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Comedian to teach stand-up in schools for Book Week Scotland
Shetland comedian Marjolein Robertson embarks on tour of rural schools
Comedian, improviser and storyteller Marjolein Robertson will embark on a tour of rural secondary schools for Book Week Scotland 2018, offering senior students the chance to learn how to craft a stand-up comedy routine. Now in its seventh year, Book Week Scotland is run by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing.
The tour, which runs from Monday 19 to Friday 23 of November, will visit ten schools in the Highlands, Argyll & Bute, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. Marjolein will perform a short set of material before leading a workshop on writing stand-up comedy. This will involve a discussion on comedy, breaking down some of the jokes from her set and explaining how she got into comedy. She will then show examples of her writing techniques before getting pupils to come up with an outline for their own stand-up routine on things they love and hate.
In addition to appearing at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Marjolein has been a regular contributor to BBC Scotland’s award-winning digital platform for new talent The Social since 2016. She began performing in Amsterdam, before training in improvisation in New York and still spends most of her time on Shetland – where she is probably the only female comedian. At the crux of her comedy sketches and stand-up routines is a quirky and unique take on rural life as a young person.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Scottish Book Trust is always looking for fresh new ways in which we can inspire young people all over Scotland to get writing. I am pleased to announce that we’ll be sending Marjolein to a range of schools in communities where it’s not always easy to attend stand-up comedy gigs. I hope these young people will get the chance to see some of their own experience reflected in her work and consider their own creative potential in turn.”
Marjolein Robertson said: “Writing comedy is a fantastic way to inspire anyone to pick up a pen, type on a keyboard or even jot down ideas and jokes on their phones. It's quick and easy and over time can grow into a craft as you begin to stitch material together. I am very excited about the opportunity to share writing techniques with schools around Scotland and getting more voices from all over the country to give comedy a go. I also used to be the bairn in the classroom who was always scolded for constantly talking. So to get the opportunity to stand up and tell jokes in each school I visit and be allowed to, is like a dream come true.”
Tour Dates
Monday 19 November
11am – 12pm: Ardnamurchan High School, Lochaber
2pm – 3pm: Kinlochleven High School, Lochaber
Tuesday 20 November
9.30am – 10.30am: Rothesay Academy, Argyll and Bute
2pm – 3pm: St Matthews Academy, Saltcoats, North Ayrshire
Wednesday 21 November
1.15pm - 2.15pm: Marr College, Troon, South Ayrshire
Thursday 22 November
9am – 10am: Belmont Academy, Ayr, South Ayshire
1.20pm – 2.20pm: Carrick Academy, Maybole, South Ayrshire
Friday 23 November
9am – 10am: Dalbeattie High School, Dumfries and Galloway
2pm – 3pm Moffat Academy, Dumfries and Galloway