COMEDY FOR BEGINNERS
WORKSHOPS
Hazel is available to provide workshops for groups and individuals.
Ideal for anyone beginning stand-up.
Great team-building exercise for organisations; instilling trust and confidence within a group as well as being great fun!
Email funnyfarmwiv@hotmail.com to with any inquiries.
Comedy Workshops
Ever wanted to perform stand-up comedy? We can provide workshops tailored for budding comics, fun confidence building for children and motivational corporate team-building events.
We at the Funny Farm can help you get up on stage making people laugh by teaching the basics of writing and performing with confidence.
Hazel has been running comedy workshops for beginners since 2004. Past classes have been run at Essex University and Colne College, Brightlingsea and with Wivenhoe Scouts as well as an ongoing series of classes for all.
The course focuses on building confidence in both writing and performing comedy, and many of our "graduates" are still performing comedy or have reported a huge improvement in their ability to speak in public. One person went on to win a comedy competition after attending a couple of workshops as an absolute beginner.
Hazel has developed a course which uses games and other exercises to help you bring out your inner comic, and write concise funny material. She has taught both adults and teenagers , and is fully CRB checked. She can run courses either one to one or to groups at your place of work or study. Hazel has been trained in motivational techniques and is a qualified TEFL teacher.
For more information email funnyfarmwiv@hotmail.com
"A very useful, enjoyable series of workshops which helped me immensely as a beginner to stand-up comedy" - Paul Byrne, 3rd place, Chortle Student Comedy Competition 2005
Winner North Essex New Comedian of The Year 2008
"Her students, two women and five men, gather around her like an air crew at a briefing and pay respectful attention. Indeed one of the students is actually an RAF squadron leader... It's Wednesday evening and Hazel Humphreys is conducting part two of the six-week comedy course...She is teaching people to be funny. It's a serious business. The subject matter tilts gently from the theoretical to the practical. Participants are given a subject, asked to take a stance on that subject, perform a rant on it and then to neatly wrap it up...
...Her fledglings begin the improvisation session...in my own discreet corner my journalistic reserve breaks down and I start laughing. So does everyone else...
..I initially had my reservations, though abour comedy being 'taught'...and yet having observed Hazel and her students at work I began to realise that...the course is not in itself a box of tricks. It merely shows each students how to open their own particular boxes of tricks. And even if none of these participants ever went on to perform in a club they would have at least gained a measure of poise and confidence.."
Martin Newell, East Anglian Daily Times, 21st March 2009
"It did exactly what it said on the tin: from absolute beginner through to having the skilset and the confidence to do your own credible stand up set. I would just like to say that I found the course extremely useful , fun and would recommend it to any budding stander upper." Chris (New comedian 2009)
"They should call you the Comedy Svengali! Thank you Hazel" - Kelly, graduate, after performing her first comedy gig 2009
"I attended Hazel's comedy course and found it hugely rewarding. As well as making it a lot of fun, Hazel has a really good understanding of how to bring out originality, draw on others for inspiration, and make you feel you can go ahead and do it. I may not be the next Jo Brand, but I have found it's been really helpful for my comedic writing."
- Anna Stenning, writer & journalist
Hazel's stand-up comedy course provided me with a fantastic opportunity to try my hand at performance. Her teaching style is informed but informal with a strong focus on the practicalities of the trade: inspiration, writing, timing, and stagecraft.
While also being a capable teacher, drawing on her own experience as a stand-up, Hazel was also able to encourage a warm and supportive environment in which a group of strangers felt comfortable enough
to perform their material in front of each other.
Following Hazel's course, I was able to perform twice on stage, develop my skills and gain vital experience. I recommend her course to anyone who aspires to do the same.
David Traynier (new comedian)
"Without the help of Hazel and her comedy classes, I would never have had the know how or guts to perform a stand-up comedy gig. I would probably still be rambling to myself in the corner of pubs to be honest.
Hazel is an excellent teacher of comedy and also herself a very funny woman. I have a lot of thanks that I owe to her. Hazel uses a variety of techniques from the really intelligent to the downright hilarious and they all contribute to helping build your confidence, find your own voice and help you become the comedian you really want to be. Thank you Hazel!"
Laura Rumbold, comedian and actress
"the classes were a good way,
in the end, of finding new talent and
giving people the chance to have a go, with some interesting results"
Ian (course graduate 2009)
"Thank you for a great introduction to stand-up"
Piot Walczuk actor, impressionist and comedian
"A new elective, an introduction to stand up comedy taught by comedian Hazel Humphreys. This is a great elective if you have an interest in comedy, want to build up your confidence, want to find your comic voice (I bet you didn’t even know you lost it) or perhaps most importantly of all just want to have some fun!
The first session was excellent; and many ranges of things were ranted and raved about such as an irrational fear of tomatoes, a hatred of spiders and a passion for cop TV. shows. There was also the game ‘it’s worse than that…’ where you say the first thing that pops unexpectedly into your head, this game had people both laughing in stitches and backing away slightly in surprise at each others answers.
A wonderful time was had by all at the elective and they left feeling happy and with a mysterious craving for chocolate! (chocolate sort of became an undercurrent at the elective session).
Above all don’t be scared about coming to the elective and speaking your comic ramblings as the worst they can do is laugh! "
- Review of Comedy Course at Colne College in The Student Newspaper
