Comedy workshop w/ award-winning comic & qualified teacher Tom Short (Salford Uni Comedy Lecturer) & Denzil Ede 4* comedian (one4review)

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April 2026

12:00pm – 6:00pm both days

The Barge Inn, Long Eaton

Ready to take your comedy writing to the next level?

Want to write sharper jokes, stronger characters, and stand up that actually works in performance?

Join Comedy Lab in partnership with East Midlands Comedy Writers for a two-day immersive workshop designed to give you the tools, techniques and confidence to create original comedy that stands out. Whether you're completely new or already developing work, this friendly, practical intensive meets you where you're at.

What You’ll Learn

Across the weekend you will:

Develop your comic voice and point of view

Learn how to structure sketches, scenes, and comedic beats

Create memorable characters with clear motivations and flaws

Use “game of the scene” to heighten ideas

Identify where a joke is (and how to fix it if it’s not landing)

Receive constructive, supportive feedback from peers and facilitators

Write, rewrite, test and polish material

You’ll also learn about how to find performance opportunities, build a writing portfolio, and start submitting comedy professionally.

This workshop is built to be welcoming, accessible and collaborative. Beginners are very welcome — and writers / performers looking to push their craft will also have plenty to chew on.

Workshop Schedule

Saturday 11th April

12:00 – 6:00pm

Exploring comic ideas, voice, structure & collaborative writing tasks.

Sunday 12th April

12:00 – 6:00pm

Developing sketches, character work, script editing, rewrites & sharing work.

There will be short breaks throughout and time in the pub after for those who’d like to continue informal discussion.

Venue

Five Lamps

25 Duffield road,

Derby

DE1 3BH

A friendly pub with a warm atmosphere and space for creativity.

Who’s Running the Workshop?

Comedy Lab has run sold-out writing and performance workshops across the UK, working with new and developing comedians, writers, theatre makers and performers. The focus is on supportive learning, accessible methods, and giving people the tools to express their comedic ideas in clear, confident forms.

This workshop is presented in partnership with East Midlands Comedy Writers to support and strengthen the local comedy community and help writers connect and grow.

Who Is It For?

✅ Writers

✅ Stand-ups

✅ Sketch performers

✅ Theatre makers

✅ Complete beginners with a sense of humour

✅ Anyone curious about comedy writing

No prior experience needed — just bring your ideas and an open mind.

What to Bring

Notebook / laptop / tablet

Your creativity

Optional: Existing ideas or work you’d like to develop

Description supplied by the event organiser.