A professional Writers’ Room Experience - Comedy Lab presents...

Comedy Lab presents: A professional Writers’ Room Experience

Overview:

Ever wondered how a sitcom is developed “in the room”?

Join two experienced industry professionals – Tim Dawson (Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, The Now Show, Breaking the News) and Micheál Jacob (My Family, The Smoking Room, Birds of a Feather, Two Pints) – for a uniquely insightful writers’ room experience.

In this practical three-hour session, a small group of writers will work together to develop - from a simple outline - a television sitcom.

You’ll explore the reality of the creative process used in professional writers’ rooms today, whilst focusing on craft, technique, and collaborative problem-solving.

With just six places available, this is an intimate, one-off chance to get direct insight into how experienced writers shape shows.

What You’ll Do:

1. Development brief

Begin by examining a development document - which we will presume you will have looked at before the day. This will mirror the experience of writers being brought in to work up a new idea for a show (an increasingly common practice at broadcasters and streamers).

2. Shaping the world

From the document, you - the writers - will then flesh out the characters and world, in collaboration with Micheal and Tim.

3. Characters, conflict and comedy

As a writers’ room, you’ll think about the primary and secondary traits of your characters.

How do they fit into the world? How do they create conflict and comedy? Is the ensemble working smoothly? What needs changing? What’s working - and what isn’t?

4. Unique characters in unique stories

By this stage, our show should be feeling vibrant and real.

We’ll now look at story, considering how the characters create stories organically rather than synthetically. We’ll discuss how to generate stories and, if there’s time, generate some ourselves.

Why Take Part?

• Gain direct experience of sitcom development

• Learn inside techniques from two seasoned comedy professionals

• Develop your skills in collaboration, character development, story-lining, and comic opportunity

• Be part of a one-off creative team working toward a shared goal

Who It’s For:

This workshop is ideal for aspiring comedy writers (beginner to intermediate level) looking to sharpen their narrative skills and understand how ideas evolve in a real-world creative environment. It’s about how sitcoms are built – imparting techniques you can then apply – with strong focuses on developing your skills and the reality of the process.

Meet Your Workshop Leaders

Tim Dawson

Tim is a comedy writer and Editor of BCG Pro, the British Comedy Guide’s platform for working writers and comedians. His broadcast credits include Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Coming of Age, The Now Show, Breaking the News, and Not For Turning (BBC Radio 4). He’s been in writers’ rooms on both sides of the Atlantic, including the writers’ rooms for Two Pints, My Family and Hot In Cleveland, and co-created, with Micheál , The House – a participative sitcom for BCG Pro.

Micheál Jacob

Micheál was Creative Head of Mainstream Comedy at BBC Television, where he executive produced Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, My Family, and many other shows. Before joining the BBC, he worked at Alomo Productions, where he script edited Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart.

Only 5 spots available – book now and take your seat in the room.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Methodist Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester, United Kingdom