No prior improv or sketch comedy experience required!

Our Sketch Comedy Writing curriculum launched in late 2016, and is intended to give anyone the tools and theory to start writing sketch comedy for the stage and screen in the tradition pioneered by respected American comedy schools like The Second City and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

The class includes a description of The Improv Conspiracy Theatre's approach to sketch comedy, which has some parallels to our improv program, except written and refined instead of made up on the spot. (Haven't done any improv with us yet? Don't worry, this class is for you!)

Each week students will watch and analyse sketch comedy videos as a group, do table reads of student-written sketches, and discuss possible ways to improve them via rewrites in a collaborative writers' room environment. Each week will feature a different homework assignment (e.g. topical current events sketches, character-based sketches, genre parody sketches, etc.) and a discussion of best practices to ensure that everyone is well-equipped to tackle the assignment.

Students who do their homework each week will leave the course with at least six original sketches, at various levels of polish depending on how much effort they elect to spend doing the recommended rewrites.

As this is a pure writing class, there is no end-of-term performance associated with this workshop.

  • Workshop Session #1
    Monday, September 19, 2022
    6:30–9:30pm
Instructor(s)
Venue(s)
Course Fees

$575 Full / $525 Concession

Plus online booking fee of $5

Prices include GST

Course Prerequisites
This course has no prerequisites
You are eligible for this course
Bookings
This course has concluded

Important dates, venues & times

Course calendar

Workshop Sessions
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
  • Workshop Session #1
    Monday, September 19, 2022
    6:30–9:30pm
  • Workshop Session #2
    Monday, September 26, 2022
    6:30–9:30pm
  • Workshop Session #3
    Monday, October 3, 2022
    6:30–9:30pm
  • Workshop Session #4
    Monday, October 10, 2022
    6:30–9:30pm
  • Workshop Session #5
    Monday, October 17, 2022
    6:30–9:30pm
  • Workshop Session #6
    Monday, October 24, 2022
    6:30–9:30pm
  • Workshop Session #7
    Monday, October 31, 2022
    6:30–9:30pm
  • Workshop Session #8
    Monday, November 7, 2022
    6:30–9:30pm

Meet your teacher

Instructor Profile

Caitlyn Staples

Caitlyn joined the Improv Conspiracy in 2015 and made a name for herself as a valuable resource in the world of comedy writing. Caitlyn studied writing with The Second City and has written and produced two critically acclaimed sketch shows Who We Were and I'm Here (nominated best comedy at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2017) and has many years experience in stage design and show production. You can catch her writing and performing in action on the TIC House Sketch Team and with the comedy team Hit By A BlimpYou can also see her perform improv each week with her Harold Team The Sirens.

Our community watering hole

Enjoy some good times downstairs at Theory Bar

Fancy a beverage after your next show or class session? Our ground floor bar is open Wednesday–Sunday.

Community members and ticket-holders get 10% off*

(* Sundays and Public Holidays excepted)

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