Leicester Workshop History
The first set of workshops, aside from one-off workshops that I've done over the years, started at The Looking Glass in Leicester with the help of Alan Seaman who runs the regular Leicester gig, Ship of Fools. We didn't know quite how many would turn up and whether or not they would enjoy my methods of introducing stand-up. Eight people finished the course and the majority of those remain involved in Stand-up, with Lee Brace getting the So You Think You're Funny finals in Edinburgh this year, and Matt Hollins winning the Leicester Mercury Comedian of The Year for 2004, only eight months attending the workshops. Running from March to June each year, so far 30+ people have completed the course.
Other Workshops
(to come)
Why Stand-up Workshops?
When I first moved down to London to explore comedy I didn't have any contacts. I discovered that workshops in Stand-up were being run at Jackson's Lane Theatre in Highgate, North London. They were rarely any good, but the best ones were when we actually created material and really worked on our acts rather than be chatted to by someone who had no idea how to lead a workshop. Occasionally, and quite by accident, I started to organise these workshops when a guest speaker/comedian didn't show. From then it was always in the back of my mind to run them back in Leicester where help getting into comedy was always non-existent. Aside from that, I couldn't see why a city the size of Leicester shouldn't have a thriving comedy community, like other cities of a similar size. I was the only person from Leicester regularly working on the National Circuit in the nineties and I would always be bumping into acts from, for instance, Newcastle - a city that is smaller than Leicester.
One thing I was acutely aware of was the criticism that goes with the territory, "If you can't do it - teach it!". For that reason I did not start comedy workshops until I was well established on the comedy circuit and working as a stand-up full-time in big clubs.
Northampton Youth Workshop (Nov 2005)
"...the workshop with anthony was fantastic! I'm really looking forward to the others. He made it great fun and v productive but it was also really structured. The kids loved it and emailed me when they got home to say how much they enjoyed it.
Lincoln Workshop, Autumn 2005
Jonathan Dilley Dec 2005
Stuart Wilde, Dec 2005
Leicester Workshops
"After attending the workshops, I'm convinced that Anthony's experience and his subtle style of assistance and encouragement would help absolutely anyone to produce, develop and perform 5 minutes of original material. He's a nice chap as well."
"Doing Anthony's course gave me the opportunity to learn how to perform stand-up, something I'd wanted to try but something I could not imagine myself doing. The course helped me gain enough confidence to express my ideas and get regular gigs."
Mark Charlton (Leicester
Workshops 2004)
"Anthony's workshop lets you give it ago without the
risk of making a fool of yourself infront of hundreds
of strangers (that comes later!!)"
Richard Holmes (Leicester Workshops 2003)
Other comments:
Don't be put off by the words 'Work' or 'shop' "
Anthony King ruined my life!!
Before I met King
my life was an oasis of hope and
aspiration....
....I woke up in a skip this morning!!!
