Make em laugh
Interested in stand up comedy? The Laugh Garage say it's not such a comical idea.
By Brooke Salisbury
The Cracker Comedy Festival took
Sydney by storm last month, leaving
in its wake a city intrigued by the art
of stand up. Perhaps you’ve been the
toast of friends and family for years;
a witty raconteur, the talk of staff
Christmas parties. Or maybe you’ve
got a killer idea and want to turn it
into a routine. North Sydney’s Laugh
Garage has harnessed the comedic
essence, bringing a five week short
course in stand up comedy to the
public at large.
Workshops are two hours in duration,
introducing the fundamentals of
stand up comedy including writing
material, delivering jokes and reading
a crowd. Additionally, it’s the fi rst
step in developing contacts in an
industry that translates, literally, to
word of mouth. Workshops develop
public speaking skills and summon
confi dence: key components in live
comedy.
Though some expect instant
celebrity after completing a short
course, The Laugh Garage reminds
prospective comedians that the road’s
a little longer than they might expect.
Workshops undeniably progress your
routine, but it’s experience and time
that progresses your career.
The workshops kick off on
Thursday 15 May, with budding
comedians reminded to bring a pen,
paper and their brain: the tools of the
trade. Organisers encourage budding
comedians to bring in a few ideas,
ready to work on.
Held one night a week over 4
weeks, the classes work toward a
Showcase Night at The Riverside
Theatre, Parramatta on Thursday
12 June, where the material you’ve
introduced, developed and fine-tuned
is brought to life in front of an audience.
Organisers say some will go on
to pursue a career in comedy, while
others treat the experience as a bit
of fun, fading into the comedy abyss.
Spaces are strictly limited, with more
information available on The Laugh
Garage website.
While The Chaser’s War On
Everything and Summer Heights
High rouse belly laughs the land over,
armchair comedians Sydneywide are
encouraged to take the next step and
see if an audience thinks they’re as
funny as their wife does.
Check out all the details about the
courses at www.thelaughgarage.com
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