The University of Birmingham has begun an academic project examining the nature of comedy and what benefits it can bring. The Serious About Comedy initiative will investigate issues in comedy such as cancel culture, national identity, race, region, class and gender, if comedy can be learned and whether comedy promotes health and wellbeing.
Another project will ask if comedy ought to be taken seriously as tragedy and other serious drama. It will also examine whether Shakespeare can be seen through the lens of comedy in order to appeal more to modern audiences. Though it’s unclear what this means regarding … the comedies.
The Birmingham Rep theatre is involved and under its artistic director Sean Foley, hopes to become a major centre for comedy. On April Fools Day the venue will host a day of events to launch the project, with performers such as Sophie Duker, Athena Kugblenu and Shazia Mirza appearing alongside academics who specialise in comedy, ending with a show featuring Gràinne Maguire and Mrs Barbara Nice.
Professor Ewan Fernie of the University of Birmingham said: “We’re delighted to be getting up to some seriously funny business with The Rep and we hope that Serious About Comedy will initiate a distinctive and promising new tradition of taking comedy seriously in the city, one which will refresh Birmingham’s sense of its own identity and culture from a funny but intellectually rewarding angle.”
Foley said: “Serious About Comedy continues The Rep’s commitment to being a major player in presenting comedy in all forms, such as developing new writing and emerging comedy talent while presenting the very latest hit comic productions as well as the ever-funny classics.
“This brilliant new partnership with the University of Birmingham will allow for a new and ongoing forum where the comedy industry dances provocatively with academia and the public, in a shared pursuit of learning and laughs. But not necessarily in that order…”
To find out more about the project and event on 1st April click here!
