Seeing the funny side of life is the aim of a popular theatre workshop for children at the Burton Taylor Studio.

Believe it or not, we all have the capacity to make people laugh (except anyone on the end of a customer helpline...) But according to John Carter, leader of Burton Taylor Studio’s Carry on Laughing workshop, “everybody is funny in a different way”.

Which is why families in Oxford should brace themselves to split their sides and gasp for breath as the workshop launches its initiative to make the county’s children and teenagers... funnier. Funny ha-ha, funny hee-hee, funny bone ticklish and side-slappingly hysterical. Or at least for the £125 the workshop costs, that’s what you’d hope.

Yes, working hand-in-hand with fellow actor Mark Curtis, the dynamic duo aim to prove that laughter, and our ability to create it, is as instinctive among youngsters as runny noses and scabbed knees.

And interestingly, it doesn’t matter if you’re shy either because as John says: “We use shy as funny”.

Indeed – and here’s a boast – Mark and John claim they can turn any personality into someone who can produce a laugh, no matter how small.

“You see kids are naturally funny,” says Mark. “And the building of new comedians is a lot of fun. They are freed to be kids running loose for a while – even if they do that within very set limits which means they also learn discipline,” adds John.

“We teach them to be honest about it; not to hide things like most performers do.”

But in the end what Mark and John really do is re-teach youngsters how to play.

On a large scale.

As John puts it: “We counter the seriousness of the school system, and help kids to be themselves.”

And perhaps not surprisingly, this has proved to be hugely popular, with many of this year’s ‘students’ coming back for a third time, the natural camaraderie between Mark and John ensuring everyone has a good laugh.

“We have been trained at drama school and university, and have about 15 years’ experience working in this field,” says Mark.

So when they say ‘fun’, you can feel confident they know what they are talking about, although both performers point out that while some children are naturally funny, most do have to work at it. Thus the workshop.

So, just how do you make someone – and a child in particular – funny?

“The day-to-day program is built around stories brought in by the kids themselves,” explains Mark.

“There are several exercises every day and there are set scenes to perform, punch lines to learn and jokes to develop.”

Which, when put like that may sound rather serious but as Mark insists, it is also all about clowning, which is why the two enjoy working so much with youngsters.

“Children are much more likely to just do whatever comes naturally,” says Mark. “Adults are too logical.”

Just what level of ‘funny’ then can parents expect from their newly-tutored children? And should they be looking for a new Michael MacIntyre or Alan Carr to suddenly materialise?

Well, not quite...

“They learn to build-up and break tension,” says Mark.

“And learn to be good listeners and good actors, as well as learning to be open-minded about humour,” agrees John.

But all of these ‘tricks’ are taught, or enhanced and embraced according to every individual’s personaility, for as John pointedly observes: “Comedy isn’t about being witty – it’s all about being committed and focused.”

  • Carry on Laughing is at the Burton Taylor Studio between August 13-17, from 10am to 4pm. For youngsters aged 11 to 15. Call 01865 305305 for further details or click onto oxfordplayhouse.com/burtontaylor/