If You Can't Do... Teach!!

Last night saw the completion of the latest of the ten-week Comedy Writing courses I present at Stratford-upon-Avon College. It has only been a few years since I did the previous one, but it has been a nostalgic experience, and I've enjoyed the challenge once more.

To round things off for this term, in last night's class we did another session of writing captions for photographs - again as a competition. We also talked about stand-up, including watching videos of Eddie Izzard and myself. I was able to offer students a gig in Birmingham next month, if they want to have a go themselves.

PLUS... very importantly... I gave out diplomas to students, which they can now frame, hang on the wall, and stare at with pride... or else screw up and throw away.

Actually the students have told me they have enjoyed the course. Over the ten weeks, we've talked about and done work on: Simple Jokes, Cartoons, Topical Jokes, TV and Radio Sketches, and Situation Comedy. Not everything I've tried this term has worked the way that I hoped it would, but comedy is ALWAYS like that!

I'm quite happy with the way the course has gone. I still haven't solved the problem of how - in one two-hour session per week - I stimulate the development of comedy writing skills in different styles for different students.

It's a difficult problem - and I'm sure there isn't a perfect solution - but I am as excited as I have ever been about having another go at it when the next course starts in September 2006.