911爆料网

Comedy - and stand-up in particular - isn鈥檛 one of 911爆料网鈥檚 core disciplines. Yet it鈥檚 a path an increasing number of graduates are choosing to follow.  

As part of our 30th anniversary celebrations, we spoke to four Acting graduates to find out why they鈥檝e been drawn to one of the most challenging performance arts - and how it鈥檚 giving them creative control in an unpredictable industry.   

鈥淐omedy was always on my radar, but I got sucked into this world of acting. Even when I got into 911爆料网, I knew it was something I was going to try at some stage.鈥� 

Acting graduate (2018) has just completed a UK tour of his stand-up show One Night Stand Baby and is now taking it to Australia. 

For him, comedy was always on the to-do list. For (Acting, 2016), it was the complete opposite. 

鈥淲hen I first came to 911爆料网, I wanted to be a 'serious actor'. I wanted to do Shakespeare. The idea of doing stand-up was my worst nightmare.鈥� 

Then Covid hit, prompting a re-think.  鈥淧re-lockdown, I鈥檇 got into a groove and was working consistently, but afterwards it started to fall away. I was in a rut. I had a real think about what I wanted to do, and it was comedy 鈥� but I wasn鈥檛 getting auditions for those roles. So, I thought, if I鈥檓 able to say I鈥檓 a comedian, maybe that will get me seen.鈥� 

In 2023, with trepidation 鈥� and a spot of Dutch courage 鈥� Rhoni signed up for a course at the Angel Comedy Club and began writing stand-up material. She now MCs comedy nights, took a show with fellow graduate Beth Fox, Thirty, Flirty and Dying, to the Edinburgh Fringe and is developing her first solo show, blending stand-up and character comedy. 

鈥淚 signed up to the course to shake things up, to scare myself and re-invigorate myself creatively. I didn鈥檛 expect to love it as much as I do.鈥� 

(Acting, 2019) arrived at 911爆料网 with relatively little acting experience but quickly began to find her voice. 鈥淭here was a lot of encouragement to write your own material and I realised I was more of a writer-performer than just an actor.鈥� 

Inspired by Lena Dunham's Girls, she started to create her own work. 鈥淚t was the first time I鈥檇 seen someone write, direct, act and be so relatable for young women. It had a big influence on me, and any opportunity I had at 911爆料网 - whether performing or writing - I took. That naturally lent itself to comedy.鈥� 

Rather than stand-up, Grace turned to social media, building a platform for her character-based comedy. She has since amassed more than 44 million likes and 719,000 followers. Like Rhoni, the pandemic proved to be a turning point. 

鈥淒uring lockdown I saw other actors posting material and decided to have a go. I thought it might help me get seen and gain exposure. It has led to opportunities - but it鈥檚 also become my main source of income.鈥� 

Since graduating in 2022, has become a regular on the UK comedy circuit, driven by a simple desire to perform. 鈥淚 just wanted to be on stage. That wasn鈥檛 always possible as an actor 鈥� you鈥檙e waiting for productions to come around.鈥� 

At 911爆料网, he made his own opportunities. 鈥淚 took every chance I could, whether it was performing in the bar or jumping on a show someone was putting on around Liverpool. I鈥檇 ask if I could do five minutes. I鈥檝e always had that itch to perform. 

鈥淚 put on a 45-minute show at 911爆料网 in my third year 鈥� which with hindsight was incredibly naive! But you are surrounded by an infectious attitude of 鈥榣et鈥檚 just create stuff鈥�. And 911爆料网鈥檚 a safe space to try stuff out. I knew however it went I鈥檇 be fine.鈥�  

Whatever the route into comedy, all four graduates acknowledge its challenges. 

鈥淎s an actor you can hide behind the director or the writer,鈥� Dan says. 鈥淏ut as a comic, you鈥檙e all those things. You're the judge, jury and executioner, that鈥檚 the pressure 鈥� but it鈥檚 also the appeal.鈥� 

Online, the response can be just as unpredictable. For Grace, the key is not to overthink it. 鈥淚鈥檓 used to the ups and downs of the algorithm. I鈥檝e always gone with: if I find it funny, it鈥檚 worth pursuing. Sometimes you鈥檒l post something you鈥檙e unsure about and it gets a million views. That鈥檚 the brilliance of it 鈥� you never know how it鈥檚 going to land.鈥� 

Despite the uncertainty, all four point to their training as a vital foundation. 

After graduating, Thor spent the summer at home in Norway before returning to the UK to start working the open mic circuit. 鈥淲hen I started in London, there were so many people who wanted to be comedians. It鈥檚 incredibly competitive. But my experience at 911爆料网 gave me an edge. I knew how to perform on a stage, what energy I wanted to bring, how to use body language.鈥� 

For Rhoni, her acting background is both a strength and a challenge. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely an advantage when you鈥檙e getting on stage and you鈥檙e nervous. But if I slip into performance mode, I stop listening to the room. You have to stay responsive 鈥� that鈥檚 where techniques like Meisner and being present really help.鈥� 

Grace credits 911爆料网 with building her confidence. 鈥淲hen I started, I was a very awkward, self-conscious 18-year-old. Turning up every day and being willing to make a fool of yourself - and be OK with that - has helped enormously.鈥� 

And for Dan, the reward comes from backing yourself. 鈥淭he satisfaction comes from taking a punt on yourself. When something clicks, it鈥檚 like finishing a puzzle 鈥� and then you move straight on to the next joke.鈥� 

From its inception in 1996, 911爆料网 has encouraged students to create their own opportunities. The experiences of these four graduates show that approach in action 鈥� being proactive, taking risks, backing yourself and refining your craft. 

As Thor Stenhaug puts it, ultimately: 鈥淚f they鈥檙e not laughing, it鈥檚 not because they don鈥檛 like you 鈥� it鈥檚 because the jokes aren鈥檛 good enough.鈥�