Summer Workshops

We are delighted to announce new workshops for summer 2024! These comedy classes cover comedy writing and performance skills and there is no previous experience necessary. We're running our one day improv taster session in May. This has been very popular in the last couple of years and is a great introduction to improv for those who want to dip their toes in the water before diving in to a full course! We're also running a two-day sketch writing course in June with a live performance of your sketches to conclude the weekend. It will be a great opportunity to learn comedy writing skills and hear your work live!

4th May | Improv Crash Course | £40

Price includes a £10 non-refundable deposit.

Always wanted to try an improv class but not sure if it's for you? Then don't miss our improv crash course! This session is designed for absolute beginners and will give you a taste of our full Foundation Improv course. We'll cover basic, core improv ideas and skills like "Yes, And", listening and characters... and might even have time for a few games! Perfect for anyone looking to try something new but can't commit to a full course. This workshop will run 1-4pm at The New Adelphi Building, University of Salford. Book Now:

£40.00Add to basket

8th-9th June | Sketch Writing: Script to Stage | £80

Price includes a £20 non-refundable deposit.

This two day course will look at how to develop and write sketch comedy ideas working towards a live script-in-hand performance of your material by our talented crew of performers! Over two classes we will look at the tools and tricks of writing great comedy sketches. From premise to punchlines, classes will explore comedic scenarios, joke writing technique and crafting characters. You will also get an opportunity to see and hear your words performed on stage. Sessions will run 1-5pm on both days with a live performance of your sketches on Sunday 9th starting at 7.30pm. Classes and the showcase will be held at Fierce Bar, Manchester. Book Now:

£80.00Add to basket

Writing with a partner? Book two spaces and use coupon code 'sketchypair' to receive a £20 discount (only valid with this course).

Find Out More About our Comedy Classes

Our full eight week courses will return September 2024. We run regular courses in Improv and Stand-Up Comedy. Our comedy classes have been featured by The Guardian, Cosmo UK, The Stage and Manchester Confidential.

If you'd like to be the first to find out when workshops go on sale sign up to our mailing list or drop us an email. Finally, don't forget to follow us on social media for regular updates on our upcoming shows and workshops. All of our workshop facilitators are fully accredited by CSz Worldwide.

Upcoming Shows!

Thanks to everyone who came to our Leicester Comedy Festival shows and sold-out Totally Improvised Musical at Chorley Theatre this month! Missed out? Don't worry because we have plenty more shows coming up in the next couple of months...

ComedySportz is back at Waterside Arts on Saturday 24th February for more all action, all improvised and award-winning competitive comedy fun! And don't miss our March Mayhem Match on Saturday 30th March. We'll be putting the power in the audiences hands as you pick the teams, the games and the winners. We'll also be choosing two audience members at random to act as coaches to the players and get some sweet swag for their efforts!

The Totally Improvised Musical moves to the first Wednesday of every month at Fierce Bar, Manchester starting Wednesday 6th March. Your very own comedy musical composed on the fly by our players - if we use your title you also get a free pin badge. If that's not worth the price of admission, we don't know what is! We'll also be bringing the musical fun to Waterside Arts on Friday 19th April - tickets are on sale now.

Want to try your hand at improv? Sign up to our one day Improv Crash Course on Saturday 4th May! Get regular updates on all of our upcoming shows and workshops and sign up to our mailing list. Alternatively, you can follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and Tik Tok. Got a question about our upcoming courses? Drop us an email today!

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!

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.

ComedySportz at Waterside Arts

It's the last of our regular ComedySportz matches at Waterside Arts in Sale this month before we take a summer break (not really a summer break as we'll be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe!). Think of this month's show like the FA Cup Final of ComedySportz before our next season kicks off in September. Who wins? YOU decide!

Join us on Saturday 24th June for some all action, all improvised comedy fun! Don't miss the weekend's funniest fixture and book tickets now.