Online Writing Course: Sketch Comedy

This six-week writing course teaches sketch comedy writing, using SNL as a starting point because it has many moving parts, it’s on every week, and its writers have a conceptual blank check to create whatever they want within the confines of the show’s intrinsic qualities. Among other things, the course will cover topical two-line jokes, commercial parodies and digital shorts, TV and film parody sketches, existing character scenes, and a larger ensemble scene. Students will also learn the process of putting together a sketch packet and structuring a show.

Weekly Breakdown

Week One: Students learn to write jokes based on headlines and from those jokes create a Cold Opening sketch.

Week Two: Students create a commercial parody and a digital short.

Week Three: Students write and rewrite a live parody sketch based upon a current film or TV show.

Week Four: Students create an existing character scene from within the current cast’s repertoire of characters.

Week Five: Students write a scene that epitomizes their POV.

Week Six: Students create a balanced running order for a completely original, 45-minute show.

Min. participants 6, max. participants 14.

If we have to cancel the event due to low numbers, we will do this with 24hours notice (and you will receive a warning 48 hours before the course if this looks likely).

This course runs every Friday evening from 5th February to 12th March, 7 pm – 9.30 pm GMT

Whatever the level of ability required, all of our classes are safe, supportive environments led by our experienced teachers. Please email us if you are unsure whether a class is suitable for you. If you sign up for a class inappropriate to your level the Nursery/Maydays reserved the right to remove you from the class without refund.