Wolverhampton Grand Theatre have announced a new young persons’ stand-up comedy project - ‘Stand Up If You Think You’re Funny’ - providing seven free 2 hour workshops to anyone aged 11-16. Throughout these workshops, participants will devise, write and rehearse their own 5 minute piece of stand-up comedy.
The workshops will happen under the guidance of actress and comedian Janice Connolly, well known for her role as Holy Mary in ‘Phoenix Nights,’ starring alongside Peter Kay. Janice is also a well-loved stand-up comedy circuit headliner as her alter-ego Mrs Barbara Nice and is a founder member of the award winning Birmingham-based theatre company; Women & Theatre and has been Artistic Director for the past 20 years. In 2017, she was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Community Arts within the West Midlands.
Grand Theatre’s James Collins said; “To be able to work with Janice to offer these workshops is just another way that we’re able to reach out to the community, especially to local young people. I’m thrilled to be able to offer them the support of one of the region’s most respected comedy perfomers, Janice Connolly, known for her work both locally and nationally across stage and screen. It will be an invaluable opportunity for anyone who takes part to learn the craft of stand-up comedy and an opportunity to perform at the theatre where so many comedians have made the city laugh.”
The workshops - commence on Saturday May 18 - will accumulate in the participants performing their own 5-minute piece of stand-up comedy in an exclusive free show for their family and friends in the Grand Theatre’s Encore Lounge, hosted by Barbara Nice.
It will run every Saturday until June 29 with the exclusive show performed on the afternoon of June 30.
