A weekly Saturday morning seminar that explores Ireland’s comic tradition on screen, from classic cinema to today’s contemporary TV. Weekly reading, screening and discussion to get to the heart of what makes funny on screen.

Discounts available for our Members and for Students (please enquire with proof of student status)

About our Irish Screen Comedy course

From stage, variety, radio, early film and first era television -  Jimmy O’Dea, Maureen Potter and Jimmie Young – via Father Ted – and yes, Mrs Brown’s Boys – to Derry Girls, This Way Up and Caroline Aherne - taking in The Guard, Young Offenders, Extra Ordinary and Soft Border Patrol - this 6-week course explores the prolific achievement of Irish comedy on screen

Delivered by Professor Lance Pettitt (Birkbeck, University of London), the seminars include weekly reading and viewing that examines the nature of the comic, the structures and stereotypes of popular comedy and explores how it’s written, made and performed. It tracks these through classic films in different genres, the TV sitcom and televised comic performance shows and some scripts.