How to write comedy festival reviews

Hundreds of shows in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival want reviews. And audiences want to read passionate and honest reviews from diverse and exciting voices.

This workshop develops your practical review-writing skills, explores how reviews are used in festivals, and discusses ways to get published and self-publish.

It’s for writers who are already reviewing for specialist sites and street press or self-publishing, community radio presenters, social media addicts, and anyone who wants to start reviewing.

Anne-Marie Peard has been a freelance arts journalist in Melbourne since 2006 and written features, interviews and hundreds of reviews. She’s written for mastheads and specialist publications including The Age, Time Out, The Music, Arts Hub and her own blog, Sometimes Melbourne. She also teaches arts journalism, sits on judging panels, has worked for large festivals and been an arts publicist.

This workshop will include:

Discussion about the role of arts criticism in festivals, especially in MICF.

How reviewing and arts media coverage has changed.

Practical writing hints including structure, the elements that every review should contain, self-editing, and writing to style.

Ways to develop your unique voice and opinions and the importance of diversity in reviewing.

How to develop your audience of readers.

Can you be a positive advocate and be critical?

The role of social media.

How to describe “funny”.

There will be notes and time for questions and talking together.

Bring a pen and paper and your laptop.

NOTE: RRP listed is for a single ticket.
You can buy a ticket for $50. All you have to do is type: House50 in the promo code field.