Australia's first comedy school relaunches with August workshops
Humourversity, billed as Australia’s first stand-up comedy school, is relaunching in Melbourne with August workshops and a 10-week course from 1 September.
Founder Pete Crofts started the school in 1973 as a one-man operation. Over decades, he trained aspiring comedians, professional comics, speakers and business leaders to think and speak with more humour.
After Crofts retired, the future of Humourversity looked uncertain. Former student Tommy Langley is now leading the relaunch alongside veteran comedian and teacher Gavin Baskerville.
Langley first took the stand-up programme as a personal challenge rather than a career move. Within a few years, he had performed hundreds of gigs.
“Doing Pete’s stand-up programme literally changed my life, and I didn’t want others to miss out on that opportunity,” Langley said.
Organisers are offering training for people who want stage time and for people who simply want to be funnier. The revived school also runs sense of humour makeovers for both funny and less funny people.
August and September dates
Two-hour Quick-Start to Stand-Up workshops are scheduled for Saturday 15 August and Tuesday 18 August. The Level 1 stand-up comedy programme starts on Tuesday 1 September and runs for 10 weeks.
A Sense of Humour Makeover Workshop is booked for 12 September. Full dates, times and pricing are available at humourversity.au.
Among Humourversity’s alumni are Jack Levi, also known as Elliot Goblet, Russell Gilbert and Rachel Berger. Gilbert credits the school with giving him the confidence to start stand-up.
Levi has praised Crofts for helping him build the Elliot Goblet character. Crofts also built a successful career as a comedian in his own right.
Langley wants the revived school to serve more than aspiring comics. He believes many adults want to try stand-up but stop after milestones such as a first mortgage.
Langley argues that some people fear it is too late to be funny. He also believes beginners need a clearer path into stand-up.
Baskerville joins the relaunch with 27 years of professional performance experience around Australia. He has taught comedy since 2007.
As a result, the new Humourversity combines Crofts’ teaching legacy with a more collaborative model under Langley and Baskerville. Its Melbourne relaunch restores a comedy school with roots stretching back more than 50 years.
