4th November 2023
Writing and Performing Clean Comedy with Dave Thompson
Writing and Performing Clean Comedy with Dave Thompson is an in-depth, in-person one-day workshop for comedians who want to unite their audience in laughter, family-friendly style.
Book now on Eventbrite, then join us at Farr's School of Dancing in Dalston on 4th November 2023. You can also give this workshop as a gift.
Book now on Eventbrite, then join us at Farr's School of Dancing in Dalston on 4th November 2023. You can also give this workshop as a gift.
Write your awesome label here.
About this workshop
What it is
"Early Bird" Price of £65 is available until 1130pm 23rd October and then the price rises to £85 "Late Booker".It’s tempting--especially for newcomers to stand-up comedy--to take the easy option and use body functions to get laughs. But this limits your appeal. Many audiences and bookers want comedians who are family friendly.
While many people avoid comedians who swear and do body function material, the opposite is almost never true. When did you ever hear someone say “I don't like that comedian, because they don’t swear or talk about crude things?”
If a comedian is funny, audiences don’t notice the absence of rude material.
Being able to do a clean show doesn’t stop you from doing body function material at other times. It does, however, make you more bookable for more shows, including cruise ships, holiday resorts, and corporate appearances.
In short, when you work clean, you increase your earning potential.
Dave Thompson's workshop will show you how to write and perform clean comedy. Get ready to unite your audience in laughter, family friendly style.
You will cover:
- How to find subjects that connect you to your audience, without resorting to the lowest common denominator
- Encountering the spiritual without giving opinions
- Harnessing the power of the unconscious to engage your audience on a deep level
- Divisive and uniting material; personal vs general material; conceptual material vs the “here and now”
- When and how to use different types of material
- Body language, and how to use it effectively
- Exploring status, and how important it is in comedy
- Improvising with mythical material, to discover comed
Visit Eventbrite now to book your place.
While many people avoid comedians who swear and do body function material, the opposite is almost never true. When did you ever hear someone say “I don't like that comedian, because they don’t swear or talk about crude things?”
If a comedian is funny, audiences don’t notice the absence of rude material.
Being able to do a clean show doesn’t stop you from doing body function material at other times. It does, however, make you more bookable for more shows, including cruise ships, holiday resorts, and corporate appearances.
In short, when you work clean, you increase your earning potential.
Dave Thompson's workshop will show you how to write and perform clean comedy. Get ready to unite your audience in laughter, family friendly style.
You will cover:
- How to find subjects that connect you to your audience, without resorting to the lowest common denominator
- Encountering the spiritual without giving opinions
- Harnessing the power of the unconscious to engage your audience on a deep level
- Divisive and uniting material; personal vs general material; conceptual material vs the “here and now”
- When and how to use different types of material
- Body language, and how to use it effectively
- Exploring status, and how important it is in comedy
- Improvising with mythical material, to discover comed
Visit Eventbrite now to book your place.
Who leads it
Dave Thompson has performed stand-up comedy in forty-three countries. Known for his zany style, he's written material for many famous names including Harry Hill, Omid Djalili, Ronnie Corbett, Bruce Forsyth, Stewart Lee, and Phil Nichol.
He has appeared in five feature films and numerous TV shows including Harry Hill’s TV Burp, Al Murray’s ‘Time Gentlemen Please’ and ’The Last Kingdom’ on Netflix. He’s best-known as the actor inside the Tinky Winky costume in the world-famous TV show 'Teletubbies.’
Dave is also a visiting lecturer at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, and on the comedy degree course at Solent University. He has taught comedy courses in London, Cardiff, Brighton, Atlantic College (Wales), Budapest, Nässjö and Örebro in Sweden.
Dave’s novel ‘The Sex Life of a Comedian’, is available on Amazon.
He has appeared in five feature films and numerous TV shows including Harry Hill’s TV Burp, Al Murray’s ‘Time Gentlemen Please’ and ’The Last Kingdom’ on Netflix. He’s best-known as the actor inside the Tinky Winky costume in the world-famous TV show 'Teletubbies.’
Dave is also a visiting lecturer at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, and on the comedy degree course at Solent University. He has taught comedy courses in London, Cardiff, Brighton, Atlantic College (Wales), Budapest, Nässjö and Örebro in Sweden.
Dave’s novel ‘The Sex Life of a Comedian’, is available on Amazon.
What people say
Mike Gunn - Dave Thompson's comedy course kick started my career. I don't think I would be doing comedy today if I had not attended that course.
Susan Murray - Dave Thompson is a fantastic teacher. He has a true comedy mind.
Gary Shaw A very interesting and great fun afternoon. Dave is not only a very funny comedian, but really knows his stuff. Parts of the workshop, I had enormous fun doing, but wasn't sure what they were about. But in hindsight, you can see precisely where they were heading towards.
Samee Raz - Dave is someone who truly cares about his students and will give them the best opportunities he can to help them go as far in their career as possible, I have benefitted immensely from attending his lessons.
Mark Wilson - Dave's detailed constructive feedback has opened the door for me to loads of new comedy opportunities.
Pete Woolly - Dave Thompson is the man to go to learn and help you on your comedy career. His course, with great constructive feedback and unwavering encouragement, gave me the self belief that I can do this - and I will, so watch this space!
Terianne Falcone - In Dave Thompson's course I got trained in the nuts and bolts of structuring a 10-minute spot, I learned about -- get this! -- comic THEORY (ha!) and I discovered my own particular comic strengths. Dave left me with tools that I am now working with. In addition, he is just a helluva person. Take the class!
Jo Wonder - Dave Thompson using twenty years of experience as a pro comedian. Taught us like a judo black belt. We learnt that, to make em laugh- you have to catch people on their back foot, take them by surprise- and it works.
Luke Stickels - In his comedy classes, Dave has an eye for individual strengths and potential, which I reckon comes from his great understanding of comedy, and his respect for how diverse it can be. A good balance practical feedback and a bit of theory and structure, Dave helped me figure out what plain works. I wouldn't have gotten up for my first gig without his encouragement.
Susan Murray - Dave Thompson is a fantastic teacher. He has a true comedy mind.
Gary Shaw A very interesting and great fun afternoon. Dave is not only a very funny comedian, but really knows his stuff. Parts of the workshop, I had enormous fun doing, but wasn't sure what they were about. But in hindsight, you can see precisely where they were heading towards.
Samee Raz - Dave is someone who truly cares about his students and will give them the best opportunities he can to help them go as far in their career as possible, I have benefitted immensely from attending his lessons.
Mark Wilson - Dave's detailed constructive feedback has opened the door for me to loads of new comedy opportunities.
Pete Woolly - Dave Thompson is the man to go to learn and help you on your comedy career. His course, with great constructive feedback and unwavering encouragement, gave me the self belief that I can do this - and I will, so watch this space!
Terianne Falcone - In Dave Thompson's course I got trained in the nuts and bolts of structuring a 10-minute spot, I learned about -- get this! -- comic THEORY (ha!) and I discovered my own particular comic strengths. Dave left me with tools that I am now working with. In addition, he is just a helluva person. Take the class!
Jo Wonder - Dave Thompson using twenty years of experience as a pro comedian. Taught us like a judo black belt. We learnt that, to make em laugh- you have to catch people on their back foot, take them by surprise- and it works.
Luke Stickels - In his comedy classes, Dave has an eye for individual strengths and potential, which I reckon comes from his great understanding of comedy, and his respect for how diverse it can be. A good balance practical feedback and a bit of theory and structure, Dave helped me figure out what plain works. I wouldn't have gotten up for my first gig without his encouragement.
When it is
12:30pm to 5:30pm, 4th November 2023
where it is
Farr's School of Dancing, 17-19 Dalston Lane, E8 3DF
How to get there
By train: Dalston Kingsland, Dalston Junction
By bus: 76, 141, 149, 242, 243, 276, 277, 488
By bus: 76, 141, 149, 242, 243, 276, 277, 488
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