Writers' panel announced for Chortle Conference

The final session of the vital comedy industry day on July 9 will focus on working as a writer, we can announce today.

The panel at the Pleasance Islington will include:

• John Finnemore, creator of the long-running Radio 4 sitcom Cabin Pressure (winner of a Writers' Guild of Great Britain award for Best Radio Comedy) and his own radio sketch show John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, Other credits include That Mitchell and Webb Look, Dead Ringers and 10 O'Clock Live.

• Larry Rickard, a writers of Yonderland, Horrible Histories and the forthcoming Shakespeare comedy Bill. His other credits include The Armstrong and Miller Show, The Charlotte Church Show and The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson.

• Bennett Arron, a stand-up who has previously won the TAPS Comedy Writer of the Year Award and the BBC Wales New Writer's Award. His stand-up show Jewelsh starts on Radio Wales this weekend, and his other writing credits include V Graham Norton, children's shows Genie In The House, Slammer and Which is Witch? and a novel, The Girl From The Discotheque.

Previously announced guests include Inside No 9 creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith; Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning stand-up Brendon Burns discussing the state of the live circuit, and a raft of broadcasting commissioners.

The day is aimed at comedy performers and writers of any experience, and also includes expert insight on the live circuit, the Edinburgh Fringe, corporate work and making money from online ventures. Plus representatives from performers' union Equity will be on hand to answer specific questions on work or rights.

Use this button to secure your place for £75, which includes lunch, teas/coffees, and pastries on arrival as well as a full day of invaluable advice.

Here is the full programme:

9.00 REGISTRATION

With tea, coffee and pastries.

9.30 KEYNOTE SESSION: Brendon Burns

Brendon Burns has been a comedian for more than 20 years, winning Edinburgh's biggest prize in 2007. But for his latest tour, he is performing in anything but comedy clubs because he feels the circuit has changed – and not for the better.

Experience tells him that audiences only want to see people they know from the telly and hear their own lives reflected back at them. 'If they don't see themselves in everything you do they're not just confused, they're outraged', he says. So clubs play it safe, and provocative, original voices go unheard… and without them, won't comedy become irrelevant, wither and die?

Here he discusses whether the circuit can combat this stifling conservatism while also remaining commercially viable – and whether his own move away from established venues was 'bombastically dickish or petulant cowardice'.

This is where we discuss the future of the circuit. And we've told him to keep it relatable and uncontroversial.

10.15 THE STATE OF CLUB COMEDY

Following on from Brendon's comments a panel from the live circuit discuss what makes a good – and successful – club and how the market is changing, With Mark Tughan from the Glee club, which runs multiple venues, and Barry Ferns from the Angel Comedy Club in London – whose acclaimed nights are free for audiences. More names to be announced

The panel will look at what changes in the live circuit mean for anyone hoping to make a living from comedy. Hosted by Stuart Goldsmith.

11.00 COFFEE

11.15 HOW TO SUCCEED AT EDINBURGH

Despite the changing landscape, the Edinburgh Fringe is still a vital place for talent to get noticed. How do you put on a show in the world's biggest arts festival – and how can you get attention among hundreds of competing shows. A certain venue fiasco might also get discussed…

With Ryan Taylor, head of comedy at the Pleasance; Louise Gilbert, media manager at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society; Alex Petty, director of the Laughing Horse Free Festival; Publicist Paul Sullivan; and Chortle editor Steve Bennett. Hosted by Viv Groskop.

12:00 CAN YOU MAKE MONEY ONLINE?

There's never been a greater opportunity to put your work out there. But it's never been more difficult to make money from it. Here we try to learn how to build an online audience, and capitalise on it.

With Stuart Laws from Turtle Canyon Comedy, who make YouTube videos with the likes of James Acaster and David Trent; Miles Bullough, co-founder of incubator Wildseed Studios, which commissions web series and Riyad Barmania, content director of the Channel Flip network. Hosted by Stuart Goldsmith

12:40 ASK EQUITY

Michael Day and Louise Grainger from the performers' union, explain what its new Comedians' Network means for stand-ups; then invites general questions from the audience on any work or rights issues. Have your questions ready… Hosted by Viv Groskop

1.20 LUNCH

2.10 THE CORPORATE COIN

It's rarely spoken about, but corporate engagements are a valuable source of income for many comedians. How does this sector of the industry work? Is it selling out? What do brands expect when they book a comedian, With Caroline Edwards, managing director of Sparkle Productions, the UK's sole consultancy specialising in branded comedy; Sue Terry of leading voiceover agency Sue Terry Voices; Keith Palmer founder and director of the Comedy School, which runs courses teaching companies how comedy techniques can benefit them; a representative from corporate booking agents Sternberg Clarke Entertainment,. Hosted by Alex Rochford.

2.50 WRITERS' SESSION

John Finnemore, Larry Rickard and Bennett Arron share their experiences of working as comedy writers across all media, including how they got into their career, how they write and their experiences of producers and commissioners.

3.30 COFFEE

3.45 WHAT BROADCASTERS WANT

Always one of the favourite sessions as commissioners and producers describe what they are seeking, and what personally excites them. Get the lowdown on what the next generation of comedy shows may be; and in the second part of this session (below) get some feedback on your ideas:

With:
Chris Sussman, Executive Editor for comedy at the BBC, who has commissioned or executive produced Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, Bad Education, Not Going Out, Ruddy Hell It's Harry And Paul and Cuckoo:
Alison-Vernon Smith, Executive Producer of BBC radio comedy whose credits include Arthur Smith's Balham Bash, Bridget Christie Minds the Gap and Mark Thomas: Bravo Figaro.
Charlie Hanson, of Tantrum Films, who has produced Extras, Derek, Garth Marenghi's DarkPlace, Birds Of A Feather, Desmonds, Chef, The Harry Hill Show and many,many more
Neil Webster, of independent production company Happy Tramp, makers of BBC One's SunTrap. He was also a co-founder of Zeppotron which makes 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Would I Lie To You? and Black Mirror.

4.30 PITCH PERFECT?

Here's your chance to make a 60-second pitch to our panel of broadcasters and receive some instant feedback (but beware, it might not be what you want to hear…)

5.00 CLOSING GUESTS: Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton

The creators of the award-winning Inside No 9 talk about their career, from the days of live performing and taking the Edinburgh Fringe by storm as part of the League Of Gentlemen, which went on to radio, TV and movie incarnations. The pair then created the gothic comedy series Psychoville, and the acclaimed Inside No 9, an anthology of unlinked comic stories of twists and suspense. Includes a Q&A session.

5.45 END

Published: 25 Jun 2015