WORKSHOPS + TALKS
‘Sod it, let’s make it!’ – a panel about creativity with Alice Lowe, Joel Morris and Izzy Mant
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‘Sod it, let’s make it!’ – a conversation about creativity in a big bad world with
Alice Lowe, Joel Morris and Izzy Mant
What do we want? Brilliant scripted comedy! Weird, original short films! Sinister
ventriloquism! A shrubbery! What do the commissioners want? Big hits! Dead certs!
Licensed content! Branding partnerships!
How do artists of all kinds keep the joy and momentum of creation going when
commissioners are risk averse and streamers are calling the shots? And how do
they make quality work on a shoestring? Join writer, director and actor Alice Lowe
(Timestalker, Prevenge, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace), comedy writer and podcaster
Joel Morris (‘funny as fuck’ Charlie Brooker), and screenwriter, comedian and former
comedy producer Izzy Mant (Peep Show, The Windsors) as they talk about their
experiences of collaborating, navigating the industry gatekeepers, and saying ‘sod it,
let’s just make it’.With thanks to Mary Morris of Arvon who will be chairing the conversation.
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Woolly Monsters - A CHILDISH MAKING WORKSHOP FOR GROWN UPS with JOANNA NEARY
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Just 6 spaces available this year for a fun and cathartic morning of making for it's own sake.
With exercises for all abilities and all materials provided.
Come along and have a go at printing, collaging, drawing and paper engineering to make your own woolly monster and a fold away home full of horror exhibits, to take away at the end.
16+ -
The Comedy Toolkit
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The secret of doing comedy properly is taking something only you find funny, and
making it so everyone can join in the joke. Comedy, like music, seems to be an
effortless act of creation: nobody wants to take it apart in case it ruins the magic. But
secretly there are lots of bolts you can tighten, and spanners you can use to bash it
when it goes wrong, whether you’re writing for film, sitcom, sketch comedy – or even
a funny novel or article.
In this sprint through the professional tricks of the trade, BAFTA-winning and Emmy-
nominated comedy writer Joel Morris (Mitchell &Webb, Paddington) offers a set of
simple tools that will reveal how comedy works, and help you fix it when it doesn’t.With thanks to Mary Morris of Arvon.
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Time: 06/06/26 @11:00-12:30
Venue: The Hall
SILENT WORKSHOP with Lucy Hopkins
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Have you ever thought you were a total idiot? Good news! You probably are. In this workshop we’ll expand our amazing perceptivity by working for 1.5 hours in total silence. (Mostly total silence. Risk of laughter)
There’s a whole world of beautiful, genuine connection to be made if we accept our own magnificence, admit the moment and let ourselves be seen exactly as we are. Let’s see what we say when we stop trying to say things. Probably something amazing.
This workshop is highly participative! You will be performer and active audience member.
Suitable for anyone who interacts with humans.
Workshop running time: 1.5 hours with 30 min debrief
Phot credit: Andy Hollingworth -
Rosalie Minnitt and Joanna Neary: PLAYTIME
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Rosalie and Joanna discuss character comedy, host a Q&A, and run some workshoppy ideas, including improvising around writing and creating characters with anyone who would like to join in, all within 60 minutes. It will be tremendous fun, very silly, a bit educational, but mostly playful and daft.
Last time they did this, they ended up arguing in public, which was their favourite bit.
“Character comedy of the highest order” – The List -
MAGGIE IRVING: STAND-UP WORKSHOP
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Stand-up comedy is a skill—and you can learn it.
Ever wanted to try it? Step up and give it a go.
Join Maggie Irving, expert comedy coach and performer, for a fun, fast-paced session on
writing and performing comedy. Learn insider tips, try your own material, and get laughing.
Open to beginners, performers, writers and creatives.
Expect to:
• Learn how jokes work
• Try your own material
• Laugh—a lot
£15
Exeter City Gate
Thursday 4 June, 5–6.30pm
Come curious. Leave funnier.
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Exeter Comedy Festival Screening and Q&A: Alice Lowe’s Prevenge
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Title: Prevenge
Director: Alice Lowe
Year: 2016
Length: 88 minutes
Language: English
Distributor: Kaleidoscope Films
(https://kaleidoscopefilmdistribution.com/films/prevenge/)
Synopsis:
A pitch black, wryly British comedy from the mind of Alice Lowe, Prevenge follows
Ruth, a pregnant woman on a killing spree. It’s her misanthropic unborn
baby dictating Ruth’s actions, holding society responsible for the absence of a father.
The child speaks to Ruth from the womb, coaching her to lure and ultimately kill
her unsuspecting victims.
Struggling with her conscience, loneliness, and a strange strain of prepartum
madness, Ruth must ultimately choose between redemption and destruction at the
moment of motherhood.
Having shown at Venice, Toronto the London International Film
Festival, Prevenge marked the directorial debut from Lowe, who is a true triple
threat, writing, directing, and acting in the film during her own real-life pregnancy.
Join Exeter Comedy Festival for a special screening of the viciously funny Prevenge,
Alice Lowe’s directorial debut, ten years after its initial release.
After the screening, Alice Lowe – director, writer and star of Prevenge – will be live
in conversation with her frequent collaborator (and prevenge victim), the comedian,
actor and writer Mike Wozniak.
Alice Lowe is an actress, screenwriter and director. After winning the Perrier Award
for comedy, Alice moved into television comedy and drama as an actress and writer.
After co-writing and starring in Sightseers (which was Empire‘s Best British Film),
she moved into directing with Prevenge. Her directorial debut, in which she also
starred whilst heavily pregnant, centred around a pregnant revenge spree. The film
premiered at Venice and Toronto. Her second feature film, the rom-com Timestalker,
was released in 2024. She is currently developing drama projects for television to
write and direct and is still acting in films such as Greatest Days, TV such as Black
Mirror, and is a writer on films such as Paddington 3.
Mike Wozniak is an Exeter-based comedian, actor, podcaster and writer. His TV
credits include Man Down, Would I Lie To You, We Are Not Alone, Horrible Histories
and Taskmaster. Film credits include Prevenge (directed by Alice Lowe). Writing
credits include Man Down and Small Scenes. He also wrote and directed the short
film Sump. As a stand-up Mike has been a comedy festival regular for many years
and has penned numerous award-winning solo shows.With thanks to Mary Morris of Arvon.
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Staying human, funny and sane when the world's going to sh!t
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Do you want to fight for what's right and help change the world for good, but feel confused about how to put this into action? Do you secretly think some activists are self-righteous, and may have forgotten who they’re actually trying to help? What kind of action makes positive change?
Welcome to a book talk featuring Anthea Lawson and Julia Raeside. It is a night for anyone who wants to make the world a better place without, well, doing everyone's head in.
How can you be an activist or an ally without becoming the most exhausting person at the party? Whether trying to dismantle global capitalism, call out sexism in the workplace, or just trying to remember your reusable shopping bags, both Anthea and Julia are here to show us how to make a difference.
Meet Your Authors (and Guides to Sanity):
Anthea Lawson has fought against the global arms trade and tax havens, successfully changing transparency laws in dozens of countries. A former Times journalist who has worked with Amnesty International, she knows how the system works. Her new book, How Not To Save the World, is a candid guide to escaping the "purity traps" and self-righteous habits that give doing good a bad name.
Julia Raeside is a journalist and Substack writer exposing the spectacular levels of sexism and systemic nonsense in the entertainment industry. Her novel, Don’t Make Me Laugh, balances anger with humour. It is a story about power, manipulation, and the absurd gender roles we are forced to play, and, ultimately, a satisfying blueprint for fighting back.
Both will be signing copies of their books on the night, available to buy at Bookbag.
With thanks to Mary Morris from Avon and Charlie from Bookbag for organising.
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