ComedySportz Lockdown Update July 2020

The world may slowly be re-opening but theatres and venues remain closed to performances. We have started making tentative plans for after the summer but even if we do get to the point where we can perform live again we need to do so responsibly - safety for our players and audience members should always come first. Until then the show will still go online.

Watch online comedy and learn improv and stand up with ComedySportz

WORKSHOPS

We will continue to provide Digital Drop-Ins throughout July. We have recently conducted feedback on our classes and have been delighted with the response. We've taken on your feedback and will be filling the next few weeks with the content you've asked for - the schedule will go live later this week.

We're also delighted to announce that we are finally ready to deliver an online Foundation Improv course! This fun and friendly six week course will commence Thursday 23rd July 2020 and we can't wait! Whether you’re looking to start performing improv comedy, want to improve your listening and communication skills or just want to meet new people in a fun and friendly online environment then this course is for you. Adapted from our regular courses and tailored to online training, these Foundation Improv online workshops will help you learn new skills that can applied on stage and off.

Also, we're running another of our increasingly popular online Stand-Up Comedy courses commencing Monday 13th July 2020. This exciting online comedy course will look at ways of crafting great gags, exploring joke structure, and developing storytelling techniques to hone your comedic voice. There will be weekly writing exercises as well as regular, friendly feedback on your material and performance. This course is ideal for anyone stuck at home looking for laughs and wanting to try their hand at something new.

SHOWS

With more people returning to work and more opportunities to get out of the house we are resting our Friday Fun Time Lunch Time shows for July. However we will still be doing our Witty Wednesday and Super Saturday shows every week at 7pm BST. For a full schedule visit our shows page.

This week players would have been making their way to ComedySportz World Championship in Houston, Texas. We're excited however that there will now be an online championship and we'll have more details soon!

Beyond July we have some very exciting events lined up. 2020 would have been our biggest Edinburgh Fringe yet and we're delighted to be teaming up again with Laughing Horse for their online festival in August. Full dates will be online soon.

If you're reading this and looking for family friendly entertainment for your online festival please don't hesitate to get in touch today!

VIDEOS

We have a brand new video page on the website with a few favourite clips and even full shows from our rewatch series. Perfect if you'd like a reminder of what things used to be like when we could all laugh in the same room together!

THANK YOU

We've been immensely proud of how our players have responded to the ongoing situation and incredibly grateful for your continued support during this time. We're committed to keeping our online shows free but have been very grateful for your donations so far.

Recently, we asked you to give those donations instead to Black Lives Matter, The Proud Trust and Rainbow Noir as well as making contributions ourselves.  We're making plans for more shows supporting charitable causes in the coming weeks and months. We already have some in mind but please get in touch if you know of organisations you think we can bring some awareness to and hopefully raise a little money for.

 

We hope it's not too long until we can all be together again but until then stay safe and keep on laughing!

Lockdown Laughs for LGBTQ+ Charities

This Saturday (13th June 2020) we're hosting an international all-star show of LGBTQ+ ComedySportz players to raise money for two fantastic organisations: The Proud Trust and Rainbow Noir.

Raising money for the Proud Trust with ComedySportz

Inclusivity is at the heart of what we do and we believe coming together to play and have fun is the best way to build bridges. We’re delighted to be bringing LGBTQ+ ComedySportz players together from Manchester UK to the west coast of America for this very special online show.

“CSz has always been about bringing the fun and making accessible shows for EVERYONE. That's why I'm proud that we do PRIDE,” says ComedySportz player Kate McCabe.

ComedySportz has been performing shows online since lockdown went into effect and have been relying on audience donations to support players. For this show however the team are urging audiences to donate to support The Proud Trust and Rainbow Noir, a support group for LGBTQ+ people of colour.

As Braínne, ComedySportz player and manager, explains, “We’re keeping the shows free because we believe representation matters and we don’t want people to miss out on the show if they couldn’t afford to watch, however we will be asking audience members to support our chosen charities if they can afford to do so.”

The Proud Trust is a life-saving and life enhancing organisation that helps LGBT+ young people empower themselves, to make a positive change for themselves, and their communities. Donate here.

Rainbow Noir is a volunteer lead social, peer support and community action group, which celebrates and platforms people of colour who identify as LGBTQ+. Donate here.

The stream will go live on our youtube channel on Saturday 13th June from 7pm BST.  Visit our shows page for a full schedule of upcoming online events.