'Finding your funny Bone'

Student graduation films are very often dark in subject matter, tackling dramatic issues about death and transgression.  They rarely attempt comedy – perhaps because it is the most difficult genre of all.  To encourage students to feel the fear and try comedy anyway, we set up a series of writing workshops in November 2008 lead by established comedy writers Kay Stonham and Shan Khan.  This was then followed by a series of lectures in January and February 2009.

Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley

KEVIN CECIL & ANDY RILEY

Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley are a comedy writing partnership whose credits include Black Books (including the BAFTA-winning third series), Hyperdrive, Little Britain, Smack the Pony, Armstrong and Miller, The Armando Iannucci Shows, Trigger Happy TV and Spitting Image.

They won a Bafta for their animated Christmas special, Robbie the Reindeer in ‘Hooves of Fire.’ Their animated feature, Gnomeo and Juliet, is currently in production with Miramax.

Andy is also a cartoonist; his books include The Book of Bunny Suicides and Great Lies To Tell Small Kids.

Graham Linehan

GRAHAM LINEHAN

Graham Linehan wrote the award-winning comedy series Father Ted, Black Books, Big Train and The IT Crowd. He wrote for Brass Eye, The Harry Enfield Show, Friday Night Armistice, The Day Today, The Fast Show (for which he created ‘Ted and Ralph’), Smith and Jones. He has also written for many newspapers and magazines. His blog is Why That’s Delightful!

Graham is also an award-winning director. His credits include Black Books, Big Train, Father Ted, Little Britain, The IT Crowd and commercials.

Kay Stonham

KAY STONHAM

Award-winning comedy writer, Kay Stonham, has worked on some of the biggest sit-coms and sketch shows on British television and radio.

Among her many credits are ‘Dead Ringers’, ‘My Family’, ‘Spitting Image’, ‘Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression’, ‘Rory Bremner Who Else?’, ‘Alas Smith and Jones’ and ‘Harry Enfield and Chums’.

Steve Punt

STEVE PUNT

Steve Punt is a writer, comedian and actor. He began writing and performing while at university and did several hundred gigs in the comedy circuit as half of Punt and Dennis, which led to The Mary Whitehouse Experience.

Since then, Steve has written for and appeared in a multitude of TV and Radio shows including Dead Ringers, The Omid Djalili Show, Frank Skinner Project, I’m sorry I haven’t a clue and Mock the Week. He is the host of Radio 4’s long-running The Now Show.