Stand-Up Comedy
Learn to write and perform your own original stand-up comedy
Maximum Participants:
8 - 12
Location:
Ross House | 251 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Price:
$1,295 | Early Bird $995 🔥 | Conc $895
Short Description
Stand-Up Comedy - Level 1 is a comprehensive introduction to stand-up comedy. The programme takes students through a structured and multifaceted process to design, write and perform their own original stand-up material, while discovering their unique comic identity, voice, and the skills, attitudes and behaviours of a successful comedian.
Programme Overview
History
Stand-up comedy is a fascinating and relatively modern art form. What we now call ‘stand-up’ emerged in the 1950s & 60s. Stand-up comedians perform important roles within society. Apart from providing entertainment and emotional relief from life’s struggles; they encourage people to look at the world from different perspectives and often provide critical commentary on the absurdities and inequalities in the world.
Scope
The program is designed to breakdown the process of writing and performing stand-up by offering practical instruction on how to craft and deliver comedy that reliably makes people laugh and works across different types of audiences.
Of course just studying comedy theoretically will not make someone funny on stage. The theory helps participants write structured material, which can then be tested in front of their classmates to get live feedback, refine delivery and cultivate their stage presence.
While many comedians perform with little or no training, learning mainly through trial and error, we believe the best approach is to combine this with technical comedy skills and a solid understanding of the art form.
Philosophy
The philosophical aspects of comedy is not just theory. At its core, stand-up is about expressing a personal and original perspective, through humour. Established comedians usually have a clear and recognisable point of view. A key feature of the program is helping participants identify and express their own, uniquely funny way of seeing themselves and the world.
Participant Profile
This program is suitable for:
Beginners who have little or no performance experience
Performers who have stage experience but limited technical or philosophical understanding
Speakers or professionals who want to use humour to improve their leadership and communication
People who want to develop their confidence, challenge their fears or deepen their understanding of comedy
Learning Outcomes
By the end of Level 1, participants should be able to:
Write original stand-up comedy using structured techniques and comedy formulas
Deliver 5-8 minutes of stand-up (from memory) and respond to hecklers or jokes that bomb
Demonstrate a basic understanding of the main principles of comedy
Describe the key personality traits of their on-stage comic identity
Demonstrate understanding of the principle of prepared spontaneity and its role in stand-up comedy
Curriculum Outline
Session 1 - Origin Stories
Session 2 - Foundations of Comedy Writing
Session 3 - The Chemistry of Comedy | 🎬 1st Video Session
Session 4 - Spontaneity, Systems & Saving Lines
Session 5 - Stand-up & Deliver: Delivering Comedy with Real Impact
Session 6 - The Emotional Intelligence of Humour | 🎬 2nd Video Session
Session 7 - Sharpening Your Weapons: The Performer's Edge
Session 8 - The Green Room: Preparing to Kill
Session 9 - Showtime | 🎬 Final Video Session
Session 10 - The Full Package: Your Performance Game Plan
Teaching Method
10 Structured Live Sessions
3 One-to-One Coaching Sessions | 45 min each
Detailed Online Program Manual
Self-directed Activities in Member Portal
Online Learning Community
Delivery
The program is generally delivered in-person however students can also do the program virtually in some cases*.
*Let us know if you live interstate or would find it hard to make in-person
Format
10 Weekly Session
Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, 7:00pm start
1.5 hours per session
3 x Recorded Performance Sessions (Weeks 3, 6 & 9)
Duration: 10 Weeks | 15 Contact Hours
Recommended commitment: Approx 1 - 1.5 hours per week (outside session times)
Prerequisites
Working fluency in English
Access to a computer and internet connection
No prior comedy experience required
Assessment
A Certificate of Completion is awarded to participants who complete at least 80% of the activities, including participation in performance sessions.
Assessment is based on engagement and activity, not on how funny one is. 😊