Featured Comedians & Instructors

Interview with Dan Lees

Comedian and clown Dan Lees, co-founder of the London Clown Festival, spoke with The School of Laughter about his path into performance. Among the lines that stuck: do something you believe in and enjoy, then when you die take some time off and go shopping.

The conversation touched on clowning as a craft, the discipline behind apparent silliness, and how failure and risk-taking feed a comedic career.

The School of Laughter brings together a rotating cast of working comedians, improvisers, and performance coaches who each bring a distinct flavour to the classroom. Our instructors have honed their craft on London stages and beyond, and they understand that learning comedy is as much about resilience as it is about punchlines. Every teacher at the school is selected not only for their stage experience but for their ability to create a supportive, playful environment where students feel safe to take risks. Whether you are a complete beginner or an improver looking to sharpen your timing, you will find guidance from people who genuinely love seeing others discover their funny.

Guest speakers and visiting performers regularly drop by to share their journeys through the ups and downs of a life in comedy. These conversations often reveal that the most important lessons have little to do with joke structure and everything to do with perseverance, authenticity, and finding joy in the process. Students hear firsthand how seasoned acts navigate hecklers, rewrite material that bombs, and keep returning to the stage with fresh energy. These real-world insights help demystify the comedy industry and remind everyone that laughter is a craft you can learn, practice, and refine over time.

The community at The School of Laughter extends beyond the classroom walls. Many former students go on to perform at open mics, join improv troupes, or simply bring a sharper sense of humour into their everyday lives. The people behind the school actively nurture this network, hosting events and informal gatherings where alumni and current students can mix, share feedback, and try out new material. It is this human connection—the shared willingness to be silly, fail forward, and laugh together—that makes the school feel less like a training centre and more like a creative home for anyone curious about comedy.