Birmingham to host Serious About Comedy research
- Birmingham's university and Birmingham Rep are launching research initiative Serious About Comedy
- Starting 1st April, the organisations will be conducting an "ongoing research conversation about comedy"
- A day of free events is organised for 1st April, with speakers set to include comedians and academics
The University of Birmingham and Birmingham Rep are to launch a major new collaboration in which they will be researching comedy.
Serious About Comedy kicks off on 1st April with a day of panels, discussions and talks featuring comedians and academics.
The organisers explain: "This April Fools' Day, the University of Birmingham and Birmingham Rep launch a major new collaboration. Co-directed by The Rep's Artistic Director Sean Foley, and Professor Ewan Fernie of the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham, this special one-day event, funded by Research England, kicks off a nationally-important ongoing research conversation about comedy. What does it mean, and how does it work - in plays, stand up, films, music, novels, and popular culture of all types?
"Over the course of the day, a free-to-attend programme of open discussions sparked by original provocations from top academic researchers and comedy practitioners will put Birmingham on the map as the place which is serious about comedy. The discussion will explore the nature of comedy across a variety of forms and practices and consider its many benefits to people and place."
They add: "Serious About Comedy starts an enquiry into the most democratic of art forms, and will initiate a new and ongoing forum where the comedy industry engages with academia and the public, in a shared pursuit of learning and laughs."
Speakers during the daytime events, which will be free to attend, will include Athena Kugblenu, Beth Granville, Dean Burnett, Dr Annie Mahtani, Dr Asha Rogers, Dr Rose Whyman, Felicity Montagu, Helen Monks, Jo Enright, Jon Holmes, Ken Cheng, Olivia Nixon, Professor Graham Saunders, Professor Michael Dobson, Shazia Mirza, Sophie Duker, and Tim FitzHigham.
Once the sessions have finished, the evening will offer a stand-up show featuring Annette Fagon, Gráinne Maguire, Jo Enright, Josh Pugh, Mrs Barbara Nice, Shazia Mirza, Steve Day and Jay Droch.
Professor Ewan Fernie of the Shakespeare Institute at University of Birmingham says: "We're delighted to be getting up to some seriously funny business with The Rep and we hope that Serious About Comedy will initiate a distinctive and promising new tradition of taking comedy seriously in the city, one which will refresh Birmingham's sense of its own identity and culture from a funny but intellectually rewarding angle."
Sean Foley adds: "Serious About Comedy continues The Rep's commitment to being a major player in presenting comedy in all forms, such as developing new writing and emerging comedy talent whilst presenting the very latest hit comic productions as well as the ever-funny classics. This brilliant new partnership with the University of Birmingham will allow for a new and ongoing forum where the comedy industry dances provocatively with academia and the public, in a shared pursuit of learning and laughs. But not necessarily in that order..."
The daytime discussions run from 10:30am to 5:30pm at The Rep. Tickets are free, but you should book your seat via birmingham-rep.co.uk
The stand-up night, priced at £15, starts at 7:30pm. Tickets