What The Comedy School does

The Comedy School is a UK-registered charity (charity no. 1120951) and company limited by guarantee, founded in 1998 by Keith Palmer MBE and headquartered at 14-15 Gloucester Gate, London, with an additional site in Bristol. The organization delivers comedy-based education across three interlocking lines: individual performance courses (stand-up comedy intensives, improvisation, comedy writing, mime, physical comedy, sitcom writing), corporate training branded Learning Thru Laughter (communication skills, team building, leadership development for clients including PWC, 20th Century Fox, NHS, Unilever, KPMG, Tesco, IHG, Barclays, and Premier League), and social impact programmes (the Wellbeing Project for mental health patients in partnership with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; Comedy for Veterans with NHS Op Courage; the It's No Joke! anti-knife crime programme with the Metropolitan Police; and prison/youth offending rehabilitation work).

The underlying methodology is human-delivered, drawing on improvisation, stand-up performance, theatrical techniques, and communication skills training, executed by a network of 40+ professional comedians and associates. The technology stack is minimal: a content/booking website, GoCardless for membership Direct Debits, and JustGiving for donation campaigns. There is no proprietary software, app, or platform; the "product" is the curriculum and the credentialed tutor network.

Revenue is generated through one-time individual course fees (£65-£500), bespoke corporate training contracts (pricing undisclosed), recurring 'Give with a Giggle' membership donations at £5-£20/month and £1,500/year corporate tiers, and charitable grants (notably £120,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund for the Wellbeing Project). The organization is operationally lean with 1 full-time and 2 part-time staff, supported by a volunteer and associate network, and governed by a board that includes Prof. David Clutterbuck, Roma Hooper OBE, and other sector figures.

Name

The Comedy School

Legal name

The Comedy School Company Limited

Website

https://www.thecomedyschool.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Comedy School is a UK charity that delivers comedy-based courses, corporate training (Learning Thru Laughter), and social impact programmes for individuals, FTSE-grade organizations, and vulnerable populations including mental health patients, veterans, and at-risk young people.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education and Comedy Training

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

Keywords

• Comedy performance training
• Stand-up comedy courses
• Improvisation workshops
• Corporate communication training
• Social impact programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Course and Workshop Fees: Revenue from individual consumers booking comedy courses including stand-up comedy intensive courses, improvisation workshops, writing workshops, and performance training. Courses range from £65-£350 for individual participants.
2. Corporate Training - Learning Thru Laughter: Bespoke communication skills, team building, and leadership development programs for corporate and public sector organizations using comedy techniques. Draws on pool of 40+ professional comedians.
3. Membership and Donations: Give with a Giggle regular donation scheme with membership tiers (Titter £5/mo, Giggle £10/mo, Chortle £20/mo, Guffaw £1500/annum) offering benefits in exchange for ongoing support of community programs.
4. Fundraising and Grants: Charitable donations and grants from organizations including National Lottery Community Fund (£120,000 grant for Wellbeing Project) and Comic Relief to fund social impact programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Comedy School delivers comedy-based education and performance training through in-person stand-up comedy intensives, improvisation, writing, mime, clown and physical comedy workshops for individuals in London and Bristol. It also offers bespoke 'Learning Thru Laughter' corporate training in communication, teamwork and leadership, alongside social impact programmes using comedy as a therapeutic and educational tool for mental health patients, veterans, young people at risk of knife and gang crime, and prison populations.

Product overview

The Comedy School is a registered UK charity providing comedy education and performance training through a diverse portfolio of courses and social programmes. The organisation offers in-person courses including stand-up comedy intensives, improvisation workshops, writing masterclasses, and physical comedy training in London and Bristol. Beyond individual education, it delivers corporate training under the 'Learning Thru Laughter' brand for communication skills and team building. The school also runs social impact programmes including the Wellbeing Project for mental health, Veterans comedy training, anti-knife crime theatre ('It's No Joke!'), and youth gang intervention work. The organisation is funded through course fees, corporate training contracts, membership donations ('Give with a Giggle'), and charitable grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• It's No Joke!: An anti-knife crime performance and workshop project for young people using comedy to address issues of anti-social behaviour and weapons related crime.
• Wellbeing Project
• Give with a Giggle

Products and services

• Six Week Intensive Stand-Up Comedy Course (London) A six-week intensive course guiding participants through becoming a stand-up comedian, from writing initial material to debut performance, culminating in a showcase at Backyard Comedy Club. For aspiring comedians in London.
• Six Week Intensive Stand-Up Comedy Course (Bristol) A six-week intensive stand-up comedy course held in Bristol at Hamilton House, covering material writing, performance skills and stage persona development, ending in a showcase performance. For aspiring comedians in Bristol.
• Introduction to Improvisation Workshop A one-day improvisation workshop for beginners and experienced performers covering fundamentals including unblocking imagination, making offers, positivity, listening and basic performance readiness.
• Introduction to Improvisation Workshop (Bristol) A one-day introduction to comedy improvisation workshop held in Bristol at Hamilton House for beginners and experienced performers.
• Two Day Comedy Writing Masterclass with Rob Grant An intensive two-day masterclass with Red Dwarf co-creator Rob Grant covering idea development, plot structure, character creation, selling ideas and comedy techniques.
• Introduction to Sitcom Writing A workshop with Edward Rowett designed to help participants develop sitcom scripts through analysis, discussion and practical exercises covering plotting, character development and comic voice.
• Funny Theatre Acting / Performance Course A practical and innovative course for performers to enhance comedy acting skills under professional tutelage, covering improvisation, masks, physicality, voice projection and culminating in a live performance.
• Stage Comedy Acting Workshop with Sarah Hughes An exploration of comedy acting for theatre using scenes from modern plays, covering comedy timing, truth of scenes, comic instincts and audition technique.
• Comedy Acting for Television A weekend workshop with Dr Paulette Randall MBE covering comedy performance styles, auditioning, camera work and filmed comedy scenes in a studio environment.
• Mime Workshop with Richard Knight A workshop teaching fundamental basics of illusionary mime principles including the wall, object manipulation, walking techniques and performance with music.
• Physical Comedy Course with John Towsen A two-day physical comedy workshop covering classic bits and gags, inanimate object work, animated partners and visual physical comedy techniques.
• Shakespeare's Comedies Workshop A workshop exploring Shakespeare's comedy through practical activities, verse forms, sub-text understanding and scene performance from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
• Compère, Hosting & MC Workshop with Rudi Lickwood A workshop learning skills of compèring, hosting and MC duties including show planning, audience warm-up, spontaneity, stage management and heckler handling.
• Summer Programme Ages 8-11 A creative summer programme presented with The Pirate Castle combining performing arts and adventure skills including acting, improvisation, stand-up, mask work, singing and kayaking for children aged 8–11.
• Stand-Up Comedy Half Day Taster Workshop A half-day taster workshop introducing elementary stand-up comedy skills for building confidence, creativity and communication abilities.
• Impressionist Workshop with Alan Mitchell A workshop teaching basics of impersonation and mimicry including vocal characteristics, physical signatures, personality access and pitch and pace techniques.
• Impro Drop In Club A self-contained improvisation class for short form and long form enthusiasts to practise and improve skills with Luke Sorba or guest tutors.
• Communicate! Workshop with Keith Palmer MBE A one-day corporate workshop exploring authentic communication using comedy techniques, targeting increased confidence and powerful communication skills for organisations and teams.
• Teamwork thru Improvisation A one-day corporate team-building workshop using comedy improvisation games and exercises to develop collaborative techniques and trust.
• Learning Thru Laughter Corporate Training Bespoke corporate communication, leadership development and personal impact training using comedy techniques to unlock creativity and improve teamwork for organisations and public sector bodies.
• Comedy for Veterans A 24-session course for veterans with mental health difficulties comprising improvisation, stand-up comedy and radio/podcast training terms to build confidence and wellbeing. Delivered with NHS partners including Op Courage.
• Comedy School Wellbeing Project A mental health initiative using comedy workshops (improvisation and stand-up) in partnership with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to support mental health patients in Brixton, South London.
• It's No Joke! Anti-Knife Crime Programme A fast-paced anti-knife crime performance and workshop using comedy to address issues of anti-social behaviour and weapons-related crime among young people, toured in partnership with the Metropolitan Police, Youth Inclusion Projects, Youth Offending Teams and Safer Schools Teams.
• Gang Busters Programme An interactive performance module for young people dealing with gang and gun crime issues through comic sketches, improvisation and group discussion.
• Give with a Giggle Membership and Donation Programme A charitable giving programme offering tiered membership options (Titter, Giggle, Chortle, Guffaw) with benefits supporting The Comedy School's social projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,000+ young people reached through anti-knife crime programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership to deliver The Comedy School Wellbeing Project providing comedy courses to mental health patients. Includes SLaM Recovery College and Social Inclusion, Hope and Recovery Project (SHARP). Project launched in 2016 with £120,000 National Lottery funding for three years.
• The Pirate CastleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation of Summer Programme for kids ages 8-11, combining The Comedy School's performing arts expertise with The Pirate Castle's adventure activities in Camden.
• Metropolitan PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2005 on anti-knife crime initiatives including Operation Blunt, developing and touring the 'It's No Joke!' performance program to schools in Haringey, Croydon, and Camden.
• Veterans Gateway / Op CouragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNHS veterans' mental health service partnership for Comedy for Veterans program, providing mental health support to veterans through comedy performance training.
• The Flavasum TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership compiling 'Impact of Anti-Knife Crime Theatre on Young People' report documenting effectiveness of comedy-based knife crime prevention programs.
• Youth Inclusion ProjectscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with youth inclusion programs to deliver comedy workshops addressing gang culture and knife crime among at-risk young people.
• Youth Offending TeamscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery of comedy-based educational programs to young offenders and those at risk of offending.
• Safer Schools TeamscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with school safety teams to deliver anti-knife crime and gang prevention programs in educational settings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Clean Break: UK charity using theatre and performance to support women affected by the criminal justice system. Comparable in mission, charity structure, and use of performance as a rehabilitation and wellbeing tool.
• Hoopla Improv: London-based improv school offering classes, workshops, and shows. Closest direct competitor to The Comedy School's improv, stand-up, and comedy training portfolio for individual consumers and corporates.
• City Academy: London arts training provider offering courses in acting, comedy, writing, and performance. Directly comparable consumer course portfolio and corporate training delivery model.
• Geese Theatre Company: UK theatre-in-education charity using drama and interactive performance in criminal justice, youth offending, and social impact contexts. Most direct comparator for The Comedy School's prison and anti-knife crime work.
• Spontaneous Combustion: UK improv group co-founded by Patrick Marber, Stella Duffy, and others, with associated training. Comparable improv teaching tradition and shared talent pool, with overlapping facilitator network.

Emerging players

• Turtle Key Arts: UK arts education and outreach charity delivering creative programmes in schools, community settings, and with vulnerable groups. Comparable arts-for-social-impact model, with a similar workshop-plus-touring delivery footprint.
• Cardboard Citizens: UK theatre charity using Forum Theatre and applied drama with people affected by homelessness, the criminal justice system, and social exclusion. Comparable use of performance for rehabilitation and social outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• Second City: Global leader in improv-based training for both performers and corporate clients. Comparable methodology and corporate training application, but at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts: Larger London-based performing arts school offering accredited acting and theatre training. Overlaps with The Comedy School's acting/performance training portfolio but at degree-granting scale.

Regional players

• The Stand Comedy Club: UK comedy club operator running showcase nights and a comedy school. Comparable showcase/course infrastructure for emerging comedians, but primarily a live venue operator rather than a training organisation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ComedySchoolUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/keithpalmerthecomedyschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecomedyschooluk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Comedy School