I'm a comedy writer at heart, but I feel it helps me to add a certain amount of natural humour into my more serious work.
This makes me wonder if it's easier to write seriously if you already have comedy in your heart, rather than break into comedy if your bag is usually serious drama.
Does this even make sense?
I think if it makes sense for you Joyce that is what is important. I always stick a bit of humour in stuff I do when I am allowed. 
Yeah...it's hard to know how much/little to put in sometimes and how much the humour might affect the overall sincerity of the project as a whole.
Humour is just emotional release, it is two sides of the same coin. Build tension and release it.
Hmmm...yes. I'm working on something with very sensitive issues and trying not to make parts of it too funny. I'll get there, I'm sure. I want to submit it to a theatre company I'm in contact with...NOT give it to my local Am Dram group, who will just make it into a pantomime. GRRR.
Just look at the West Wing, it was able to deal with some incredibly serious subject matter and still overall maintain a level of levity too. Ultimately if you put a group of people in a high stress situation, they'll make jokes as a coping mechanism. So do what feel right for the situation. A few gags during a walk-and-talk is fine, but you wouldn't expect President Bartlet to be addressing the War Room while Leo was in the corner making knock knock jokes.
Quote: Joyce @ August 6 2012, 2:13 PM BSTHmmm...yes. I'm working on something with very sensitive issues and trying not to make parts of it too funny.
When you've reduced the funniness of those parts to acceptable levels, can I have the bits you've thrown out?
Quote: Veronica Vestibule @ August 25 2012, 8:04 AM BSTWhen you've reduced the funniness of those parts to acceptable levels, can I have the bits you've thrown out?
Of course! I'm saving them all up in a drawer, with an elastic band round them to keep them all together!
However, I have introduced a sort of comic relief character so the audience can breathe a little between tension (well I think it's tension...others might think...wtf!). He does have a serious part to play too, but I'm allowing him to add a bit of fun...ish. (well I think it's fun...others might think...well, you know).
I find a touch of humour really lightens the mood when you've got to write some drab obituary.