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About Rob
Stand up
I have performed over 5,000 professional stand-up gigs at just about every major venue in the UK and Ireland, including The Comedy Store, Jongleurs, Up The Creek, The Banana Cabaret and The Hot Water Comedy Club. Engagements overseas include: Guinness Comedy Club (Bahrain), The Comedy Store (San Diego), Cobbs Comedy Club San Francisco and The Brass Monkey, Perth (Australia.)
Writing credits include: Children’s television dramas: ‘Billy & Layla’ and ‘Time Travel.’ Stage plays: ‘Campsite’ & ‘One Step Ahead’ (which was shortlisted for The Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize.)
Acting credits include: Spooks, Watching (sit-com), three of the soaps, Absent (Woman's Hour series on Radio 4) and about 10 short films.
Career Highlight: I am a very keen rugby player (at least I was when I was a bit younger) and have been lucky enough to do several adverts with The England Rugby Team.
The one I did for Powerade was the most full on:
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Teaching CV
CURRENT: Regular teacher at The City Lit (Adult Ed’ College) Stand up comedy
2002-2021. Dept graded ‘Outstanding’ (Beginners & Advanced)
in 2 previous O.F.S.T.E.D. inspections. Sight Reading for auditions
(Currently teaching evening classes online) (Beginners & Advanced)
Weekly drop in Acting Class.
CURRENT: The Sylvia Young Theatre School, main school supply Sight reading, audition technique (Key stages 2-4) Saturday & Summer School tutor, 1999-2021 & improvisation
CURRENT: Tunbridge Wells G.P. Vocational training scheme ‘Improvisation for Doctors’
Annual guest tutor 2008-2021.
CURRENT: Medway G.P. Vocational training scheme ‘Improvisation for Doctors’
Guest tutor 2009-2021.
CURRENT: Ringerike Folk High School (Norwegian students) Comedy improvisation
2014 - 2021
CURRENT: Private groups (Zoom classes) Stand up comedy
March 2020 – to date (over 300 on-line sessions) Comedy improvisation
https://comedyclasses-online.co.uk Drama
CURRENT: Regular supply work with Zen Educate Class cover & TA
Key stages 1,2,3 & 4
CURRENT: Regular supply work with Vibe Teaching Agency Class cover & TA
Key stages 1,2,3 & 4
Regular teacher at The Actor’s Centre, Stand up comedy, sketch
(A drama school for professional actors), 1994-2016 writing & improvisation
Guest Tutor for Welsh EQUITY May 2009 Stand up comedy
& improvisation
Guest Tutor EQUITY conference May 2008 Stand up comedy
Regular guest tutor at The Northern Actor’s Stand up comedy, sketch
Centre, Manchester, 2001-2010 writing & improvisation
The Comedy Club, Athens Stand up comedy
(Through The British Council), 2007
Regular guest tutor at The North East Stand up comedy
Actor’s Centre, Newcastle, since 2002
Cardboard Citizens (Homeless People's Stand up comedy
Theatre Company), guest tutor 2006 & improvisation
Hatfield University Annual Guest Lecturer Classroom Control
Lecturer in classroom control, 2005-2011
N.T.C. Touring Theatre Company Comedy improvisation
Annual guest tutor, 2003-2012
Spread The Word Stand up comedy
Regular guest tutor since 2004
The Arden School of Theatre, Manchester Stand up comedy
Guest tutor, 2003
Raw Hide Comedy Club Improvisation
Guest tutor, 2003
Liverpool Comedy Festival 2003 Improvisation
The Theatre Royal, Bath Stand up comedy
Guest tutor, 2002 (ages 14 to 16) & improvisation
Wandsworth Prison Stand up comedy
Guest tutor, 2001 writing & improvisation
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Stand-up on-line
Learning the tools of stand-up works remarkably well on-line.
A Rough Guide and What to Expect
A good comedian is essentially a good performer and a good writer. Just about every component that goes into making a good comic can be bracketed under those two headings.
At the start of the course we will be looking at where our ideas come from and how we determine which ones have the potential to be developed into routines. Then, as a group we will try and develop an idea and see where the comedy potential lies.
There are many different ways to write stand-up and comedy, formulas and patterns crop up, time and time again. We will examine when and where certain patterns may fit into our own stories.
At the end of each session homework will be set, tasks will include:
· Stories told in a fraction of the number of words.
· Writing with attitude.
· Writing from the point of view you don’t agree with.
· Writing tragedy.
· Moaning exercises.
· Bafflement exercises.
· One-liners.
· Fairy Tale Week.
· Writing in character.
· Improvisation.
With regard to performance, we will be getting a little technical.
Areas covered will include:
· Developing a comedic persona.
· Speech patterns.
· Anticipation moments.
· Variations in mood.
· Variations in pace.
· Variations in volume.
· Physical performances.
· Microphone technique.
· Performing as an emcee.
· Dealing with hecklers.
· Status.
Though lots of exercises and tasks will be set, please do more off your own bat; be pro-active! There are a few comedy books on the reading list, all of which suggest various ways of writing. If you are serious about your comedy you will read at least one, ideally more. The main two that I recommend are Sally Holloway’s and Greg Dean’s.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR NOTES, EVERY EXERCISE IS DONE FOR A REASON
Cost
£80 per course (4 weeks).
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F.A.Q.
How much do they cost?
Stand-up: £80 for 4 classes
Impro: £9 per class
How big are the classes?
Between 6 and 8 students, (though the introduction class, which is non interactive may be much larger.)
Why are the classes so small?
I have found that groups with between 6 and 8, allow everyone to perform and have their work reviewed.
How long does each session last?
1 hour 45 mins, though we do occasionally over run, if we are on a roll.
What are the advantages of learning in a group?
Part of each session will take the form of a writers meeting. If you have an idea that is 'almost there' there will be around 6 other brains helping you to make it work.
Am I expected to do homework?
The group will be assigned a new exercise at the end of each session, which they can choose to do if they wish.
Can I just bring material I am working on?
Yes.
Do I do private sessions?
Yes (cost £45 p/h)
How do I pay?
Please email me at comedywithRob@gmail.com
and I will send details.
Can you teach stand up?
Yes.
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Suggested Comedy Reading List
The Serious Guide to Joke Writing: Published by Book Shaker*
How To Say Something Funny About Anything
By Sally Holloway
(I have several copies of this book if anyone would like one)
Step by Step Stand up Comedy Published by Heinemann Publishing*
By Greg Dean
Teach Yourself Stand Up Comedy Published by McGraw-Hill*
By Logan Murray
Attitude (Wanna make something of it?) Published by Gothic Image*
By Tony Allen
Impro Published by Methuen*
By Keith Johnstone
Impro for Storytellers . Published by Faber & Faber
By Keith Johnstone
Brilliant Presentation Published by Pearson Prentice Hall
By Richard Hall (Business)
Zen and the Art of Stand-Up Comedy Published by Routledge
By Jay Sankey
True Story (this is a novel about stand-up) Published by Random House
By Bill Maher
Successful Television Writing Published by Wiley
By Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin
(this is a book about writing tv dramas)
Save The Cat Published by Michael Wise Productions
By Blake Snyder
It is not a Runner Bean: (Dispatches from a slightly Successful Comedian)
By Mark Steel (Comedy biog) Published by The Do-Not Press*
Reasons to be Cheerful Published by Scribner*
By Mark Steel (Political Comedy biog)
*Strongly recommended.