From gag to routine, from routine to sketch and from sketch to scene.

How does one write a gag, a sketch, or a scene involving physical comedy? This workshop explores the principles of slapstick and how to apply them — not only in regards to performance, but ultimately to understand how to construct and write in this age-old style.
We will spend the week creating - first getting our teeth into the style itself, then using its rules and building blocks to construct new material. Participants will learn how to start from a credible situation, clarify the stakes and build from there to create a sketch. Comic writing is made up of several elements that vary in length — a gag lasts a few seconds, a routine about a minute, a sketch four to five minutes, and a scene can run up to ten minutes.
The writing will occur on our feet, in the space, through improvisation. Routines will be presented in front of the group, analysed, then refined. Practical exercises will lead to new discoveries that can be built up, polished and added to the mix.
Physical comedy comes from a long history, originally passed down and shared purely through visual means. Gags, sketches and "funny business" are often hard to describe or transcribe onto paper — even in the classics of Commedia Dell'arte or Shakespearean comedies, the stage directions meant to indicate a moment of physical comedy are often limited to the single word "business." Before the advent of cinema, these pieces of "business" were very often lost. Today, many numbers and sketches can thankfully be watched on film. They are a treasure trove for any artist interested in slapstick. During the workshop, we will also spend time observing and analyzing a few filmed sketches. Armed with a new understanding of the genre, participants will be able to observe, transpose, and reinvent, drawing on this archival material and bringing it into their own contemporary practice.
By the end of the week, each participant will have built a complete sketch involving a solid situation, recurring gags, a credible and interesting conflict, and a resolution.

Practical Information

Dates: 22 - 26 of February 2027
Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Address: Les Tréteaux de France – 2 rue de la Motte, 93300 Aubervilliers
Length: 5 days (25 hours)

Teacher: Jos Houben
Who it's for: Workshop open to 15 professional artists.

Prerequisites: At least two years of artistic experience

Pricing:
480€ self financed (payment plan possible)/ 1000€ if paid by AFDAS, France Travail etc.

Rates are reduced when registering for multiple workshops.

If you would like to participate in a workshop, but are in financial hardship, don't hesitate to reach out. Payment plans are possible, as are a limited number of scholarships or reduced price courses.

To sign up:
Please fill out the online registration formFor any questions or further information, don't hesitate to contact us at: [email protected].

Registration deadline:
20 January 2027

A detailed program will be sent to registered participants.