About

Comedy U provides education and information on writing and performing comedy (including sketch comedy, improvisation, standup, movies, TV sitcoms), as well as the providing training in useful applications of comedy in other creative environments.

Duncan McKenzie has been teaching comedy and improv since 1989, as well as working in TV and film. He was as a writer and consultant on the YTV series, That’s So Weird and showrunner for the comedy-drama TV series Train 48, which used a blend of outline scripts and improvisation. Each show was shot in the daytime, edited in the afternoon, and broadcast across Canada in the evening. He wrote, story edited, and occasionally directed the award-winning sketch comedy series History Bites, which ran for over 100 episodes on History Television. He also was story editor/writer for six episodes of Baronness Von Sketch Show in 2016. One of Duncan’s side gigs at the moment is the new sci-fi podcast The Bigger Bang.

Amy McKenzie loves both improvisation and teaching. After writing and performing comedy sketches for CBC Radio with The Six Flying Hamsters, she wrote on five seasons of the award-winning History Bites, and played such parody roles as “Judge Judy”. She was also an associate producer and writer for the serial Train 48 for a time on Global. She’s now the Artistic and General Manager of the Oakville Improv Theatre Company and partners with Art House (children’s charity) in Halton, facilitating classes for students with barriers to access. Amy has a strong interest in special education in public schools, mental health and wellness, and was on the  Special Education Advisory Committee for HDSB for seven years, and Chair for two of them. From 2020 to 2022 she served as NA East Regional Representative for The International Theatresports Institute, helping disseminate the work of Keith Johnstone throughout the globe. You can see more of their work here.