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, July 1, 2018
    1:00–4:00pm
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
  • Workshop Session #1
    Sunday, July 1, 2018
    1:00–4:00pm
  • Workshop Session #2
    Sunday, July 8, 2018
    1:00–4:00pm
  • Workshop Session #3
    Sunday, July 15, 2018
    1:00–4:00pm
  • Workshop Session #4
    Sunday, July 22, 2018
    1:00–4:00pm
  • Workshop Session #5
    Sunday, July 29, 2018
    1:00–4:00pm
  • Workshop Session #6
    Sunday, August 5, 2018
    1:00–4:00pm
  • Workshop Session #7
    Sunday, August 12, 2018
    1:00–4:00pm
  • Workshop Session #8
    Sunday, August 19, 2018
    1:00–4:00pm

Meet your teacher

Instructor Profile

Elyce Phillips

Elyce Phillips is a writer/illustrator/comedian/horse enthusiast (not to ride them or anything - they’re just strong and weird and she appreciates that). She’s performed live sketch comedy at festivals around Australia, was Head Writer for The Leak on Channel 31, and now works at Hard Quiz checking all the facts are properly fact-y. You can catch her in Fuck This I Quit, House Sketch, or teaching upcoming sketch writers how to work slimes into their act.

https://www.elycephillips.com/

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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