When people first hear the name Humourversity, they often think it’s a joke. But they soon realise the concept of 'higher education for humour' is only mildly ridiculous, and actually makes a surprising amount of sense.
The Humourversity offers genuinely unique and comprehensive training programs designed to change the way people think about humour and help them to level up their comedy.
Programs combine structured learning, industry-informed knowledge and easy-to-learn techniques with live, interactive opportunities to apply them. All in a creative, encouraging and non-judgemental atmosphere.
A New Era
For more than 50 years, the Humourversity existed almost entirely offline, built around live teaching, practical experience and Pete Crofts’ extraordinary body of humour knowledge.
Now, the Humourversity is evolving with new facilitators, digital learning resources and soon to be an expanded list of programs. What began as Pete’s one-man mission is growing into a broader, collaborative home for humour education.
Pete Crofts - Founder
Pete Crofts left home at 18 to pursue comedy, working as a butcher by day and a joke-teller by night, before comedy clubs existed in Australia. He travelled the country, became a legend of comic legend in Kings Cross and appeared on TV many times, including The Don Lane Show and The Mike Walsh Show.
In 1973, Pete opened the world’s first bookshop devoted to humour, comedy and laughter. The shop became something much bigger. Over the next 50 years, he built one of Australia’s most respected comedy institutions. He spoke at humour conferences and international events such as the World Masters of Business, and trained iconic comedians including Russell Gilbert, Rachel Berger, Tim Smith, the late Dave Grant, Elliot Goblet and many more.
Pete and the Humourversity have also featured in articles by The Age, The Financial Review, Beat Magazine and many more. While no longer teaching, Pete remains active in an advisory role, while continuing to shape the broader direction of the Humourversity.
Thomas Langley - Creative Director
Thomas first came to the Humourversity as a student in 2001, an experience that changed his direction in life. Throughout the early 2000s, he performed stand-up comedy extensively, appearing in hundreds of gigs and MC roles at clubs, events and festivals across Melbourne and Sydney.
Recognised for his imaginative, playful and whimsical style, Tom was known as “the didgeridoo guy”, as playing it became a signature piece of his act.
Stepping away from regular performing for personal reasons, he continued to study at the Humourversity, exploring humour as a tool for wellbeing and developing a unique form of smiling meditation.
Complementing his experience in humour and comedy, Thomas holds a Diploma of Transpersonal Counselling, is a talented didgeridoo player, a relentless ideas man and is responsible for the revival and reincarnation of the Humourversity.
Gavin Baskerville - Program Director
Gavin Baskerville has been dishing out jokes for more than 27 years. Born in Perth and based in Melbourne since 2000, he cut his teeth in iconic rooms including The Espy and The Prince Patrick Hotel, developing the dark-edged wit and joyously sardonic style that have made him a well-respected favourite of the Australian comedy circuit.
His comedy moves easily from sharp social commentary to ridiculous anecdotes and silly puns. He has appeared on The Comedy Channel, The Project and Sunrise, worked as a script consultant on the feature film The Merger, and performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Hobart Comedy Festival and Perth Fringe World.
Since 2007, Gavin has taught stand-up workshops around Australia, helping nervous first-timers and experienced comics develop their writing, performance and stage confidence. He now brings that experience to the Humourversity's growing team.