“I’ll call for pen and ink and write my mind”

Sign-ups are now open for the collaborative sketch-writing workshop led by Nikki Lynn Michaelson.

Over the course of five weekends we will write sketches together to make an hour-long sketch-comedy show, and then we get to hear our work read out-loud, on stage before an audience. Read on to find out more about the workshop and the show!

The workshop

What is “collaborative sketch writing”? The process is this: everyone comes to the writer‘s table with a sketch that they’ve written. We read them aloud, give feedback, and trade off sketches for re-writes.

Nikki will offer an assignment each week that you may choose to use or ignore. What matters is that you come in with a sketch. That’s one sketch a week for four weeks, plus re-writes.

What is a sketch? A short scene, song or monologue with intent of comedic effect. We don’t want to give more of a definition than that. Write what you write, and the group will help shape it up during feedback. (Seek out a definition, if it helps you get started.) It will be very interesting to see what people come in with, what the group comes up with, and what style emerges.

Please do not use artificial intelligence to write your sketches! Trust your instincts and abilities, and trust your peers to improve the sketch in the re-write process. The human touch is a beautiful thing 

The dates

There will be two groups: a Saturday group and a Sunday group, each limited to 8 people. Attendance is crucial for this project! Sign up only if you can commit to being present at at least 4 out of 5 meetings.

Every weekend in March, 13:30–16:30

The show

• This will be a reading: meaning minimal staging if any, no props or costumes. Stage directions are to be read aloud.
• Plan for it to take place the first week of April. As of yet date and venue are TBD.
• Readers will be people from outside the workshop, so that the writers can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labour.
• Since we will have two groups, we can do both shows the same night with an interval between.
• Each group compiles 45–60 minutes of its best work. Not all the sketches will make the final cut.
• Whether or not we film the show will be a topic of discussion at the workshop. However, the audience will be asked not to film. Comedy can be misinterpreted when taken out of context, which, in this case, is live theatre.

Writing workshop Sign up! If you’d like to join in our collaborative sketch-writing project sign up below! First name Surname E-mail I should like to join: Saturday group (1, 8, 15, 22, 29 March 2025) Sunday group (2, 9, 16, 23, 30 March 2025) All sessions are from 13:30 to 16:30. Space is limited, so please sign up only if you can commit to attending at least 4 writing sessions. Your personal data I consent to Tagora’s use of my name and e-mail address in the context of the organisation of this series of workshops. Please also add me to the mailing list for Tagora’s occasional newsletters. Send