Erich McElroy teaches Sunday hosting and stand-up courses, Ben Clover teaches midweek stand-up, and Hamish Shepherd teaches Comedy Sketches for Social Media.
Stand-up & hosting
ERICH McELROY
Teaching: Sunday Hosting, MCing & Crowd Work, and evening stand-up
A stand-up comic whose work includes six full Edinburgh shows and appearances on BBC Breakfast, Newsnight and Sky News. Erich brings his live comedy experience to Sunday hosting workshops and evening stand-up courses.
More about Erich+
Originally from Seattle and based in the UK since 2000, Erich combines stand-up with political commentary, including BBC Radio Scotland’s Breaking the News and the American Exchange podcast.
Teaching: Comedy Sketches for Social Media — Monday or Tuesday
Hamish creates short-form comedy sketches and performs stand-up on the London circuit. His work combines sharp writing with dark, sarcastic humour, and he joins Rob Moriarty on CHIEFCAST.
More about Hamish+
Find Hamish’s comedy at @hamstandup. He has also performed at Sofar London.
A stand-up comedian, writer and comedy tutor with UK and international performing experience. Ben has taken solo shows to the Edinburgh Fringe and writes jokes for other comedians, television and radio.
More about Ben+
A former newspaper reporter, Ben was Roast Battle UK champion from 2019 to 2021.
Stand-up meets once a week for six weeks, with a showcase event to put your work on stage. The two-day hosting workshop also has a showcase.
Sunday / Erich McElroy
A DAY OF COMEDY.
Daytime: Hosting, MCing & Crowd Work — a two-day workshop with a showcase.
Evening: Beginners, Intermediate or Advanced Stand-up — one session a week for six weeks, plus a showcase event.
Monday or Tuesday / Ben Clover
STAND-UP MIDWEEK.
Beginners, Intermediate or Advanced Stand-up, taught by Ben. Meet once a week for six weeks, then bring your material to a big showcase event.
Monday or Tuesday / Hamish Shepherd
MAKE YOUR COMEDY SKETCHES.
Comedy Sketches for Social Media, taught by Hamish. One session a week for five or six weeks; the final duration and weekday will be confirmed.
Sunday and midweek stand-up courses can run alongside one another. The level offered in each intake, start dates, exact session times and the Monday / Tuesday allocation will be confirmed before booking opens.
The Big Belly difference
A COURSE. A CLUB. A COMMUNITY.
Your course goes beyond the classroom: learn in a working comedy venue, watch the pros and find people to create with.
01 / THE VENUE
LONDON’S BEST COMEDY VENUE.
Make Big Belly on London’s Southbank your comedy home. Learn in the place where comedians perform and audiences come to laugh.
02 / THE PASS
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT COMEDY.
The only comedy course with an all-you-can-eat comedy pass. Watch as much comedy as you like during your course and for two weeks afterwards. See how working comics build a set, land a joke and hold a room.
Subject to availability. We’ll share how to use your pass before booking opens.
03 / THE COMMUNITY
FIND YOUR PEOPLE. BUILD YOUR IDEAS.
Bounce ideas off other budding comics, writers and performers. Find collaborators, share feedback and learn from one another as you develop your own comedy.
Big Belly, Southbank
Your comedy club
RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHBANK.
Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club Units 6 & 7, 30 Stamford Street London SE1 9LQ
Questions about access or the teaching space? Ask the team before booking.
The beginners stand-up course is intended as a starting point. If you’ve already performed or want to try hosting or sketches, ask us which course could suit you. Full entry requirements will be confirmed with each course.
How small are the classes?+
Classes will be kept small to help you learn effectively. The exact group size for each course is still being finalised.
What comedy can I watch?+
Your all-you-can-eat comedy pass lets you watch as much comedy as you like during your course and for two weeks afterwards, subject to availability. We’ll confirm how to use your pass before booking opens.
How do I join the community?+
Join other budding comics, writers and performers to bounce ideas around, share feedback, collaborate and learn from one another. We’ll confirm how to join with the course details.
When does it start, and what does it cost?+
Stand-up courses run once a week for six weeks, with a showcase. Sunday evenings are taught by Erich; midweek sessions are taught by Ben on Monday or Tuesday. Erich’s hosting workshop is two days with a showcase. Hamish’s sketch course runs on Monday or Tuesday for five or six weeks, with the final duration to be confirmed. Start dates, exact times and prices are being confirmed. You can email us now about the course you’re interested in. This preview does not take bookings or payments.
What if I miss a session or need to cancel?+
Attendance arrangements and cancellation terms are still being finalised. Please ask us about any dates or requirements that could affect your booking.
What about access and the teaching space?+
Please email the team with your access questions before booking. The teaching room and course-specific access arrangements still need to be confirmed.
Let’s find your course
FANCY GIVING IT A GO?
Tell us what you’re interested in or ask a question. Not sure where to start? We can help you choose.
Email enquiry only. No booking, payment or mailing-list signup happens on this page.
