Places still available for East Manchester residents on free comedy course

Places are still available on a free comedy course to East Manchester residents. The course starts on 10 January and will run on Monday evening for 12 weeks at the new Beswick Library, Grey Mare Lane.

The course, set up and run by comedian Ashley Boroda, and funded by Manchester's cultural strategy team, provides a step-by-step guide to becoming a stand-up comedian, from writing material to microphone technique. Students will also learn to source material, study comedic styles, and learn performance and confidence-building skills.

Ashley Boroda, comedy promoter and course tutor, said: "Since we started in 2006, this course has gone from strength to strength. People sign up for all sorts of reasons, from a personal challenge to improve their confidence or self esteem, to having the ambition to take their talent to the stage and wanting the skills to do it. Whatever the goal, everyone has a lot of fun and gets an enormous amount out of it. Some ex-course participants have gone on to perform professionally, but the majority have found that they finish the course as more confident, motivated individuals who have used the skills they've learnt to help them find work or further their career. This course really does help change some people's lives."

Priority will be given to residents of Newton Heath, Miles Platting, Ancoats, Clayton, Openshaw, Beswick and Gorton. There will be a charge for participants outside these areas.

For further details and registration please contact Caroline Coates on 07534 282230 or email c.coates@manchester.gov.uk. The course is strictly for over 18s.

For further information on New East Manchester visit http://www.east-manchester.com/
For more on Ashley Boroda visit http://www.ashleyboroda.com/