Arts Award

Top of the Comedy Class!

A class of ten talented youngsters is the first to graduate with a nationally accredited Arts Award from a Comedy Trust stand-up course today.

The gifted group all took part in The Comedy Trust's Stand Out Xtra course, a professional development program aimed at young people interested in pursuing a career in the performing arts.

The Arts Award scheme is the first of its kind available that recognises young people's development through the arts.

Workshops

Each week students on the Stand Out Xtra course received tuition from a different comedy professional including stand up comedians Ben Schofield and Sam Avery and staff from BBC Comedy North Manchester who advised youngsters on getting into the TV industry.

Course graduate Tom Hawskett, 17, from the Wirral said ''I had such a great time and it was really helpful learning from some of the industries top performers in their field, it really opened my eyes to the variety and talent that lies within comedy, it was also great to meet new people and fundamentally have a laugh!''

As a result of his dedication to developing his skills over the last three years Tom was chosen to perform alongside the cream of Merseysides comics at the opening night of Comedy Festival in June. Les Dennis who compered the show was so impressed with Tom's comic ability saying 'Tom Hawksett is a shining example of what such a project can achieve'. Long may Stand Out continue.' Les Dennis

The Comedy Trust are a National Arts Award Centre status which means that anyone between 11 and 25 can work towards an arts award qualification on one of their Stand Out courses.

We are delighted to be able to offer a tangible qualification to young people who take our courses. They are supported by one of our advisors and can work towards a National Arts Award at Bronze or Silver Level. This will hopefully give young people a real head start as they move forward to college, further education or into employment.'' The Comedy Trust

The course graduates will showcase their work perfected over the 8-week course in a 1-hour comedy show performed at Unity Theatre Liverpool during the annual Liverpool Comedy Festival. Young People now how the option to continue to develop their skills by taking part in their Silver Arts Award with the Comedy Trust.