The Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR) is staging an event to discuss the nature of humour. Feeling Funny, Being Human will explore what humour tells us about being human, whether we are born with humour and whether animals have a sense of humour.

The event is part of the Being Human: A Festival of the Humanities at Brunel University, London and will take place on Friday, November 21 from 4pm-7pm. 

The session will include a panel discussion exploring the unique relationship between humour and being human. Guests will have the opportunity to develop gags electronically on the special Joking Computer ro see if a computer really simulate jokes and there will also be improvised sketches performed by the Funny Women Players.

Speakers include: Dr Merideth Gattis (School of Psychology, Cardiff University); Max Kinnings (Head of Creative Writing, Brunel University, novelist and screenwriter); Lynne Parker (Executive Producer, Funny Women – UK’s Leading Female Comedy Community); Dr Brett Mills (Film and Television Studies, University of East Anglia); and Dr Graeme Ritchie (Department of Computing Science, University of Aberdeen).

The event is free and open to everyone but advance booking is required. Click here for tickets.