School of Comedy With Tom Roden – Intermediate Sessions

A 7-week stand up comedy course for improvers, culminating in a celebratory open mic night performance. Led by Tom Roden, Co-director of New Art Club, winners of Edinburgh Spotlight – Best Comedy Award. "Comedy with brains, I laughed 'til my face hurt." ★★★★ The Observer "I cannot remember the last time I saw a Fringe audience, as one, leap to their feet…" ★★★★ The Scotsman Have you already taken your first steps into stand up? Did you enjoy it… but feel like there's more in there? Would you like to develop stronger material? Discover more about your comic voice? Get more comfortable performing and refining your work? Spend time with a group of people who want to share the process of developing their performance work? If you've completed a beginners course (or have some equivalent experience), this is your next step. This seven-week intermediate course is designed for those ready to go further with their comedy writing and performance. You will turn rough ideas into structured, performable 'bits', explore and strengthen your unique comedic voice, learn how to edit, shape and sharpen your material, test your work weekly in a supportive environment, and build confidence through repeated performance. By the end of the course, each participant will have developed a five-minute comedy set, which they will perform as part of a celebratory open mic night, with material they can continue to develop and take into other performance settings. The course maintains the same playful, supportive atmosphere as previous iterations, while encouraging a deeper level of focus and commitment to the work. Previous participants: "I have grown in confidence as a result and have a genuine desire to continue developing creatively" "Great atmosphere and dynamics throughout" "I went in anxious as hell but I'm so glad I did it" The practical sessions will include developing and extending comedy ideas into full bits, techniques for editing and tightening material, exploring point of view and comic perspective, structuring sets and creating flow, performing work-in-progress regularly, giving and receiving constructive feedback, and building presence and confidence on stage. Participants will work towards sharing their material in a relaxed, supportive performance setting at the regions leading comedy venue, with opportunities to invite friends and family. Tom Roden brings his unique brand of art-fuelled comedy to create a space that is both rigorous and playful, where participants are encouraged to take creative risks, trust their instincts, and develop work that feels personal, bold and genuinely funny. An exciting, safe and inclusive space for participants ready to take their comedy to the next level. Participants will have the opportunity to perform a short routine in front of family and friends on Thursday 16th July.