Sitcom story lining workshop - Comedy Lab presents...

Comedy Lab presents: Sitcom Storylining - bringing character and plot together

- Learn how to storyline effectively

- Explore how character influences story

- Clear character motivation - “why?”

- Emotional truth - it’s key!

- Conflict and comedy

- ⁠Main stories and subplots

- Practically apply storylining techniques

This experience will demystify the storylining process and help you write more satisfying and engaging scripts

Join two experienced industry professionals – Tim Dawson (Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, The Now Show, Breaking the News) for a uniquely insightful writers’ room experience.

In this practical three-hour session, a small group of writers will work together to develop a television sitcom script.

You’ll explore the reality of the creative process used in professional writers’ rooms today, whilst focusing on craft, technique, and collaborative problem-solving.

With just six places available, this is an intimate, one-off chance to get direct insight into how experienced writers shape shows.

What You’ll Do:

1. Development brief

Begin by examining a development document - which we will presume you will have looked at before the day. This will mirror the experience of writers being brought in to work up a new idea for a show (an increasingly common practice at broadcasters and streamers).

2. Shaping the world

From the document, you - the writers - will then flesh out the characters and world, in collaboration with Micheal and Tim.

3. Characters, conflict and comedy

As a writers’ room, you’ll think about the primary and secondary traits of your characters.

We’ll now look at story, considering how the characters create stories organically rather than synthetically. We’ll discuss how to generate stories and, if there’s time, generate some ourselves.

Why Take Part?

• Gain direct experience of sitcom development

• Learn inside techniques from two seasoned comedy professionals

• Develop your skills in collaboration, character development, story-lining, and comic opportunity

• Be part of a one-off creative team working toward a shared goal

Who It’s For:

This workshop is ideal for aspiring comedy writers (beginner to intermediate level) looking to sharpen their narrative skills and understand how ideas evolve in a real-world creative environment. It’s about how sitcoms are built – imparting techniques you can then apply – with strong focuses on developing your skills and the reality of the process.

Meet Your Workshop Leaders

Tim Dawson

Tim is a comedy writer and Editor of BCG Pro, the British Comedy Guide’s platform for working writers and comedians. His broadcast credits include Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Coming of Age, The Now Show, Breaking the News, and Not For Turning (BBC Radio 4). He’s been in writers’ rooms on both sides of the Atlantic, including the writers’ rooms for Two Pints, My Family and Hot In Cleveland, and co-created, with Micheál , The House – a participative sitcom for BCG Pro.

Only 6 spots available – book now and take your seat in the room.

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