School of Comedy

2009
7.1| 0h30m| en
Synopsis

School of Comedy is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was turned into a television show after a successful run of review shows at the Edinburgh festival. The cast is entirely made up of children much like in the popular musical Bugsy Malone which creator Laura Lawson often references to in interviews about the show. The show comprises sketches involving a very diverse group of characters; from a lesbian couple in 1940s war-time Britain, to a pair of South-African security guards. The show is unique from other comedy sketch shows because even though the show's content is mature enough to need to be shown after the watershed, the roles are all played by teenage children of ages 11 – 15. The show ran for two series' on E4 from 1 October 2009 to 18 October 2010. The show has been credited with starting the careers of both Will Poulter and Jack Harries. Poulter has gone on to star in films such as Son of Rambow, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and We're the Millers, while Harries has gone on to start a YouTube channel named "JacksGap", which currently has over 2 million subscribers and has made Harries both well-known and popular on the internet.

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Trailers & Clips

Also starring Beth Rylance

Also starring Jack Harries

Reviews

PlatinumRead Just so...so bad
Sharkflei Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.
Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.
markrequest 5.3 is not a truly reflective score for this show. Available on 4od.com, I return to it quite often to cheer me up. Complaints about the writing or the concept of kids doing adult humour fall flat on the ground with me. The true concept is that here we have young teenagers developing enough of an understanding about adult life and using their comedic talents to poke fun at it. As for the writing, it is subjective to British life. That said, the viewer needs to overcome the fact that it is being delivered by children, albeit teenagers. When you can appreciate both points, teens making fun of adults with adult based humour, then you are in for a treat. The French taxi passenger who finds football boring and prefers opera and small boys, the estate agent reluctant to show the last room and the (sublime) sketches of the two immigrant South African security guards. Even the thought that teenagers can make fun of these tickles but to see it enacted, and so well, is hugely enjoyable.
eadverts I almost didn't watch it when I saw the first sketch, I thought it was just going to be a one gimmick show but......These kids are amazing!!!!!! I hope the material stays strong enough to highlight their brilliant talents.The second show fell off a bit but I hope it recoups some of the absolute brilliance of the 1st show in the series. I really like the lesbian jokes. I like that the kids are NOT asked to be sexual in these bits, but just edgy and witty.And wow, they can really run rings around any actor (kid or adult) with some of the dialogue requirements ,such as, the character "Steve" in the "Pitch-Bitch" skit. Lots of range on these kids. Let hope they get good material to show it off.
Richard Baylis I was dubious about the idea behind this show, and at times am still uncomfortable about gaining laughs from children swearing, whether they are behaving as adults or not. Of course they know all of the words but that doesn't mean using them is right. Fortunately the best sketches so far are the ones without any swearing - with the sole exception of the farmer sketch for episode 1 which depended on it for the punchline.I agree however that some of the sketches just aren't funny, and yet it has little to do with the performances of the child actors. Will is very good and I'm looking forward to seeing him as Eustace in the next Narnia film.When the writing is good it is very good. The Job Interview sketch from episode 2 with the names confusion was classic two-handed comedy. But too many fail to deliver clear comedic content and should have been rejected. Better to have made a shorter series with premium content instead of thinning out the laughs with weaker material. Perhaps those with recurring characters will become funnier as they develop over time, but so far the Pub Landlady has failed to impress.I will continue to watch in the hope that it delivers on the potential that I believe is in the show.
mike-flaws I can imagine the craziness the youngsters unleashed on the set of the new series, School of Comedy, and how they simply must have driven all adults on set to distraction. I can't imagine how frustrated the director must have been, trying to handle a cast of dozens of talkative, unfocused, buzzing children. However, the attempts certainly, somehow, paid off.The performances these kids gave, particularly Son of Rambow's Will Poulter, was nothing short of perfection. Being part of the shows target audience, I smiled. And I laughed. It's not just an adult sketch show, it's charming, witty, and the timing these children hold is superb. I believe in some of these young talents we are looking at the next Armstrong and Mitchell and Miller and Webbs of the sketch genre. And it's great to see such great talent emerging in the UK.Previous reviewer mentioned how the writing let down the show. And I'm afraid I have to agree with him, he makes a good point. I nearly turned over at the adverts because the laughs were not coming fast enough, and that's down to the awkward situational writing. There's a certain creative spark but unfortunately, it's only flickering. I didn't change channels and I'm glad. School of Comedy is a feel good sketch show performed by a highly talented new cast with buzzing energy, wit and charm.