Workshops Update - Start This Week!

We are excited for our first round of 2024 comedy workshops starting Saturday 20th January. With courses in Improv and Stand-Up Comedy, we're ready to help you unlock your creativity, build confidence and make new connections. But most of all, we're ready to have some fun!

FOUNDATION IMPROV

There are still a few spaces left on our Foundation Improv course including scholarship places for global majority applicants. Learn the core skills of improv comedy over eight sessions. Unlock your creativity and rediscover your playful side. Great for building confidence in communication, teamwork and facing the unexpected. No previous stage experience necessary with this fun and friendly course. Book here.

INTERMEDIATE IMPROV

The schedule of workshops for our next Intermediate course is now live. You can sign up to the full course or attend on a drop-in basis. Send us an email if you are interested in drop-ins and we can send you the venue and workshop information.

Jan 20th | NAIL THAT SCENE with Sean Mason

This session will explore what makes a scene enjoyable for performers and audiences alike by getting back to basics. Shake off those cobwebs and brush up on those scene work skills.

Jan 27th | STARTS, EDITS AND ENDINGS with Bron Edge

This session will look at how to start strong, how to add to a scene and when to get out. All the elements of a satisfying improv scene!

Feb 3rd | BIG CHARACTERS with John Cooper

Go big or go home with this session looking at how we create fast and funny characters. Fill the stage with big characters and emotional choices.

Feb 10th | YOU'RE GROUNDED with Sean Mason

This session will explore how to keep a scene or game grounded with even the most heightened, surreal or unusual suggestions. Zombies have feelings too!

Feb 24th | SUPPORTING CHARACTERS with Kate McCabe

The best improvisers now how to add to a scene without detracting from the work of others on stage. This session will look at how our choices can make each other look like the best improvisers in the world!

Mar 2nd | CLOWNING with Tom Short

This session will explore how the skills of clowning can inform our improv scenes and choices, working together and collaboratively with the audience.

Mar 9th | JUSTIFICATION GAMES with Kate McCabe

This session will explore ways of making this tricky style of short form improv game work best in satisfying and surprising ways!

Mar 16th | GAMES GAMES GAMES with 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.

As always, you can book for the entire course or attend on a weekly drop-in basis. Pay in advance of the coming week's session (week one is live at the link above) or we'll take payment at the end of the session. Sign up here.

BEGINNING STAND-UP COMEDY

Our Beginning Stand-Up Comedy course is currently full. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please contact us via email. We will then contact you should a space become available.

KEEP UP TO DATE

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!

An Improvised Pantomime? Oh yes it is!

The Totally Improvised Pantomime returns this December and tickets are selling fast. With shows across Greater Manchester and Chorley, don't miss out on the all festive fun! An alternative to traditional pantos, this show sees our players create brand new adventures from your suggestions and a sprinkling of fairy dust.

There will be plenty of songs, silliness and maybe even a little bit of sauciness from our Panto Dame. There is something for everyone with family friendly and adults only versions. You've never seen a panto like this before!

UPDATE: Due to popular demand we have added a family friendly date to Chorley Theatre! The 6.30pm show at Waterside Arts on December 9th is now sold out.

THE TOTALLY IMPROVISED PANTOMIME DATES 2023:

December 8th 2023 | Waterside Arts, Sale | 7pm | TICKETS (ALL AGES)

December 9th 2023 | Waterside Arts, Sale | 2.30pm | TICKETS (TOTS SHOW)

December 9th 2023 | Waterside Arts, Sale | 4.30pm | TICKETS (ALL AGES)

December 9th 2023 | Waterside Arts, Sale | 6.30pm | TICKETS (ALL AGES)

December 13th 2023 | Fierce Bar, Manchester | 7.30pm | TICKETS (ADULTS ONLY)

December 15th 2023 | Waterside Arts, Sale | 7.30pm | TICKETS (ADULTS ONLY)

December 16th 2023 | Waterside Arts, Sale | 7.30pm | TICKETS (ADULTS ONLY)

December 19th 2023 | The Peer Hat, Manchester | 7.30pm | TICKETS (ADULTS ONLY)

December 28th 2023 | Chorley Theatre, Chorley | 5pm | TICKETS (FAMILY FRIENDLY)

December 28th 2023 | Chorley Theatre, Chorley | 7.30pm | TICKETS (ADULTS ONLY)

Book now to avoid disappointment with some dates close to or already sold out. These are our last shows of 2023, but we'll be back in the new year with ComedySportz, and The Totally Improvised Musical (more dates on sale soon).

Looking for Christmas gift ideas? Why not check out our comedy workshops starting January 2024. Give the gift of laughter this holiday season, or why not treat yourself? For the latest info on all of our upcoming shows and workshops, follow us on social media or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

It's Our Birthday!

ComedySportz UK turns 22 years old this weekend! Since 2001, we have performed all across the UK and beyond and this month we are celebrating with two very special shows. With birthday shows at our current home at Waterside Arts and our original home, Chorley Theatre, don't miss the fun!

Never seen a ComedySportz match before? Completely unscripted, each show sees red and blue teams compete for laughs with some all-action gags and games. It's fun for all ages and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the action. There’s a referee on hand to ensure a good-clean match with penalties for bad behaviour and bad jokes, and the audiences decides who wins. 

“Twenty-two years is a long time. So long, in fact, that kids who saw our original Chorley shows are now bringing their own kids to watch us,” says performer Bron Edge, who started the team in 2001. "It's great to have done something that so many people have been a part of."

Winning best alternative act at the North-West Comedy Awards in 2022, our five-star team have had sold out shows at major UK festivals including Edinburgh and Buxton Fringe Festivals. We've taught workshops and classes for adults and kids in improv, stand-up comedy, sketch writing and more! Over the years we have delivered workshops for schools and leading UK and international brands. And over time our shows have expanded to cover all kinds of genres. Comedy Unplugged, Improv Mullet, The Improvised Final Frontier, An Improvised Adventure in Time and Space, and so many more! Our current shows include The Totally Improvised Musical, The Totally Improvised Pantomime and the New Adelphi Comedy Night with the students at University of Salford.   

There are two special birthday shows to choose from on Saturday 25th November, celebrating the past, present and future of ComedySportz UK! You can catch us at our regular venue, Waterside Arts, from 6.30pm. Alternatively, at 7.30pm, you can catch a very special Chorley vs. The World match at Chorley Theatre, the venue where it all began. "We're excited to be performing in Chorley Theatre's brand new studio space, so if you hear something creaking you'll know it's our knees and not the stage," adds Bron.

Thank you to everyone who has ever seen a ComedySportz show, taken a class or been part of the team. We wouldn't have got this far without you and, whether it's your first show our your thousandth, we hope you'll join us this weekend! The show can't start without you...

Improvised Musical Shows and Workshop!

The Totally Improvised Musical returns next week for more songs and laughter. And if you're feeling inspired, we're running a one day Musical Improv workshop in April 2022!

It might be a day late but let our cast be your funny valentines on Tuesday 15th February with the opening (and closing night) of two completely unscripted musicals. Whether you're on a date or looking for laughs in all the wrong places you won't want to miss this show at The Peer Hat, Manchester. We have dates for the Totally Improvised Musical booked in until the summer with more shows going on sale soon!

And if that's hitting all the right notes for you, we're also running a one-day Musical Improv Workshop on the 3rd April at Gorse Hill Studios. Designed for performers with experience in improv who are looking to explore their musical side., this session will also cater to experienced musical improvisers looking to expand their skills. The workshop will focus on the creation of small group and solo songs, looking at the structure of a song and methods for creating continuity and meaning within.  Join our musical director Felix Janeway and Rachel Wareing for a day of character driven songs and challenges, if a fun and supportive environment.

All Upcoming Shows

Find Out More About Our Workshops

20th Birthday Weekend!

Don’t miss the funniest fixture of the year as we celebrate twenty years of fun and laughter this month! We have a very special weekend of shows at Waterside Arts and the venue where it all began, Chorley Theatre.

ComedySportz celebrate 20 years of comedy this month. Tickets are available now for dates at Chorley Theatre and Waterside Arts.

“When we started in 2001, it was only meant to be a one off for charity,” says Brainne Edge, manager of CSzUK. Brainne had seen ComedySportz in America and got permission to bring the format to Chorley Youth Theatre, which she was running at the time. “The show proved such a hit that the show has now been going for 20 years.”

Since 2001 we have since gone on to have residencies at renowned comedy clubs The Frog and Bucket and The Comedy Store and now perform monthly at Waterside Arts in Sale, Manchester. We are delighted to once again be returning to Chorley Theatre for a very special 20th anniversary match - especially as last year's match was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Twenty years is a long time to do anything and it truly is you, our audience, that have given the show such longevity. As Brainne explains, “It's a show that anyone of all ages can enjoy. Everything is made up from audience suggestions so we never know what is going to happen.”

Our ComedySportz shows have always been family friendly and we're delighted that the shows keeps being discovered by new audiences. It's been a fantastic twenty years and we hope you'll join us at either of our birthday shows for some all action, all improvised competitive comedy fun!

Chorley Theatre, Friday 19th November

It's Original Chorley Players vs, The World in this special birthday show. We'll be playing plenty of fan favourite games as both teams compete for your laughs! Will Chorley win again...? Probably.

Doors open 7pm. The fun kicks off at 7.30pm. Tickets are available now from the theatre website, box office or Malcolm’s Musicland.

Waterside Arts, Saturday 20th November

It's an Oldies vs Newbs match as some of our longest running players take on the new generation as we celebrate twenty years of gags, games, sketches and songs!

The fun kicks off at 6.30pm. Tickets are available now from the theatre website or box office. Got kids aged 6 and under? Check out ComedySportz 4 Tots at 3pm (same day).

Want to read more about the history of ComedySportz? You can read all about what we've been up to for the last twenty years here. For updates on our shows and workshops you can sign up to our monthly mailing list or follow us on social media. Finally, head here for a line up of all our shows in 2021... and beyond!