Cheat Off My Answer Sheet: A Sketch Workshop with Liz Talbot

THE WORKSHOP

Receive years of sketch experience in three hours, if you’re brave enough to unpack dozens of regrettable examples from over a decade of sketch-writing. Hard lessons learned have been dusted off and neatly packaged in the form of twelve key messages, with each one backed up by multiple examples drawn from a database of 100+ analysed and categorised sketches.

Quickly grasp whether you have a premise or just a point of view! Understand how to spot a punch-down before the audience does! Be convinced that shorter is supreme! Cut through years of my trial-and-error by cheating off my answer sheet!

THE Teacher
Liz Talbot is a writer, sketch comedian, improviser and Corporate Type from Brisbane/Meanjin. She has created sketch comedy at the Brisbane Comedy Festival, Anywhere Festival, ITS Comedy Festival, Big Fork Theatre and Brisbane Powerhouse, delivering solo work, duos, ensemble productions and one-day-turnaround shows. She writes for troupes, runs writing and brainstorming sessions for businesses and teaches at festivals across Australia and New Zealand. She is proud of her University Law Revue beginnings, and of how very far she has come from ten-minute sketches, unnecessary dialogue and major blind spots. When Liz has learned something important, she wants to share it with others, so here she is.

“I got so much from the workshop that helped my writing; Liz has such expertise.”
“The workshop material is comprehensive, and Liz’s resources are invaluable.”
“Liz is engaging and informative; this workshop is so helpful.”

Experience level

You are ready to take this workshop if you sit in ANY of the following categories: (A) I write and perform some sketch and want something that is beyond Sketch 101 – Help me grow even further. (B) I’m a comedy-lover and improviser and I have sketch ideas – Help me hit the ground running so I can rapidly transfer my skills into sketch. (C) I love sketch-writing and I love talking about sketch comedy. Help me find some blind spots or new lenses through which to view my work.

Sun 15 Nov, 2pm – 5pm at Improv Theatre Sydney

This workshop is part of the ITS Comedy Festival 2026. Check out the full program here.