A B O U T   T H E   C O M E D Y   S C H O O L

The Comedy School is the only arts organisation of its kind in the UK which works with comedy in many different settings.

Founded in 1998 by Keith Palmer, Director, The Comedy School aims to raise the profile of the many uses of comedy, from stimulating personal creativity to encouraging social skills and improving literacy. We achieve this through our innovative workshop, performance and arts projects. These are varied and inclusive, catering for those who wish to be comedians, to work in the arts and the entertainment industries, or to improve their communication skills and confidence.

The Comedy School is committed to enhancing the lives of local communities and developing responsive projects, using the arts as media for making learning interactive and fun.

Our unique way of working has enabled the company to take arts practitioners to many varied environments, including schools, prisons, traveller sites and excluded communities across the UK.

Mission Statement

1. To provide a resource for performers, including young people, for net-working, information and skills development through training and courses, and through practical experience in creating and performing comedy based material.

2. To develop the potential of drama and comedy as an educational and rehabilitative tool in settings such as prisons, young offenders' institutions, probation units, police initiatives, drama schools, youth centres, schools, day centres, arts venues.

3. To develop cognitive, communication and performance skills through theatre and comedy and provide a supportive and stimulating environment in which participants can learn different creative techniques.

4. To use comedy, drama and the arts as a forum for analysing issues around peer pressure, cultural contexts, social behavior and personal experiences, which people may find difficult to discuss in more formal situations.

5. To introduce young people and those previously excluded form the arts to positive role models and their own creativity.

Equal Opportunities

The Comedy School is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities in its working practices and aims to make work that is accessible across class, age and culture. It has a multiracial outlook and is open to all. Within the broad context of its work, The Comedy School strives to challenge preconceived ideas surrounding cultural identity and aims to promote diversity and widen access to the arts through its educational and residency work which places no barriers on age, gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, religious belief or physical ability.

Management Structure

The Comedy School is incorporated and limited by guarantee. The director is responsible to the Board of Directors. These are Carolyn Sands, Director of the British American Drama Academy; Martin Rawstorne, of Bevan Ashford Solicitors; Jennifer Hollier, Head of Programmes at the British American Drama Academy; Judith Jacob, actress; and Venice Johnson, an educationalist with 20 years experience. Tom G Penny, Solicitor is the Company Secretary. Skills on the Board include knowledge of law, education practice and arts management. Board members have experience of managing budgets over £1m in their professional capacities.

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