comedy on referral

For treatment of trauma and mental health issues

What is Comedy on Referral?

Comedy on Referral CIC is a groundbreaking and award-winning project that uses the process of writing, performing and understanding stand-up comedy for therapeutic benefit.

Comedy on prescription, for the treatment of trauma and mental health issues.

We began in 2020 when our pioneering Co-produced work which was the first of its kind in the world to be funded and prescribed by the NHS developed our platform to then help other communities, organisations and people who need a new exciting and groundbreaking ways to look at their trauma, mental health and lived experiences.

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Previous Projects

Comedy on Referral have worked for companies both in the UK and abroad to show how comedy-based interventions can change peoples lives through a unique combination of psychology, creative writing, body work and comedy theory.

Previous projects have including designing and delivering for Rethink Mental Illness, BRAVO 22, Mothers on the Mic, Mountview Drama School, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, University of Bristol, Active Recovery, The Primary Head Teacher Association of Bristol, British Association of Drama therapists, The Greenhouse, Allright Mate? CIC, Salisbury NHS Trust,The Cape Project as well as Companies such as Journey Travel, Deutz Bank, Ashurst Law firm, Hologica, and GWR.

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Comedy on Referral

Awards

Comedy on Referral was honoured at the 2024 Hague Comedy Project in The Netherlands, given COMEDIAN OF EMMANCIPATION 2023 for the work they delivered for Bristol Social Prescribing Service, and was given a Gold AWARD for BEST MENTAL HEALTH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NHS in 2024 by The Health Services Journal Awards for their delivery of the world’s first NHS funded Co-produced comedy course for men at risk of suicide.

Need some proof this works? Read the evaluation report from our 2 year suicide prevention comedy course at The Comedy Store in London for Rethink Mental Illness, funded by the NHS.read the report

What People Say About Us

...A stand up comedy course sounds hugely scary but this was anything but. I would encourage anyone given the opportunity to experience her workshops to give it a go - however shy you might feel about it...

Laura Graham-May

...Angie was personable, very understanding of how to navigate challenging conversations with our group effectively and productively, this resulted in our members reporting they had a fantastic time...

Active Recovery

...If someone had said to me two months ago, you'll be standing on a stage, in front of an audience doing your first stand up comedy set, I would have fallen over!!! But I did it! Thank you Angie...

Lorna Young

I had a couple of 1:1 Comedy Coaching sessions with Angie. I really benefited from Angie's practical and fearless approach. I gained both confidence and inspiration!

Rachel Hogg

Angie is a fantastic teacher. She really knows her stuff. She kept asking what we needed/wanted to cover and flexed accordingly . She is really warm and supportive - making it 100% safe to have a go...

Harriet Beveridge

...I felt totally supported throughout and felt fully cradled in Angie’s wonderful bosom when getting on the stage. I was 100% confident that she wouldn’t let me make a tit of myself...

Emma Kelly

Angie is a fantastic comedy coach, she used tonnes of theory backed writing and physical approaches to get us confident and finding our funny, writing things that mattered to us...

Sam Gilroy

...If you’re on the fence with this and are reading reviews to see if you should do it.. you should 100% do it. The whole experience was great and the final showcase was the best gig I’ve been on in a long time...

Peter Butler

...Angie is one of the kindest, most patient and, most importantly, understanding people you will ever have the pleasure of interacting with. And then, on top of that, she is truly in love with her craft...

Neb Nella

Angie has the rare ability to be incredibly knowledgeable and thoroughly engaging. Her course took me from a place of uncertainty and nervousness to one of empowerment and confidence...

Tom Kennard

Reviews

5 Over 61 Reviews

Write a Review

Steven Taylor 1 month ago

Angie is one superb stand up comedy teacher/coach and a really lovely person to boot. Always supportive - friendly - caring and gets the best out of everyone. Worthy of every one of those 5 stars - er. That’s it. Er that’s not quite it. 18 months and a ministroke on I got on stage again and did my second ever gig with some one to one coaching from Angie. She gave my act a new direction and refreshed it - it went over well with the audience and now I’m looking forward (health allowing) to doing many more. Angie - you are THE kindest genius of comedy

...

William Kenny-Levick 4 months ago

I would. I did. So if you’re needing to be a better you, why don’t you?

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Rachel Hogg 4 months ago

I had a couple of 1:1 Comedy Coaching sessions with Angie. I really benefited from Angie's practical and fearless approach. I gained both confidence and inspiration!

...

Laura Graham-May 6 months ago

Angie was well prepared, engaging, warm and incredibly funny. She gently brought out the best in the young people that we had gathered for her, and allowed them the chance to learn at their own pace.
A stand up comedy course sounds hugely scary but this was anything but. I would encourage anyone given the opportunity to experience her workshops to give it a go - however shy you might feel about it. You'll be surprised at how simple she makes it seem, which is testament to her skill at delivering and her encouraging manner.
It's also a right laugh.

...

Active Recovery 7 months ago

We worked with Angie for several workshops with survivors who had experienced a range of abuse in their lifetime. From start to finish, Angie was a pleasure to work with. Angie provided lots of information for us - demonstrating her expertise and well structured workshops. During the sessions Angie was personable, very understanding of how to navigate challenging conversations with our group effectively and productively, this resulted in our members reporting they had a fantastic time. We are impressed with how well held and transformative this session could be and highly recommend this as an option to those considering using her comedic workshop services!

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Harriet Beveridge 9 months ago

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Neb Nella 11 months ago

Angie is such a good performer and teacher that it would be insulting to her to even attempt to summarise how good she is in a Google review. That being said,

Angie is one of the kindest, most patient and, most importantly, understanding people you will ever have the pleasure of interacting with. And then, on top of that, she is truly in love with her craft and wants to spread what she has learnt to as many as she can.

Nuff said. Thanks Angie. Couldn't have done it without you.

...

Carolyn Sainsbury 11 months ago

I absolutely loved working with Angie. She is a great communicator and is clearly very passionate about what she does.
Her feedback was always delivered clearly. Angie was incredibly supportive of our project and I can't thank her enough for all her hard work over the last few months.

...

HA Thom 11 months ago

Angie was really great to work with, she really helped me find the funny and understand what to change and adapt to hit the punchline, as well as experiment with how to say things to get the right feelings into the jokes. She's been super supportive throughout and I really enjoyed learning from her.

...

Facebook Posts

Comedy on Referral

1 month ago

I sometimes give some free coaching to former students, and Steve had a big talk coming up at a mental health conference, so I gave him a bit of help, and he gave me this review this week. Sniff....

"Angie is one superb stand up comedy teacher/coach and a really lovely person to boot. Always supportive - friendly - caring and gets the best out of everyone. Worthy of every one of those 5 stars - er. That’s it. Er that’s not quite it. 18 months and a ministroke on I got on stage again and did my second ever gig with some one to one coaching from Angie. She gave my act a new direction and refreshed it - it went over well with the audience and now I’m looking forward (health allowing) to doing many more. Angie - you are THE kindest genius of comedy"

Here's his journey film below....

Shared with permission.

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Comedy on Referral

1 month ago

New stationery alert! Curious Pencil Cards ... See MoreSee Less

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Comedy on Referral

1 month ago

Not long until the Parents on the Mic Comedy Course open to all parents and grandparents...

Parenting is a whirlwind of emotions and new experiences. It also makes for great material! Join comedian Angie Belcher to learn how to write your first 5-minute comedy set using comedic devices used by professional comedians. Open to all levels. Babies and children welcome with you.

MONDAYS 6 October -15 December 2025 (half term break on 27 Oct)

Cost Sliding scale: £100-160
Further support to attend available just get in touch.

Find out more lizzyhumber.com/events/p/comedy-course

#creativityandparenthood #comedycourse #daylightsessions #exeter #parents #standup
Supported by Exeter Library The National Lottery Community Fund ... See MoreSee Less

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Comedy on Referral

2 months ago

Hey baby owners, put some mirth into your maternity leave as we return to the The Wardrobe Theatre this September for our monthly sproglet friendly comedy club.

Catch 4 circuit stand up acts, at 11am in the morning, tickets can be found here: www.aftermirthcomedy.co.uk

#gigswithbabies
#BristolComedy
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