We've got loads of LIVE and ONLINE shows this month to keep you entertained with more all action, all improvised competitive comedy for all ages!
First of all we want to say a big thank you to everyone who joined us for our first live shows since early 2020 in May! We hope you had a fun and safe time and can't wait to see you all again at our next live match at Waterside Arts on Saturday 26th June. We'll be back with ComedySportz (book now) and ComedySportz 4 Tots (book now)!
We're also continuing our online matches every Wednesday and first Saturday of the month at 7pm BST. You can watch tonight's match by following the video below - don't forget to subscribe to our youtube channel and never miss a match!
We're also delighted to be joining our friends at Comedy Club 4 Kids at The Core at Corby Cube on Saturday 12th June for some afternoon fun (book now)! For this month's full line up visit our shows page today.
And the fun doesn't stop there! In July there's the ComedySportz Worldwide online championship and we'll be bringing ComedySportz to the Buxton Fringe Festival and Lock 91 in Manchester - more details coming soon! Subscribe to our newsletter to get monthly updates on all upcoming shows and workshops.
With England on course to hit the next stage of the post-lockdown roadmap on May 17th we are extremely hopeful that live shows will return from the end of this month! We are delighted to announce you can now book tickets for ComedySportz and ComedySportz 4 Tots on 29th May 2021 at Waterside Arts, Sale.
ComedySportz is the all action, all improvised competitive comedy show for all ages you don't want to miss! Our teams are ready to go for comedy gold with unscripted gags and games inspired by your suggestions. They've sharpened their wits and ironed their kits for what promises to be a fantastic return to live shows. Who wins? YOU decide!
We are making some temporary changes to keep shows fun and safe for players and audience alike. You can find out more about some of the changes we're making in the video below:
We will continue to follow government guidelines as they are updated and may put additional measures in place before the show. The venue will also have their own COVID safety measures in place - you can find out more about these when booking or by contacting box office directly. After booking you will receive an email from Waterside detailing the safety measures in place for the show. In the unfortunate event that our May show is unable to go ahead you will be able to transfer your tickets to future shows or get a refund.
Not ready to return to live shows yet? We're continuing our online shows on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7pm BST (schedule may change as more venues open up with more live shows returning). Subscribe to our youtube channel today and never miss a show!
If you've been watching BBC's fun new show This Is My House, you might have spotted a familiar face! Dalu joined ComedySportz at the start of 2020 and was about to have his first live show with us when lockdown was announced. Below he reflects on his journey into comedy and shares some of the lessons and advice he has learned over the last two years.
My Journey through comedy has been a great experience within the last 2 years. It initially started with me continually acting like a clown and telling bad jokes at home. My wife having had enough of my poor jokes, decided for Christmas 2019 to get me a place on the Beginning Stand Up coursewith ComedySportz Manchester.
My tutor was John Cooper a great tutor who gave us insight on the important factors of stand-up both in theory and practical application, it was brilliant meeting new people I still to this day maintain a relationship with. At the end of the course there was a showcase to which we all performed a 5-7 min stand up gig, from there we as a group continued to do stand-up gigs across Manchester and support one another within chasing the dream, which was really nice to do feeling like you’re not alone chasing something, whilst also learning and developing with others.
I have always enjoyed acting from a young age, and for many years left that dream to pursue the corporate ladder, and at 35 the itch returned with full effect. At the time I was taking the stand up course I was also in a play with my church developing acting foundations, skills and experience. And by Spring 2019 I was completely back in love with performance so I requested as a birthday present the Comedysportz Foundation Improv course, which I thoroughly enjoyed as I got to combine the elements of performance I enjoy most, comedy, improv and storytelling.
Comedy Improv has taught me a number of things:
Follow your instinct - allow for your natural self to come out.
Character development and commitment- focusing on what makes the character unique.
Allow your mind to wonder- in adulthood we are taught to constrict thoughts, ideas and dreams. Improv allows you to completely do the opposite of that. It helped me embrace my inner child again 😊
For those who are not sure improv is for them I would say, ‘what have you got to lose’? The course is 6 weeks of fun, frolics and a great chance to make a good bunch of friends with similar interests.
The improv course helped in all aspects of my life; in my day job, in my presentation and communication skills, in team working and developing ideas outside the box. For 6 weeks of fun in a safe workshop environment it certainly will help anyone in need of a confidence booster.
As a performer it really helped me refresh, refine and learn so much more about delivery, timing, engagement with audiences and thinking on the spot. Without ComedySportz Manchester, and of course my wife, I wouldn’t have been complete in the last year.
Whilst everyone’s journey is different these skills have allowed me to pursue my dream career. So far I have said “Yes, And” to:
5 paid web infomercials/commercials.
2 Voice over roles
Over 100 online shows – as a member of ComedySportz now
Two episodes of BBC One’s new game show This Is My House (where the casting criteria was specifically for ‘Improv Actors’)
I'm plotting to write a sitcom, with another new friend I met via ComedySportz courses.
Whatever your reasons for taking an Improv course, do it – it might just change your life!
Inspired by Dalu's story? We still have a couple of spaces left on our next Online Foundation Improv Course. It's a great way to build confidence, get creative and make new connections. Whilst we can't guarantee that everyone who completes the course will get to appear on a prime time BBC One show (we really can't), we can guarantee lots of fun! And you don't need a performance background or desire to be on stage or screen, like Dalu says, learning improv skills allows you to develop communication and confidence whatever your background or reason for taking the course. The next course starts Thursday 8th April - book now!
To mark Dalu's TV appearance we devised a ref challenge inspired by This Is My House. We have online shows every Wednesday and Saturday at 7pm BST. Don't forget to to subscribe to our youtube channel and never miss a match.
This Is My House airs on BBC One Wednesday's at 9pm BST. You can catch Dalu's episodes on BBC iPlayer.
We're delighted to be putting on an extra Mother's Day Match this weekend! ComedySportz players - including the ref and the announcer - will be teaming up with their mums for some improvised gags and games on Sunday 14th March.
We've wanted to do this show ever since Lukas' mum had her own ComedySportz shirt made to wear at his birthday a few years ago. We've always talked about doing it but it never came together. While some families are kept apart by the ongoing lockdown we felt now would be a fun way to keep connected. So, we decided to just go for it and do the Mother's Day show online!
Don't miss what promises to be a very unique ComedySportz match this Sunday 14th March. The stream goes live approx. 6.45pm GMT and the match will kick off at 7pm GMT. You can watch the show live at the link below:
We have plenty of great shows coming up this month with special guests from across the CSz Worldwide family. Subscribe to our youtube channel today and never miss a match!
You're in control with our March Mayhem Match this weekend! For this special show you'll not just help decide the winners but you'll also pick the teams and the games they play! It's interactive, improvised and you won't want to miss it!
Never seen a ComedySportz match before? Two teams compete for you laughs with improvised gags and games inspired by your suggestions. It's a battle of quick-wits as our teams go for comedy gold. There's a referee on hand to ensure a good clean match with penalties for bad behaviour and bad jokes. Shows are family friendly and our online shows are free to watch (donations are gratefully received).
For this special match we're putting you in control of every aspect of the show from the teams to the games, so if you have a favourite game we haven't played for a while - or one you just can't get enough of - make sure you're in the chat giving suggestions! You can subscribe to our youtube channel today to never miss a match.
The stream goes live approx. 6.45pm GMT and the match will kick off at 7pm GMT on Saturday 13th March. You can watch the show live at the link below:
And don't miss our first Mother's Day Match on Sunday that sees ComedySportz players team up with their mums for more improvised gags and games!
