues to be added soon...

Improv Comedy and Stand-Up Comedy Courses

Want to get in on the fun yourself but don't know where to start? There is still time and space to sign up to our upcoming Foundation Improv, Intermediate Improv and Beginning Stand-Up Comedy courses. Under expert tutelage, you'll learn core skills, develop new connections and have plenty of fun and laughter with workshops for every level of experience. We also have two remaining scholarship places for global majority applicants - get in touch to find out more.

New to comedy? Our Foundation Improv and Beginning Stand-Up Comedy courses are designed to help you find your feet, hone your voice and build up confidence. Got some improv experience? Try our Intermediate Improv course with deep-dives into specific skills and performance tools to help develop your improv. All courses start Saturday 30th September so don't delay and sign up today!

Edinburgh Fringe 2023!

CSzUK is heading back for our 16th Edinburgh Fringe this month! This year we're performing two shows, ComedySportz and The Totally Improvised Musical, every day from the 3rd-16th August. We're proud to once again be part of the Free Festival, giving audiences more opportunities to access shows whilst also making performances sustainable for performers.

We'll also be making guest appearances in other shows across the festival, including our friends at Comedy Club 4 Kids. Be sure to follow our adventures on social media for all the latest news!

ComedySportz (Ages 7+)

Our players have ironed their kits and sharpened their wits for two weeks of all action, all star fun and games for all ages! Every ComedySportz match will see two teams go for gold with improvised gags and games - who wins? YOU decide!

This year we are joined by more players from other ComedySportz teams than ever before. If you're looking for family friendly fun at the fringe, this is one fixture you won't want to miss.

"...skilled and funny with a remarkable ability to think on their feet." Three Weeks ****

Venue: Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters - The Live Room (Venue 272)

Dates/Times: 3rd-16th August | 1.45pm (1hr)

TICKETS

The Totally Improvised Musical (Ages 14+)

Every night is opening night as our team of improvisers compose a brand new comedy musical based on your title suggestions. If you like musicals, and you like comedy, then you'll love The Totally Improvised Musical!

"This Totally Improvised Musical certainly entertained and satisfied its audience and showed every sign of being able to do it again, and again, and again, and…." Buxton Fringe Review

Venue: Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters - The Live Room (Venue 272)

Dates/Times: 3rd-16th August | 6.45pm (1hr)

TICKETS

Our Tickets at The Edinburgh Fringe

As mentioned above, both shows are part of the Free Festival. Audiences can guarantee a seat with a Pay What You Want ticket starting from £5 or take a chance on the day and make a donation at the end (if you can afford to do so). These options help to give audiences more access to the arts whilst also ensuring that shows are sustainable for performers. You can book tickets directly from the Edinburgh Fringe Website or the Edfringe App (available on Apple and Android devices).

Please note: tickets go off sale half an hour before that day's show is scheduled to begin, however, that doesn't necessarily mean it has sold out and you may still be able to get in!

Comedy Courses on Sale for September!

We can finally announce that our comedy courses will return Saturday September 30th 2023. The following courses are running from September:

FOUNDATION IMPROV

Learn the core skills and tenets of improvisation with this fun and friendly course. Each session will focus on a key skill; "Yes, And", Listening, Character, Objects, Story, Scenes and Games. Great for developing new performance skills, building confidence in communication (great for networking) and rediscovering your creativity! No previous experience necessary. More Info/Book Now

BEGINNING STAND-UP COMEDY

Write, develop and perform your first five minute set with this course. Each session will help you find your comedic voice, hone your on stage persona and craft your material with feedback from your tutor and peers. Great for anyone looking to develop comedic writing and delivery skills or build confidence in public speaking! No previous experience necessary. More Info/Book Now

INTERMEDIATE IMPROV

Continue to develop your improv skills as each week hones in on a specific skillset. We're still developing our curriculum for September with more new and exciting classes. Previous improv experience will be assumed. More Info/Book Now

comedy workshops manchester

WHEN/WHERE/HOW MUCH?

Workshops run for 8 sessions in the rehearsal spaces in the New Adelphi Building at The University of Salford. Due to venue unavailability, there will be two skip weeks so the course will conclude Saturday 2nd December. There are plenty of nearby paid parking options nearby and the building is just a short walk from Salford Crescent Station and several major bus routes. The venue is fully accessible.

We continually work to keep our comedy courses as affordable as possible and you can pay in full now or put down a £30 non-refundable deposit. Both the Foundation Improv and Beginning Stand-Up Comedy courses are £115 including the deposit. Intermediate Improv is £75 (also includes deposit). Alternatively, you can attend the intermediate sessions as a drop-in (£10 per session).

THERE ARE TWO FULL SCHOLARSHIP SPACES AVAILABLE for global majority applicants to the Foundation Improv course. Interested? Don't hesitate to get in touch as one of the three available spaces has already been claimed!

You can also book a space on any of these courses as a gift for friends, family or a colleague. You must pay IN FULL at time of booking. Please leave a note when making the booking that this is a gift including the recipients name. We will then contact you for the information of the person you have made the booking for and to send you a gift certificate.

Sign up to our mailing list for regular updates on all upcoming shows and workshops. Alternatively, follow us on social media for all the latest news! We are proudly part of CSz Worldwide and our workshop leaders are fully accredited.