Stand Up, get creative, go above your nerve!
Comedy courses, drag and cabaret workshops, theatre-making, directing, script editing and more!
Welcome . . .
If you're looking for stand up courses, or to learn about Drag & Cabaret, then you've come to the right place.
Dates for our autumn courses will be announced soon.
Our Drag King course, A Course For Kings, starts in May. Click the button for more!
go above your nerve
What's on offer . . .
Stand Up Courses for Beginners and Emerging Comics
Whether you’re a total beginner, with little or no experience, or a new comic, with a few gigs under your belt, this course for you. Over the weeks, you’ll learn how to generate material, hone your comedic persona and write a 3.5 minute set, for a showcase in the final week. For 18+ yrs.
Stand Up Courses for Returning and Developing Comics
For stand ups who have completed a course with Gemma, either with Above Your Nerve, or at Soho Theatre . . . Or stand ups who have been gigging for a while and are looking to develop further. These courses cover writing longer sets, building from club sets to a full length show for festivals, honing your voice, self producing and directing and looking after yourself in the industry. The showcase in the final week is a chance to try out longer sets and new material. For 18+ yrs.
One-to-One Sessions
Ideal for newbies or more experienced Stand Ups, who want feedback on material or performance techniques, help developing a set or full length show, advice on the industry or just general support! Sessions can be online, or in person.
Sketch & Character Comedy with Museum of Comedy
Are you a seasoned stand up or comedy performer? Or a complete beginner who is interested in working collaboratively, to write sketches and create comedy characters? We've teamed up with Museum of Comedy, to bring you a new course. We'll look at different types of sketches, generating material and scenes, how to use improv and writing techniques to devise comedy and methods for building convincing comedy characters. You’ll work with the other participants, forming sketch groups and double acts, or creating solo character pieces for a showcase in the final week, on the glorious MoC stage! For 18+ yrs.
Queer Theatre-Making
A course exploring how we make work as queer artists, investigating ideas from how gender and sexuality are represented on stage, to what it might mean to ‘queer’ a theatre-making process. What is at stake when we use our own autobiographical material? What roles might mess, fluidity and playfulness take on in queer work? This is a course for any artists wanting to challenge, develop, and invigorate their theatre-making practice, ready to take some risks and rediscover the spark, joy, and transcendance of the queer in theatre. Each participant will have the opportunity to create their own new short piece, either solo or collaboratively, and share it with a warm, supportive audience at the final showcase. For 18+ yrs.
Alternative Drag and Cabaret Courses
Do you like your cabaret with a side order of strangeness? Your drag with a sprinkling of the unexpected? Then step into the dark, strange and avant-garde world of alternative cabaret, with Molly Beth Morossa. You may be a total beginner, have just a few gigs under your belt, or are a seasoned cabaret artist looking to shake things up and get a new angle on your work. Either way, this course will guide you through developing and honing your drag and cabaret practise, whilst creating a 3.5 minute set, for a showcase in the final week. For 18+ yrs.
A Course For Kings
Strap in lads, this year is - yet again - The Year Of The King. So come and explore gender in performance, take up space, draw on a beard and learn how to be whatever your version of a drag king is, with Len Blanco. This course will take you through different approaches to creating material for a 3-5 minute act, build your confidence and performance skills, and help you develop your personal drag aesthetic, for a showcase in the final week. Along the way you'll be part of a mini community of people on the same journey. For 18+ yrs.
Alternative Drag and Cabaret Advanced
For drag and cabaret artists who have taken one of our beginner courses (Alternative Drag & Cabaret or A Course For Kings) or have been gigging for a while and want to develop their practice. Molly Beth Morossa will guide you through evolving your aesthetic, navigating the industry and creating new work, or elevating existing sets for a showcase in the final week. For 18+ yrs.
One-Off Workshops
A list of new workshops, covering different aspects of comedy, cabaret, drag and theatre. These shorter workshops offer a specific look into your chosen field, without the 9 week commitment! Suitable for beginners and more experienced performers (check the individual details) and running from 2 - 4 hours.
Drop-in Stand Up Sessions
Group workshop sessions, for new and established comics. Come along on a weekly basis, or drop in from time to time, for continued feedback on your material and performance style. These workshops are a great way to meet your peers, as your progress in the comedy industry and build a support network, whilst working on your craft.
Directing
If you’re writing a longer set, or working on a full length show for a tour or festivals, a director can help facilitate your vision. Sessions can be tailored to meet your exact requirements, but can include the entire process, from devising and dramaturgy, through to technical rehearsals, previews and opening night.
Corporate Comedy Workshops
A series of workshops designed to cover your company’s specific needs, from team bonding and presenting skills, to exploring equality and inclusion through shared comedy experiences.
See anything you like?
If any of these float your boat, take a look at the further details, register your interest or find out how to book here.
Above Your Nerve is a Theatre Company specialising in comedy and new writing.
We are dedicated to finding and nurturing emerging voices. If you have any questions, please get in touch!
Above your who now?
Well hello there...
I'm Gemma Leader, a London based comedy facilitator, director and performer. I started teaching stand up, at Soho Theatre, in 2012. If you'd like to know more about me, or our other facilitators and what we do, click below.
What other people think...
Nico Diodoro (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Behzad Shadnia (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Behzad Shadnia (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
"I would recommend AYN to anyone who has ever wondered if they have it in them to perform stand-up comedy. Of all the things I’ve been taught or learnt, nothing has been clearer or as bang on the money as all the things Gemma advised and taught in the lessons. I literally felt my technique improving weekly and felt like I was in safe hands throughout, so thanks so much to Gemma, for being SO good at their job, as well as being so reassuring and encouraging! I’ve also formed a network with other AYN graduates after the course, which is more than I could have expected or imagined. Truly was a joy and a journey!"
Behzad Shadnia (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Behzad Shadnia (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Behzad Shadnia (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
"Gemma is a wonderful teacher and mentor. She gave me a platform to finally live out a long time dream of mine...to perform stand up comedy on stage.
Even though I'm a nervous public speaker, the course really helped me build up my confidence to conquer those fears. When I signed up to the course I was terrified of what was to come, but I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and ended up having one of the best experiences of my life. If you've ever wanted to try stand up comedy, but like me you were too afraid to do so, I urge you to just go ahead and do it, it may be the best thing you ever do."
Adam Tipping (Alternative Drag & Cabaret)
Behzad Shadnia (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Andy Southcott (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
"Firstly, a huge THANK YOU to Molly and Gemma! You have both encouraged me so much throughout the course, to live my authentic self at all times, and for that I can’t thank you enough. Above Your Nerve creates such a wonderful inclusive, diverse, and queer safe space where you can bare it all, and I think that came well and truly into fruition at the showcase. Every week there was a clear plan of what we would be doing, and plenty of opportunity to thrive and create in a safe queer space. There was a wonderful mix of theory, review and practical exercises and sessions. Some particular highlights were the guest appearance from King Len Blanco, and the dress run and feedback.”
Andy Southcott (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Andy Southcott (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Andy Southcott (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Gemma is a fantastic tutor, she knows her stuff and teaches the building blocks any budding comic will need, but far more importantly she creates collaborative, supportive and positive environments which allow you to be the most creative version of yourself. On the writing, when you hit that comedy cul de sac (and everybody does) Gemma is professionally funny and can help you navigate back out. Overall the workshops will elevate and positively challenge your writing and performance so that you end up with a wonderful set, that’s true to you.”
Vee Verdi (Sketch & Character Comedy)
Andy Southcott (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Penny Castle (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
"These courses are truly inclusive because they start from the premise that everyone can create. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got no performing experience, the way the classes are structured allows you to find your voice. Keep open, keep present, yes you’ll think oh shit, but amazing things come out.
The courses are a big middle finger to that internal editor that says you’re not good enough.
You bloody are."
Vee's done all our courses now!
Penny Castle (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Andy Southcott (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
Penny Castle (Stand Up for Beginners & Emerging Acts)
"I loved this course with AYN. I liked the combination of theory and practise and the final public performance. Gemma is an outstanding facilitator. Our group was extremely diverse and she managed to create a cohesive, safe environment for all the participants to learn new skills and to practise them. She gave great, usable feedback as well as priceless gems for organising stand up gigs. I came away from the course with a great set, further gigs already booked, and the confidence to go and perform. I recommend this course 150%. (And she’s also super funny)."
Veena Verdi (A Course For Kings)
Kevin Lee Travis (New Forest Comedy Course)
Kevin Lee Travis (New Forest Comedy Course)
"Allow yourself to deep dive into a space that takes you to go places that conventional life doesn’t usually go. Learning how to be a Drag King gives you a chance to get to know yourself in a new way by embracing the inner 'he'. One evening a week, you can shape shift and walk in shoes you wouldn’t dream of ever wearing. Why would anyone want to do that? Because it’s so f**king liberating. More of us need to do it." (Lee Him And Her)
Kevin Lee Travis (New Forest Comedy Course)
Kevin Lee Travis (New Forest Comedy Course)
Kevin Lee Travis (New Forest Comedy Course)
"Great teachers are supportive, informative, encouraging, and they know how to bring the best out of you. Sometimes they can bring something out of you, you never knew existed, or in my case, haven't seen for a long, long time.
Great teachers treat all their pupils fairly, with respect and dignity. They give feedback in a positive way and have your best interests at heart. Great teachers of stand-up comedy, teach you how to write stand-up comedy, how to perform stand-up comedy and how to develop your own comedic voice and style. Gemma is a great teacher."
Anouk Chalmers (Queer Theatre-Making)
Kevin Lee Travis (New Forest Comedy Course)
Kerry Bryant (Soho Theatre Comedy Lab)
"The AYN Queer Theatre-Making course gave me the structure and accountability to birth a weird little short piece that I'm hoping to nurture and play with. The weekly prompts and discussions were interesting and inspiring and incredibly well facilitated by Celine and Gemma. I felt supported and guided, while still given free rein in the making of my piece."
Kerry Bryant (Soho Theatre Comedy Lab)
Marc Jacobson (Soho Theatre Comedy Lab)
Kerry Bryant (Soho Theatre Comedy Lab)
“Gemma deserves more than these two sentences on a web page for you to fully appreciate who you’re working with. If you’ve got as far as reading this and you’re considering learning from Gemma then go on, do it. Gemma will help you explore your creativity with honesty, if you are new to this world then she’ll be kind and best of all you’ll laugh along the way"
Marc Jacobson (Soho Theatre Comedy Lab)
Marc Jacobson (Soho Theatre Comedy Lab)
Marc Jacobson (Soho Theatre Comedy Lab)
"Gemma is not only a comic genius, but an amazing teacher. She explains comedy well, she is very responsive when sending her material to review, and also she's just a really genuinely lovely person - she really wants you to do well."
Jessie Fell (A Course For Kings)
Marc Jacobson (Soho Theatre Comedy Lab)
Marc Jacobson (Soho Theatre Comedy Lab)
"Words can't describe how encouraging, fun, inclusive and wonderful this course was! I learnt and developed so much in such a short space of time. Len has never-ending energy, empathy and enthusiasm when teaching. It's been amazing and I'm so sad it's over, I now feel like a king for life!" (Savage Gordon)
Why is this right for me?
Maybe you're a beginner and want a safe space to try stand up, cabaret and drag or theatre-making for the first time. Maybe you've been gigging for a while and are looking to build on your techniques and skills. You might be a stand up working on your first full length show and want some support and feedback. Check out our FAQs to see how Above Your Nerve can help you!
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