Sketch Show: The Aftermath

Following on from my last post, I'm now back from the Albany pub, where a sketch of mine was performed among numerous others, for a small-but-appreciate audience...

... including David Mitchell. Yes, Peep Show's David Mitchell. Sweet Jesus.

Don't know if anyone needed medical attention after my sketch, exactly, but there was definite laughter. Happy with that, given that (a) it was created in around two hours; (b) it enjoyed a mere two drafts; and (c) it was a bit weird, like a lot of my sketches. And David Mitchell chuckled. There was no mistaking it - his face contorted, betraying the fact that amusement had registered in his brain. Phew.

It was nice that our sketch showcase was part of a multi-faceted comedy evening, compered by the excellent Justin Edwards and also featuring a showcase from female sketch-duo Two Left Hands.

Mad props and kudos to Recorded For Training Purposes producer Ed Morrish, who spearheaded the workshop today, and my mentors Miles Jupp and Danielle Ward (who also formed half of the sketch-performance team, showing remarkable multi-tasking skills and are poorly served by my rubbish photo above, which looks like they're about to die of radiation sickness), plus everyone else who put it together. And of course the other writers, who included Dubliner/blogger Gerry Hayes (read his report on the day here) and Splendid's own Sarah Morgan.

Schemes like this are another reminder that we writers are categorically not facing an impenetrable wall. Unless, of course, it's of our own design.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Damn your swiftness, Arnopp. I might mention it tomorrow. If I can be arsed.

Gavin Williams said...

Well doggone it, sir! Well done you! Much praise and much respec' as the kids say (if you go through a timewarp to three years ago)
Keep up the outstanding work.

Adaddinsane said...

Brilliaaaaaaaaant.

Well done. Dave Mitchell? We're not worthy.

Lucy V said...

Nice one Jase, sounds ace! Oooh I'm a poet and I didn't even know it... Yes that's as far as my comedic genius goes.

Sofluid said...

Congratulations! It's a task that is no doubt a lot harder than people imagine, so very well done sir!

Andy Phillips said...

Nice one, Arnopp. Can you tell a little about what your sketch was about?

Gareth Michael Turpie said...

Your career is really flying now, Lord Arnopp, to the comedy top.

Splendid stuff.

Why, who knows, next you'll be writing yer actual own sketch show...

Jason Arnopp said...

Thanks folks - much appreciated. Just updated my post to include a link to Gerry Hayes' report on the workshop day.

Phillips: Certainly, sir. It was fundamentally about a girl who phones her heartbroken ex, purely because she hasn't used up her inclusive minutes for the month. (And if you don't find that amusing, she's also a llama wearing a clown costume, or something.)

Oh, and I meant to say something else about David Mitchell. He's clearly been to countless soirees like this, and has probably realised that wearing a fixed grin for an hour really hurts your face. So he maintained a neutral expression and only seemed to smile or grin or laugh when something genuinely ticklesome occurred. The mark of a pro.

Andy Phillips said...

Funny, yet holding an element of pathos. No wonder Davey-baby got some smirkage off it.

Piers said...

They look like scary ghosts in your picture.

Have you sold your soul for comedy?