Our Sketch Level 1 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 is very similar to what we teach in Improv Level 3 - The Game of the Scene, except written instead of made up on the spot.

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 time they spend on their recommended rewrites.

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

  • Workshop Session #1
    Sunday, January 14, 2018
    2:00–5:00pm
Instructor(s)
Venue(s)
Course Fees

$525 Full / $475 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
    Sunday, January 14, 2018
    2:00–5:00pm
  • Workshop Session #2
    Sunday, January 21, 2018
    2:00–5:00pm
  • Workshop Session #3
    Sunday, January 28, 2018
    2:00–5:00pm
  • Workshop Session #4
    Sunday, February 4, 2018
    2:00–5:00pm
  • Workshop Session #5
    Sunday, February 11, 2018
    2:00–5:00pm
  • Workshop Session #6
    Sunday, February 18, 2018
    2:00–5:00pm
  • Workshop Session #7
    Sunday, February 25, 2018
    2:00–5:00pm
  • Workshop Session #8
    Sunday, March 4, 2018
    2:00–5:00pm

Meet your teacher

Instructor Profile

Simon McCulloch

Simon McCulloch started improvising with The Improv Conspiracy in 2013. Since then he has performed with a number of shows and teams at the theatre including his current Harold team Peter Helliar. He has trained with the iO Theater and the Second City in Chicago, and is one-fourth of sketch comedy group Trillcumber.

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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