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!

Give the gift of laughter this Christmas!

Looking for a last minute gift for a friend or loved one? You can book a space on one of our 8 week courses commencing 25th January 2020. There are spaces available on both our Foundation in Improv and Beginning Stand-Up Comedy classes. Both fun and friendly courses will run Saturdays 12.30-2.30pm for 8 weeks. A workshop with ComedySportz is great alternative gift this Christmas.

Think you might want a go as well? Then read on for a fantastically festive limited-time offer!

gift of laughter this christmas with improv and stand-up workshops

Available Courses

Discover the core tenets and skills of an improviser with our Foundation in Improv course. Great fun for anyone who wants to rediscover their playful side, work on their listening and focus, build confidence in groups or face the unknown with confidence and laughter.

Write and perform your first comedy routine with our Beginning Stand-Up Comedy course. Great for anyone who wants to build confidence before getting on stage or wants to develop and hone their material and comedic voice. Workshoppers receive valuable industry insight and regular feedback on material.

Both courses are great for people who want to make new friends, build confidence or just do something bold, fun and a little different in 2020! All workshops will be held at Thoughtworks, Federation Street, Manchester; a short walk from Shudehill Interchange or Victoria Station. There is also plenty of paid parking nearby as well as street parking for disabled access. The workshops spaces are fully wheelchair accessible.

How To Book As A Gift

Just let us know when making the booking who the booking is for. Please include the recipients name and contact details so we can contact them with information about the course. Let us know if you need us to contact them after a specific date so we don’t spoil the surprise. We can also email you a gift certificate and info sheet to present on the day.

You must pay the full price of the course at time of booking if purchasing as a gift. If the recipient is not able to attend the course you’ve booked them on they can be transferred onto the next course.

We've all bought gifts for friends that we secretly wanted for ourselves so if you would also like to book a space for yourself on the same course you can! We'll even give you back £30 from your total spend on the first day of the workshops if booking with a friend. This is a limited time offer that expires at midnight (GMT) on the 31st December 2019 so don't delay and book today!

About ComedySportz

We've been entertaining audiences across the UK, USA and Europe since 2001 and host Manchester's longest running improv comedy courses. Our facilitators are all professional comedians and improvisers and are fully accredited by CSzWorldwide, one of the world's largest comedy schools. Our workshops have appeared in The Stage, Cosmo UK and The Guardian Online.

All Upcoming Workshops

All Upcoming Shows

"Is This On?" Starting Stand-Up Classes

Thinking of joining our next Stand-Up Comedy course?  Always wanted to try your hand at Stand-Up but not sure if taking a course is right for you? Read on to find more about our classes...

ComedySportz Stand Up Workshops Manchester

There's No Wrong Reason To Take Stand-Up Classes

Maybe you've always wanted to try your hand at Stand-Up but you're not sure how to get started. Maybe your friends think you're hilarious but you're not sure how to structure your material. Perhaps you want to hone and tighten your comedic writing. You might already have a few gigs under your belt and you want get feedback on your material, and focus on crafting new jokes. Or, maybe you just want to build confidence in speaking in public. Whatever your reason for taking a Stand-Up class you'll get regular feedback to help you find your voice. Classes are a safe and supportive environment to try out ideas, overcome jitters or just enjoy a couple of hours trying to make other people laugh.

There Are A Billion Different Ways To Be Funny

There is no one right way to perform stand-up as everyone has a different sense of humour and style of delivery. So why take a class? Classes are a great way to hone your material, work on the craft of joke telling and see what works. Whether you want to to be a quick-witted One-Liner comedian or develop a surreal character act, workshops are an environment to discover the kind of comedian you want to be.

Even People Who Are Naturally Funny Can Benefit From Workshops

You might be the funniest person your friends know but performing Stand-Up in front of strangers can be a very different experience. Even the naturally funny can benefit from a little direction, helping to shape gags to get maximum laughter from your routines, stories and jokes. They're a great way to get regular feedback from professional stand-ups & peers and to try out new ideas in a supportive environment.

Stand Up Workshops

Learning Stand-Up Can Give You Fresh Perspectives

Successful Stand-Ups tell jokes and stories with clear points of view and the best try to find a new perspective on even the most banal of subjects. Performing Stand-Up encourages you to think outside the box and see things from a new perspective.

Stand-Up Is Not As Solitary As You Think

Stand-Ups are often told "oh, I could never do that. It's too scary." Of course, standing in front of a crowd with only a microphone and a few jokes can seem very scary. However, starting your stand-up career with another group of comics helps ensure you get the support you need to take your first steps onto stage.

Feedback from a previous course. Shared with permission.

Sign Up To Our Stand-Up Classes Today!

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 stand-up 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!

Feeling a little more spontaneous? Why not check out our Foundation in Improv course.

All Upcoming Workshops

All Upcoming Shows