‘True story, you can learn to be funny.’

East Anglian Daily Times: Comedy Workshops with Kate Smurthwaite at the Apex, Bury St Edmunds.Comedy Workshops with Kate Smurthwaite at the Apex, Bury St Edmunds.

This is the view of successful stand-up comedian Kate Smurthwaite, who 11 years ago took a course in comedy.

Now the pupil has become teacher, claiming learning to do stand-up is not just for those looking for a comedy career.

The stand-up, originally from Bury St Edmunds, was teaching at the Apex in the town yesterday where she revealed her students range from wannabe comedians to Best Men trying to build up the confidence for their big speech.

“Everyone thinks that comedy is something that you have either got it or you haven’t got it,” she said.

East Anglian Daily Times: Comedy Workshops with Kate Smurthwaite at the Apex, Bury St Edmunds.Comedy Workshops with Kate Smurthwaite at the Apex, Bury St Edmunds.

“It is weird how people assume that you could learn to be an actor, or a writer, or a presenter.

“Really, a good comedian is an actor, a writer and a presenter, all teachable skills.”

Kate started teaching through City Academy, in London, after being approached six years ago and also offers classes across the country.

She said: “I did a course in comedy. I really thought that it would be helpful for presentations at work.”

Since then she never looked back, forging a reputation as a politically outspoken comedian, writing for BBC’s Have I Got News For You and gigging around the country.

“There is some really interesting research from the US that shows that jokes have a bigger influence on people’s opinions than facts do,” she said.

Kate stressed that her classes were not about creating “identikit” comedians. She said: “Without a course everyone talks about people talking really loud on their mobile phone.”

To find out more about Kate and her comedy classes, visit her website