TOSketchFestBlog
It’s our 20th anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than by getting smarter, funnier, and more connected? The Learning + Fun program is back, bringing comedians of all levels together for skill-building workshops, insightful panels, and some good old-fashioned fun!
From March 5-16, 2025, we’re rolling out a lineup of comedy tastemakers and industry pros to help you sharpen your craft, spark new ideas, and grow your comedy community. Expect thought-provoking discussions, hands-on workshops, exclusive parties, and plenty of chances to mingle with fellow funny folks.
Whether you’re a Festival performer, an emerging comedian, or just dipping your toes into the world of sketch comedy, there’s something here for you. Let’s learn, laugh, and celebrate 20 years of sketch magic together!
Pitch Panel – International Women’s Day
Saturday, March 8 at 12:00pm – Franco Boni Theatre, The Theatre Centre
Presented in partnership with
Join hosts Naomi Snieckus and Rena Taylor for an inspiring Pitch Panel featuring industry experts Nelu Handa, Lauren MacKinlay, and Wendy Litner. This dynamic session kicks off with a panel discussion on storytelling, industry insights, and the art of pitching.
In the second half, audience members will have the opportunity to share a 30-45 second pitch about a project they’re working on and receive constructive feedback from our panel of industry professionals. Whether you’re developing a script, a show idea, or another creative concept, this is a unique chance to refine your pitch and gain valuable industry perspective.
A must-attend session for creators looking to sharpen their ideas and connect with industry leaders!
BRUNCH! A Clown Workshop
Sunday, March 9 at 11:00am – Sweet Action Theatre
Instructors: Ken Hall, Issac Kessler, Gordon Neill
Brought to you by Sweet Action Theatre, Toronto’s Home for the Ridiculous and only clown dedicated theatre, BRUNCH! is a spiritually mathematical science based approach to creative play! It’s kinda like school, but just the recess part. We’re going to explore audience connection, group mind, devising, the neutral body, energy, musicality, rhythm and more – and all with creative play in mind (…and body). As you can see, we have lofty goals for this class. We may fail at reaching them all, but we’re going to have fun trying together.
They’ve sold out 11 straight sessions, so join us for this special preview class, and come get a nibble at what all the fun is about!
Character Creation in Context
Sunday, March 9 at 12:00pm – BMO Incubator, The Theatre Centre
Instructor: Amanda Xeller
In this 2 hour workshop, students will explore character creation through both physical and written exercises. Students will use physicality, sound, and contextual prompts to discover characters unique to them in real-time. In addition, students will be tasked with writing prompts to begin translating their ideas onto the page. The workshop will also provide an overview of terminology touchstones of sketch and character writing.
Producing Digital Sketches
Sunday, March 15 at 12:00pm – BMO Incubator, The Theatre Centre
Instructor: Miguel Rivas
Miguel tells you his best practices for producing and executing sketch in video form. Whether it’s an original script or a sketch you’ve perfected live and wanna shoot, learn how to organize and pull off your big short.
Creating Content with a Political Lean
Sunday, March 16 at 12:00pm – BMO Incubator, The Theatre Centre
Instructor: Seth K. Thomas
In this workshop creators will explore the various ways to weave political slants into content while maintaining the funny.
Seth K. Thomas is a sketch comedian, writer, and comedy consultant who has been sharing his comedy knowledge, experience, and understanding for over twenty years. Seth has taught comedy to people at The Second City, Chicago, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and countless festivals including Toronto Sketchfest.
Getting an Agent
Thursday, April 3 at 7:00pm – Zoom Livestream
Instructor: Izad Etemadi
Get An Agent! A crash course designed to demystify the process of securing representation. Led by actor/writer Izad Etemadi, this workshop breaks down the essentials—headshots, résumés, demo reels— and provides actionable strategies on how to research, pitch, and approach agents with confidence.
