Keep developing your stand-up, your way
After a successful graduation, students who are ready to continue developing their comedy may be invited to join the Comedy Performance Programme, our ongoing course for graduates who want to keep writing, performing and improving.
You’ll be invited to join if you show potential and a real desire to keep developing, whatever your ambitions for comedy.
For some, that means getting help to go out on the circuit, find out how to market themselves, build longer sets and take their stand-up further. For others, it’s about keeping the creativity, writing, confidence, laughter and community going alongside a busy life.
Both are absolutely fine.
Runs in term-time, with new terms starting in February and September.
Duration: 8 weeks, including live performance opportunities
Class size: 12–15
Price: £375 per term
Please Note: From the next intake, the standard price will be £425, with an early-bird price of £395 and concessions at £375.
Places are offered to suitable graduates following the Beginners Course.
An ongoing programme
The Comedy Performance Programme gives you somewhere to keep progressing after Beginners.
You can return for further terms as your comedy develops, working alongside graduates from different Brighton Comedy Course groups and continuing to build your material, performance skills and confidence.
Each term brings new exercises, challenges and performance opportunities, so there’s always something new to work on.
What we work on
Depending on the group and your own goals, we’ll cover:
- Developing and polishing new and existing material
- Plenty of practical writing and editing exercises
- Building stronger 5, 7 and 10-minute sets
- Experimenting with different comedy styles and approaches
- Try out new material in a supportive setting
- New joke structures and writing techniques
- Editing material and tightening your set
- Delivery, timing, stage presence and confidence
- Crowd work
- Handling difficult gigs and unpredictable audiences
- Analysing gigs: what worked, what didn’t and why
- Finding and booking suitable comedy gigs
- Building relationships with promoters
- Compering and running your own comedy night
- Comedy competitions and opportunities
- Promoting yourself and developing your comedian profile
There will also be opportunities to watch and analyse live comedy and put what you’re learning into practice.
As much comedy as you want
The programme is deliberately flexible.
You don’t have to spend hours every week writing new material or perform at every available gig.
If you want to push yourself, we can help you build longer sets, find gigs, develop your act and become more confident working the circuit.
If you loved Beginners but simply don’t have the time to devote the same number of hours every week, that’s fine too. You can use the programme as a regular space to write, experiment, perform and stay connected to comedy without it taking over your life.
There will be regular performance opportunities, but you won’t be expected to take every opportunity.
Keep the momentum going
One of the hardest things after finishing a comedy course is losing the structure, encouragement and group you’ve enjoyed working with.
The Comedy Performance Programme gives you an ongoing place to keep creating, trying things out and getting feedback.
Some people join for one term. Others return for several as their comedy and writing practice develops.
And while the programme is designed to help you improve, it should still be something you look forward to.
Who is it for?
The programme is primarily for graduates of the Brighton Comedy Course Beginners Course who are ready to continue after graduation.
Comedians who have trained or performed elsewhere may occasionally be considered where they have equivalent experience.
You don’t need ambitions to become a professional comedian. What matters is that you enjoy comedy, want to keep developing and are prepared to contribute positively to the group.
What happens after Beginners?
Following the graduation gig, Louise offers one-to-one chats with students about their comedy and what they might want to do next.
For those ready to continue, this can include an invitation to join the Comedy Performance Programme.
From there, you can keep developing at a pace that works for you, whether your goal is simply to keep comedy in your life or to see just how far you can take it.
What students say
‘I loved the graduation gig. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done. With kids and a career, I didn’t want to pursue comedy professionally, but I absolutely wanted to keep writing and stay part of the group. The weekly support and banter are brilliant, and it’s given me a writing discipline I didn’t have before. I also love the flexibility. I can perform when I want to, but step back when life gets busy.’
Sam Devlin
‘I can’t recommend the course enough. It gave me the structure and accountability I needed to actually get out there and gig. The mix of writing, performance and industry insight was spot on. By the end, I’d tightened my set, booked real gigs and felt like part of the comedy community.’
Keefy Jewell – Professional comedian and competition winner
‘The comedy circuit can be tough, and it’s easy to lose momentum or let your material go stale. Being on the programme helped me build a strong ten-minute set, get introductions to promoters and, just as importantly, have the support and laughs that came with every week. I genuinely miss it when it’s not term time.’
James Allan
‘I had a blast. It was helpful to have these workshops for ongoing support and to be able to work with different groups and students. During this course I got my confidence back and will continue to give it a go.’
Nat Robinson
‘When I did the graduation gig at the end of the Beginners Course, I knew that I wanted to do more! I’ve completed two terms so far, and the guidance, support, gigs and contacts have helped me see real progress not just in my act but in the gigs I’m booking.’
Karen Jame
