October 8, 2015 1.01 pm This story is over 109 months old

Showmen duo raise the curtain on Lincoln Comedy Academy

Comedy school: Do you think a comedy school is something you could set a career from?

The Lincoln Comedy Academy was set up by Ben Keaton and Paul Mutagejja

Budding comedians will have a new opportunity to learn the tricks of the comedy trade after a duo of entertaining entrepreneurs set up Lincoln’s first comedy school.

Award-winning actor, writer and comedian Ben Keaton has teamed up alongside comedian, compere and business man, Paul Mutagejja to create the Lincoln Comedy Academy.

After years of teaching and performing worldwide Ben and Paul are bringing their expertise to their hometown of Lincoln.

The pair are offering places to amateurs, experienced comedians and beyond.

Keaton, who has appeared in British soaps Emmerdale and Casualty, as well as sitcoms and stage performances, noticed that there was a gap in the comedy community in Lincoln.

He says it was made up of comedians without enough work, people who wanted to try their hand but had nowhere to go, and an audience that wanted a great night.

The academy will provide tailored advice, technique and chuckle-worthy inspiration from expert tutors.

Starting in mid-October, the academy will offer an Improvisational Comedy course with eight weeks of fun learning, ending in an Improvised Panto performance.

The course will focus on all elements; from the technical, to stage craft, improvised songs and most importantly, how to have fun and let the audience be part of that.

Their Solo Performance course in January 2016 will encompass all elements of comedy and produce work in scriptwriting, narratives, acting and stand-up comedy.

Along the way, day-long workshops will be led by some of the most successful names in comedy craft, likeHollywood star, Mike McShane.

Ben said: “We’re here to inspire, to find out how comedy works and to enjoy it.  We’re not here to provide the answers or give anyone a living.

“What people do with all this is up to them. Our job is to make the discovery exciting, challenging and thought provoking.”

The Performance Improvisation course, which runs Tuesday evenings from October 20 costs £175.00, including tickets to an end-of-course student show.

The Solo Performance course runs from January 19 and costs £220.00.

Course locations are to be confirmed.

Course paces are limited. People wishing to find out more information can call 07518722619.