Present Yourself In 2020!

We received great feedback for our last Presentation Skills workshop and will be running a new one day session in the New Year. If you have a public speaking engagement in 2020 and you'd like to tighten up your delivery or learn how to face a crowd, this fun and friendly workshop is for you!

Use the skills of a stand-up comic to deliver entertaining and engaging presentations. This short intensive session will cover practical methods and discussion on how to increase engagement, develop better storytelling and learn to ad-lib while staying on topic. Our safe and supportive workshop will help you unlock creative thinking and build authentic confidence in front of an audience.

Presentation Skills

"I attended John’s Presentation Skills workshop based on techniques used in Improv and Stand-Up Comedy. It was a different and refreshing way of looking at the skills that we use in presenting. I have been to a number of masterclasses on presenting and got little out of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop and I would be happy to attend again."
- Raj Patel MBE

 

Make public speaking fun again with this interactive one day session which will run Saturday 11th January 2020 12.30-4.30pm. The course will be run by comedian John Cooper.

The workshop will be held at the ThoughtWorks space in Federation House, Balloon St, Manchester. The full cost of the course is £50. You can pay in full now or reserve your space with a £20 deposit (non-refundable) with the rest payable on the day of the course.

You will find a few tips that we shared before our last Presentation Skills workshop here. CSzUK is part of CSz Worldwide and has been delivering effective communication training since 2001.

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2020 Workshop Dates Announced!

We're excited to announce our next batch of 8 week courses in Improv and Stand-Up comedy will commence Saturday 25th January 2020. Don't miss your place and sign up now to our immensely popular comedy workshops. Whether you're looking to develop new performance skills, meet new people or just trying something new altogether our fun and friendly courses have something for everyone. Our workshops have featured in The Stage, Cosmopolitan UK and The Guardian Online. We're delighted to confirm that our workshop spaces are also fully wheelchair accessible.

If you're already thinking about your new year, new you be sure to check out our classes for 2020!

An alternative gift for Christmas

Book a workshop for 2020 today!

Foundation in Improv

Whether you're a budding performer or not, the idea of going off script can be intimidating! Learn the core skills of an improviser and rediscover your playful side with our safe and supportive classes. Develop your listening and communication skills to react and be in the moment. Say 'Yes, And' to Improv! Click here to find out more.

Beginning Stand-Up Comedy

Ever imagined yourself performing stand-up live but don't know how to start? Maybe you just want to develop confidence in public speaking or put a few jokes into an upcoming speech you have to make. Even if you are already performing, this course will help you craft jokes, hone your material and develop your comedic voice. Click here to find out more.

Give the gift of laughter this Christmas!

You can also book a place on either or 8 week Improv or Stand-Up Comedy workshops as a Christmas present for a friend, family member or colleague! Write a note when booking or contact us beforehand to make arrangements. We will provide you with a certificate and info sheet to give on the day. If you think you know someone who would benefit from our classes then give them a gift like no other!

Other Comedy Workshops and Classes

We'll also be continuing to run our improv drop-ins for those looking to learn new skills. We're currently planning another exciting line up of classes which we'll be announcing in the coming weeks. Keep checking back for updates!

We will also be running our sketch writing course again early 2020. Watch this space for dates!

Finally, we're running another Presentation Skills workshops on Saturday January 11th. Our last Presentation Skills intensive proved very popular and we're delighted to be running this class again. Use the skills of a Stand-Up to deliver engaging, entertaining presentations to wow your colleagues in the new year. Secure your space by paying a small deposit or pay in full today!

Find Out More!

ComedySportz UK has been running workshops in Manchester for fifteen years. Our facilitators are fully accredited by CSz Worldwide and have performed and taught all over the world.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch to find out more about our upcoming workshops. Our team will be delighted to answer any questions you might have and help you choose the course that is right for you. Want to see how we put our skills into practice, why not check out a show and members of our team will be happy to answer any questions afterwards.

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Halloween Spooktacular this October!

Ghoulish gags and games abound in our Halloween special at the end of the month. Players will be adding a little pumpkin spice to our usual family friendly show as teams get you screaming with laughter with spooky sketches and songs inspired by your suggestions.

Screaming with Laughter this Halloween

Instead of the red and blue team this month it'll be the Dead and Boo teams vying for your laughs with special themed games. Don’t worry though, there’s still a referee on hand to issue penalties for bad jokes and bad behaviour – like trying to eat your brains!

It'll be great fun for the whole family this Halloween with treats for any audience members in fancy dress. Who wins? You decide!

For families with younger kids there is also ComedySportz 4 Tots at 3pm with plenty of big laughs for little kids.

Our Halloween special is always lots of fun and just the start of a fantastic autumn/winter line up of shows. Don't miss our 18th Birthday weekend on 16th November with shows at Waterside Arts and Chorley Little Theatre - more details coming soon. Then, in December, our Improvised Pantomimes return with shows at Waterside Arts and The Palace Cinema in Longridge!

ComedySportz Halloween Spooktacular

Venue: Waterside Arts, Waterside Plaza, Sale, M33 7ZF
Tickets: £8 Adults £6 Concessions – Book Here
Date: 26th October 2019
Time: 18:30 (2hrs inc. interval)

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Starting Improv Classes

Ever wanted to take an improv workshop with ComedySportz but nervous about taking your first steps? Worry that you're not funny or creative enough? Starting improv classes can be daunting but don't worry, our workshops are fun, friendly and supportive! Here are some tips for taking beginners improv workshops...

improvisation workshop

Don't Try To Be Funny!

We make jokes when we're nervous and uncomfortable and it is quite tempting to try and make jokes instead of engaging with a scene and just trusting that what happens will be funny. Or maybe it won't; just because we're called ComedySportz that doesn't mean every scene you improvise has to be full of laughter! Trust that the funny will come and try to stay in the moment.

Bring A Brick ...Not A House

The two most important words in Improv are "Yes, And", accepting the reality of an idea and then adding something new.

Sometimes we'll hear people say "I could never do that, I'm not imaginative/funny enough!" This is often because people are afraid of the pressure of having to create everything from scratch and are worried they would have to do all the work! In truth, when we improvise we are mostly reacting instead of creating. By remaining in the moment and just having an honest response to what is happening.

Don't feel like you have to bring all the ideas at once, it's a collaborative experience where everyone's ideas are played with. When you come into a scene, bring a "brick" and build the house together - it's a lot more fun that way!

Give 100% Commitment

Sometimes, in Improv, things get weird. Scenes might take unexpected turns and tangents, characters might say or do things you weren't expecting. This can get confusing - especially when you're trying to figure out the "rules" of improvisation/how to play a game. But if you give a 100% commitment to an idea or exercise, no matter how strange, you'll be able to relax, enjoy the scene and take in any instructions. Games might seem a little strange - but there is always a point to playing them, even if that point is just to make us feel comfortable acting a bit silly.

"Failure" Is Just Learning

When people hold back at a workshop it is often because they are too concerned with getting things right or trying not to make themselves look silly. However, as above, if you give 100% commitment to an exercise and "succeed", fantastic, we've all learned something! Likewise, if you give 100% commitment to an exercise and "fail", fantastic, we've all learned something!

Anything that goes "wrong" is just an offer - an opportunity for the scene to go in a new direction or an opportunity to learn something new. Failure isn't scary, it's an important part of play - so don't give yourself a hard time about it!

Starting Improv Classes With ComedySportz

ComedySportz UK has been performing and teaching since 2001. Our workshops have featured in The Stage, Cosmo UK and The Guardian.  If you're thinking about starting improv classes with us we're happy to answer any questions you have before signing up. You can sign up here.

All of our classes and workshop leaders are fully accredited by CSzWorldwide, one of the world's largest comedy performance schools. So, when you take a class with us, you're not just benefiting from our experience but the knowledge of over 30 ComedySportz teams worldwide!

Already taken some improv classes and would like to take your learning to the next step? Try our Intermediate drop ins.

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Presentation Skills Workshop

We're running a Presentation Skills workshop on Saturday 28th September run by ComedySportz player and Stand-Up comic John Cooper. This one day class will show you how to use the skills of a stand up comic to help deliver engaging, entertaining presentations for your work and business.

This fun and friendly session is perfect for anyone looking to build confidence in public speaking or learn new tricks to help spice up their presentations.

Below you will find a few tips and tricks to get you started!

Use the skills of a stand up comic to deliver entertaining presentations

Make A Connection

Whether you're talking to ten people or over a hundred, before rolling out pie charts and bar graphs, you must make a connection with your audience. You're speaking to people, not performing a monologue.

Try sharing a short personal story with a positive outcome in only three sentences; beginning, middle and end. Show your audience that you don't fear them, and you're human.

Once More With Feeling

Like a good comic would, approach your presentation topic from as many angles as you can think of. Try finding fresh ways of expressing the subject. Don't cram too much in. Let your personality come out, it's not an exam.

Give your brain and mouth room to breathe during rehearsal and delivery. Keep the language simple and natural, the way you would normally speak. Don't become a mechanical delivery automaton.

Watch A Stand-Up Comic

If you have a favourite comedian, go and watch them live. Observe how they move and speak. Aside from their jokes, great comedians have a pace and rhythm that complements their personality. They have a strong sense of their own identity and how they are perceived.

What is yours?

Deliver fun and engaging presentations

The Bridge

There's a phrase in stand-up comedy: "Put your best jokes at the beginning and end, and let the middle sort itself out."

As a metaphor, imagine columns supporting a bridge. Place the strongest points of your presentation at the beginning and end. Then think of each topic in your presentation as a pillar, evenly spread across the bridge.

This helps build rhythm to your delivery.

Keep It Clean

Making people laugh is a great way to deliver a talk that will be memorable. It's also a minefield of personal taste, sense of humour and knowing when it is and isn't appropriate within the context of subject you're speaking on.

Comedians learn this the hard way. Three words of advice: Keep. It. Clean.

Take A Presentation Skills Workshop With ComedySportz

If you'd like to learn more you can sign up to the presentation skills workshop here. There will be plenty of laughter and learning and valuable feedback from John. The workshops will run Saturday 28th September 12.30-4.30pm. Workshops are held at the ThoughtWorks space in Federation House, Balloon St, Manchester.

The full cost of the presentation skills workshop is £45. Price includes £10 non-refundable deposit. Alternatively, you can pay the £10 deposit here and pay the rest on the day.

Want to take your learning even further? We're also running an 8 week course in Stand-Up Comedy for those wishing to develop their own material with regular practice performing in a safe and supportive environment.

Looking to build connections, develop your listening and communication or get comfortable with going off script? Why not try our 8 week Improvisation classes?

Both Beginning Stand-Up Comedy and Foundation in Improv commence 5th October and will run Saturdays 12.30-2.30pm for 8 weeks. Visit our workshops pages for more information or get in touch and we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Our workshops and classes are fully accredited by CSzWorldwide so when you take a workshop with ComedySportz you're not just drawing from our 18 years+ experience teaching and performing but from the combined experience of over 30 ComedySportz teams worldwide.

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