THE COMEDY BLUEPRINT: WRITING & PERFORMING ACROSS STAGE & SCREEN
Comedy isn’t just about being funny, it’s about knowing how to craft humour that connects with an audience, whether they’re in a packed theatre, watching on a screen, or listening through headphones. The Comedy Blueprint: Writing & Performing Across Stage & Screen looks at the essential skills needed to write and perform comedy across multiple formats, from live stand-up and sketch to TV, film, radio, podcasts, and print.
Led by award-winning comedy writer Ray Matsen, this course takes you through the creative and technical aspects of comedic storytelling. You’ll explore the fundamentals of stand-up, honing your voice, developing material, and refining your performance. You’ll learn the art of sketch comedy, from generating characters and scenarios to crafting sketches for live and recorded formats. Delve into TV and film comedy, understanding how writing rooms operate, how sitcoms and narrative comedies are structured, and how to adapt humour for different screens.
The course will also touch on the growing world of digital comedy, how to write and produce short-form sketches for platforms like TikTok and YouTube, as well as the ins and outs of creating engaging content for radio and podcasts. Finally, you’ll explore comedy writing for print and online satire, learning how to craft punchy, shareable pieces.
Through practical exercises, expert insights, and industry know-how, you’ll gain the confidence to develop your comedic voice and bring your ideas to life across any medium.
CLASS FEE
$625 (AUD)
Five week payment plan available, payable in $125 weekly instalments
DATE AND TIME
Tuesdays, 29 April - 3 June, 7-10pm*
*All class times are listed in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
LOCATION
Howard Fine Acting Studio
7 Cozens Street
Brunswick, 3056
CLASS TUTOR
RAY MATSEN
Ray Matsen is an award-winning comedy writer who has created content for some of Australia’s most iconic comedians, including Hamish & Andy, Adam Hills, Rove McManus, and Magda Szubanski. With extensive experience in television, he has written for Spicks & Specks, True Story with Hamish & Andy, Rove, Kinne Tonight, and numerous sketch and light entertainment shows. He was head writer and animation director for the ABC’s kid’s sketch show You’re Skitting Me and is currently co-Head Writer on Andy Lee’s animated series Do Not Watch This Show. Ray’s career spans stand-up, sketch, radio, and children’s television, including writing for Family Feud and Larry the Wonderpup. He has also lectured on comedy writing at AFTRS, WAAPA, RMIT, and Melbourne University.
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Please note: When you register to this event, we will add you to our mailing list and you’ll get access to free resources.
