Should taxes pay for comedy courses?

A council has been criticised for spending tax-payers’ money on teaching people how to be stand-ups.

Manchester City Council has spent around £2,000 offering the free 12-week course to any over-18s who live in the Wythenshawe area.

Run by agent Ashley Boroda, the course covers such topics as writing material to microphone technique as well as the study of various comedic styles.

Right-wing pressure group The Taxpayers’ Alliance said the course was a waste of money with public finances so tight.

Spokeswoman Emma Boon said: ‘It’s a lot of money at a time when the government is saying they have to cut spending. If this is about improving community relations, I think that sharing a joke has always been free and it’s disgraceful that this money is being spent on a comedy course.’

One of the people who took part in last year’s course is 45-year-old Lewis Jones, a father of four who works as a manager for an aircraft maintenance company.

He said: ‘The comedy course was a brilliant experience and opened doors to me, so that I now perform stand-up comedy at venues around the region. I plan to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next year. During the course we were taught how to write material, where the emphasis was on creating your own work and not using other people’s jokes.’

Councillor Mike Amesbury said: ‘The stand-up comedy course is part of our cultural regeneration programme. It gave people the chance to hone their natural skills with professional tuition. And, because the course is all about developing confidence and presentation techniques, those skills can be used in other areas of life too. I hope we find the next Caroline Aherne or Mrs Merton.’

In a letter to the Manchester Evening News, he added that the money, which comes from a central government grant, amounts to less than £10 per person per week and it represents value for money as it offers training and work opportunities

Participants who complete the free course will perform in a showcase night at the Comedy Store and receive a DVD of their 15-minute performance.

Published: 16 Sep 2010