About School Of Comedy
About Us
School of Comedy teaches children the art of improvisation, sketch & stand up comedy.
Set up by Laura Lawson and Tara Carr in 2005, SOC encourages children to explore their own unique brand of improv, sketch and character comedy. Laura took the original troupe to the Edinburgh Festival in 2007 where they were given a Channel 4 pilot, followed by two hit E4 series.
School of Comedy was never really about the television. It was about the children loving the club and encouraging them to raise the bar through an anarchic, liberating workshops. not to mention being able to perform on stage making people laugh, creating exciting new ideas, and most importantly, watching their confidence grow week by week.
Who We Are
We are fully DBS checked, full insured and provide risk assessments for each programme that we run.
TARA CARR
TARA CARR met Laura Lawson at the Edinburgh Fringe as a comedy actress. They discovered their joint mindset and passion for using comedy and improvisation to instil confidence and communication skills in people of all ages.
TARA CARR met Laura Lawson at the Edinburgh Fringe as a comedy actress. They discovered their joint mindset and passion for using comedy and improvisation to instil confidence and communication skills in people of all ages.
Tara trained at Redroofs Theatre School and went on to study Psychology and Counselling focusing in on emotional intelligence. Along with Laura Tara set up School of Comedy in 2007.
Tara has run successful workshops for both schools and corporations for the last 18 years, using her experience in both performance and psychology Tara is an expert in raising people’s confidence and honing their presentation skills.
LAURA LAWSON
LAURA LAWSON trained at the Arts Educations School and after graduating from Exeter University went on to do a post-grad at Central School of Speech and Drama after which she established herself as a character comedian and performed for years on the comedy circuit and to see out shows at the Edinburgh Festival to critical acclaim.
LAURA LAWSON trained at the Arts Educations School and after graduating from Exeter University went on to do a post-grad at Central School of Speech and Drama after which she established herself as a character comedian and performed for years on the comedy circuit and to see out shows at the Edinburgh Festival to critical acclaim.
Laura went on to become Head of Prep Drama at The Harrodian School. She created an after school club, called ‘School of Comedy’, which became the only ever Adult sketch show with a cast of children to play at the Edinburgh Fringe which was subsequently picked up by Channel 4 for 2 hit series’. With Tara, Laura continued to develop this concept into a leading workshop offering for children, now in its 18th year.
JENNIFER TOLLADY
JENNIFER TOLLADY works with individuals and teams all over the world, helping people find their voice and learn to communicate their message in a way that gets them noticed. She is a Transactional Analysis Psychotherapist and EMCC Leadership coach.
JENNIFER TOLLADY works with individuals and teams all over the world, helping people find their voice and learn to communicate their message in a way that gets them noticed. She is a Transactional Analysis Psychotherapist and EMCC Leadership coach.
Jennifer’s approach is to work with people "above and below” the surface; From her experience in psychotherapy and coaching, she works with clients to explore every perspective, dig deep, and bring vital challenge where needed. With a BA in Acting from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and subsequent career in TV, Film and Theatre, Jennifer draws on her performance and coaching experience to provide clients with practical strategies for finding gravitas, power, and presence when they speak.
Jennifer often focuses her training on the principles of Transactional Analysis: A psychological method to understand yourself and other people better - helping make sense of the communication dynamics in relationships.
Jennifer’s recent work includes Executive team coaching on group dynamics and collaboration, Leadership programs for young and aspiring Leaders,1-2-1 Executive coaching on communication and messaging. As well as global delivery on Sales, Presentation and Leadership programs. Clients include Google, Compass Group, ZS, and the NHS.
BETH RYLANCE
Beth started her career with School of Comedy at a very young age, as one of Laura’s students at The Harrodian School, and then as one of the original cast of the E4/C4 Series. She has been helping out with the club on and off since the age of 15!
Beth started her career with School of Comedy at a very young age, as one of Laura’s students at The Harrodian School, and then as one of the original cast of the E4/C4 Series. She has been helping out with the club on and off since the age of 15!
Now acting full time, with credits including Plebs (ITV2) Ministry of Curious Stuff (CBBC) and Turn Up Charlie (Netflix) she is a regular teacher as part of the School of Comedy team doing workshops as well as holiday courses.
A leading expert in Improvisation and sketch writing, Beth has spent the past year in Los Angles training at the world renowned Groundling School, with alumni such as Will Ferrell, Lisa Kudrow and Patty Guggenheim.
ELLA AINSWORTH
ELLA AINSWORTH became one of the founding members of School of Comedy aged just 11! Performing at London comedy venues, the Edinburgh Fringe and in both series of School of Comedy for channel 4.
ELLA AINSWORTH became one of the founding members of School of Comedy aged just 11! Performing at London comedy venues, the Edinburgh Fringe and in both series of School of Comedy for channel 4.
After learning the ropes at School of Comedy Ella went on to study Drama at Exeter University where she was a member of a sketch group, The Jest, appearing on radio 4 and winning The Leicester Square Theatre, Sketch Off, comedy competition.
As well as teaching at School of Comedy, Ella also works as an actor in theatre and TV as well as occasionally turning her hand to writing. She also works extensively mentoring and tutoring children in the artistic field.
ESTHER-KATE CHESHIRE
ESTHER-KATE CHESHIRE has recently joined the School of Comedy team bringing her own unique and inspirational take on comedy performance.
ESTHER-KATE CHESHIRE has recently joined the School of Comedy team bringing her own unique and inspirational take on comedy performance.
She has achieved the highest LAMDA qualifications in all grades, and spent years in local theatre productions, namely several at the New Theatre, Cardiff. Passionate about inspiring children to be their very best selves she has embraced the school of comedy ethos - delivering empowering and hilarious workshops to children for the past two years.
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