You are warmly invited to attend a research seminar organised by the Centre for Popular and Comic Performance (PCP) and the Arts and Prosocial Behaviour Research Group (APRG):
22 March 2018, 4.15-5.30pm, KS14
CREATING HAPPIER, HEALTHIER PEOPLE THROUGH COMEDY
SAM AVERY (THE COMEDY TRUST, LIVERPOOL)
Sam Avery is an award winning stand-up comedian and bestselling author. For the last 12 years, he’s also used comedy to create happier, healthier people via the Liverpool based charity, The Comedy Trust. Sam has led and delivered over 250 comedy programmes in a wide range of settings for all ages – schools, youth centres, hospitals, churches, bail hostels, job centres, residential homes, and addiction recovery centres. Previous participants have used the courses to help with confidence, depression and anxiety while several are now fully-fledged performers on the comedy circuit in their own right.
In this entertaining and informative talk, Sam will be discussing his experiences, sharing his discoveries and explaining how comedy has inspired participants to unlock their creativity, aid communication and build self-esteem.
In addition, there are two Workshops, on the 22nd and 23rd March, see the details below:
22 March, 2pm-4pm, Study/Social Space, Cornwallis East, 3d floor (Room 329). Organised by the Graduate School. Book via the online booking system of The Graduate School: https://bloom.kent.ac.uk/
PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP
SAM AVERY (THE COMEDY TRUST, LIVERPOOL)
Public speaking is a vital dimension of any academic career. Whether it’s a conference paper, weekly lecture or even job interview, captivating an audience is an invaluable skill for postgraduate students and early career researchers. However, while academic talks are very common, they’re not always equally engaging. Public speaking is a particularly tricky skill, and even great researchers are not necessarily captivating speakers. In this respect, some humour, if used well, can be a valuable tool in the kit of the academic speaker and make your public speeches more engaging and entertaining.
Led by Sam Avery (artistic director of The Comedy Trust), this Public Speaking Workshop will teach postgraduate students and early career researchers the key skills to deliver a confident, engaging and educational presentations and speeches.
Workshops will:
Improve your confidence, presentation and public speaking skills
Teach you how to use humour to your advantage to make an unforgettable professional presentation
Improve your memory and recall methods
Build confidence and self-esteem to help participants with stress, nerves and anxiety
Provide engaging training on vocal delivery, body language and gestures
23 March, 9am-11am, Study/Social Space, Elliot Forest Drama Studio. Organised by the Graduate School and Student Support and Wellbeing. Book via the online booking system of The Graduate School: https://bloom.kent.ac.uk/
WELL FUNNY WORKSHOP
SAM AVERY (THE COMEDY TRUST, LIVERPOOL)
Studying for a postgraduate degree or just starting an academic career can put a lot of pressure on your mental health and wellbeing. Stress, anxiety, doubt, but also isolation, depressive feelings and sleep issues are common among graduate students and early career researchers. However, although these issues are prevalent, it can be very difficult to find the right forum to discuss them. Here, the Well Funny Workshop of The Comedy Trust can help out. This workshop creates a space in which issues surrounding academic life and mental health and wellbeing can be approached in a relaxed and, at times, even light-hearted atmosphere.
Led by Sam Avery (artistic director of The Comedy Trust), this Well Funny Workshop will use humour and laughter as a tool to improve participants mental health and well-being by creating connections, enhancing relationships and encouraging conversation. We show participants how to use laughter to their advantage to improve personal resilience, confidence and self-esteem. Well Funny sessions are the perfect remedy to tackle the high levels of stress and anxiety faced by postgraduate students and early career researchers.
Participants will understand:
How laughter makes us feel and the associated health benefits
How laughter and humour can help us connect with other people and build lasting relationships
How humour can build resilience and help us problem solve
How breaking a negative / repetitive pattern can help create more happiness within our lives