IRL COURSE - Stand-up Comedy - In Depth - Beginners

Taught by Lara Ricote

18:30-21:30h - Mondays 

01 Feb - 22 Mar

Graduation show - 26 Mar

What is this course about?

This course is an in depth introduction to the world of writing comedy. We’re going to learn about the basic principles of

building a comedic narrative and the how’s of performing stand-up comedy.

Will I learn to write stories and comedic monologues?

Yes. But that’s not the only thing you’ll learn.

Will I learn the how to get on stage and make people laugh?

Yes, and then some.

Will I learn to love and accept myself, honoring the teachings of the JOKER, being that if I embrace my own sense of humor

nothing can stop me?

Well, I mean... we don’t know if that’s the message the movie is trying to deliver but, yes, sure, we’ll try.

You’ll take 8 classes, each 3-hours short, one per week. We will learn both the theory and the practice of stand-up comedy, from the desk work to the stage.

Each class will consist of a lecture on a specific topic, creative games, and space for writing and feedback.

The final bit of the workshop will be focused on polishing your 5-minute set, getting it ready for performing at our graduation show.

Class 1: Laughter and creativity

● Playing with ideas

● What makes YOU laugh?

● Humor is a state of mind

Class 2: The audience of the joke

● The joke as a communicative act

● Plausibility, hypotheses and expectations

Class 3: Structure

● Structure of the joke: set up and punchline

● Scructure of the set: creating and closing bits

● Rythm: beats and pauses

Class 4: Absurd humor

● Creating meaning to break it

● Delusion and deception

Class 5: Dark Humor

● Benign violation theory

● Does humor have limits?

Class 6: Political Humor

● Transgressions as critique

● Playfulness and ideology

● Who has the mic?

Class 7: To the stage!

● The here and now

● Asking for feedback

● Sculpting our stage persona

Class 8: From the game to the craft

● Turning the process into results

Included in this course: 

A Whatsapp group (‘cause we all love those) for Q&A during the week and to share comedy resources with your peers.

A Google Drive folder filled with:

• Extensive humor theory bibliography

• A categorized link-library of stand up comedians and their sets

• Outlined notes of what we saw each class

• A video of every bit you bring to class (optional) and the feedback you receive

• Illustrated theories in Powerpoint slides

A lovely group of people you’ll give and get feedback from, every time you need it, in or out of class time.

An easylaughs course includes:

• A graduation show at the end of the 8 weeks
• A video of your performance at the graduation show
• FREE entry to easylaughs Friday shows* (for the duration of the course)
• FREE entry to easylaughs Sunday improv workshops* (for the duration of the course)

Lara produces La Risa, a weekly comedy night in Spanish, and co-produces four comedy nights in English.

She’s also a House comedian at The Comedy Embassy, and a co-host of the The Comedy Undergraz Podcast with UvA Radio.

*Please note: We offer free shows and workshops when available. We are currently limited to the amount of people we can accommodate due to COVID-19 restrictions. We are also subject to show and/or workshop cancellations due to COVID-19.

If COVID measures don't allow class to continue in person, we will continue class online.