Sketch Comedy is, according to Wikipedia, "a series of short scenes or vignettes, called "sketches", commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio or visual medium such as radio and television. Often sketches are first improvised by the actors and sketched down based on the outcome of these improv sessions; however, such improvisation is not necessarily involved in sketch comedy."
In other words, they are short 3 - 5 page scenes that you write, typically with a primary comic premise, 3 beats, and then a 'button' (or final joke) at the end to wrap everything up. If you've watched Saturday Night Live in the USA, that is a form of sketch comedy.
It's different from improv comedy in that a sketch is written out, planned, cast, and rehearsed beforehand, whereas improv is all spontaneously created in the moment. You can find improv writing typically on tv, on youtube, and on stage.
If you want to combine writing, comedy, and fun, writing comedy sketches can be great fun. And when you're got a finished script, you can either get someone else to produce it, produce and direct it yourself, and/or even be one of the starring roles!
Ready to learn more?
In other words, they are short 3 - 5 page scenes that you write, typically with a primary comic premise, 3 beats, and then a 'button' (or final joke) at the end to wrap everything up. If you've watched Saturday Night Live in the USA, that is a form of sketch comedy.
It's different from improv comedy in that a sketch is written out, planned, cast, and rehearsed beforehand, whereas improv is all spontaneously created in the moment. You can find improv writing typically on tv, on youtube, and on stage.
If you want to combine writing, comedy, and fun, writing comedy sketches can be great fun. And when you're got a finished script, you can either get someone else to produce it, produce and direct it yourself, and/or even be one of the starring roles!
Ready to learn more?