Lee Tearrell
Lee Tearrell is a British comedian, performer, improviser, teacher and producer from Southend-on-Sea, Essex. He is best known as the founder of The Laughter Academy and creator of the long-running improvisational show Scared Scriptless. As a younger man Tearrell had a brief period of working in the music video industry, working with The Douglas Brothers he collaborated with artists such as Alison Moyet, Paul Young, Prefab Sprout, and Ronnie Wood.
Early life and education
Lee Tearrell was born on the 28th of October 1964 in Rochford Hospital and raised in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. He attended Southchurch Hall School, completing his secondary education in 1981. Tearrell later studied at the University of Essex in Southend, although he would ultimately pursue a career in teaching and entertainment rather than a traditional academic path.
Career overview
Tearrell has been largely self-employed throughout his career, working across performing, teaching, media, and event management. His professional activities have included:
- performing improvisational comedy;
- teaching, particularly in secondary education but also in contexts such as corporate training and prisons;
- producing pop videos and working in radio PR; and
- event management, including co-directing the Rossi Southend Comedy Festival.
Since January 2011, Tearrell has operated The Laughter Academy on a self-employed basis, hosting and performing improvised comedy shows, and teaching improvisation as a tool for communication and soft-skills development.
Between 2014 and 2025, Tearrell also worked with Radio PR as Assistant Manager for Radio Content, helping to deliver radio promotion events. Earlier, from 1985 onwards, he combined freelance teaching and media work with ongoing performance as an improviser at home and in various countries around the world.
Music video production career
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Lee Tearrell worked in the music video industry with the directing duo known as The Douglas Brothers. Working with them he helped produce and direct music videos for several well-known recording artists. Tearrell was involved in projects for the British pop band Prefab Sprout (including videos for songs like "Carnival 2000" and "I Remember That"), for singer Paul Young (such as "Calling You", "Don’t Dream It’s Over", and "Both Sides Now" in duet with Clannad), for Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood (the video for "Show Me"), and for pop vocalist Alison Moyet ("This House" and "Wishing You Were Here"). He can be seen in the video of "Wishing You Were Here" at around 1:30 as a 28 year old man, as he had to stand in as an extra for the scene being filmed.[1]
One of Tearrell’s notable accomplishments from this period was co-directing, editing, and producing the promotional video for Alison Moyet’s 1994 single "Whispering Your Name." This music video gained attention for its comedic concept, featuring British comedian Dawn French in a playful cameo.[2] Tearrell is credited as the video’s producer,[3] and he later quipped that he took on the project "’cause it’s got comedy innit!". The "Whispering Your Name" video, with its mix of music and comedy, hinted at Tearrell’s future transition into the world of live improvisational comedy.
Improvisational comedy and The Laughter Academy
By the mid-1990s, Lee Tearrell had shifted his focus to improvisational comedy. He began performing improv comedy around the UK and internationally with performances in the U.S, Canada and India, eventually establishing himself as a prominent improv tutor and performer. Over the years, Tearrell has appeared onstage alongside many notable British comedians and improvisers – including Eddie Izzard, Mark Thomas, Alan Davies, Jo Brand, Suki Webster, Lee Simpson, Tony Slattery, Russell Kane, and others.[4]
In 2011, Tearrell founded The Laughter Academy in his hometown of Southend. Starting with just eight members in its first workshop, the Laughter Academy grew rapidly; within a few years hundreds of participants had attended the courses. The success of this growing community has gained Lee notoriety within the comedy scene and wider Southend community. Particularly for the way in which people have been brought together into a community of like-minded people, leading to multiple spin off shows, workshops and success stories set up and led by past and current members across Essex and the wider UK.
Alongside teaching, Lee Tearrell also headlines the performance troupes and live shows. He created and leads Scared Scriptless, a popular improvised comedy show format. Scared Scriptless shows feature a team of seasoned performers (with Tearrell as a regular player) acting out unscripted scenes based on audience suggestions, in the spirit of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. These high-energy comedy nights have been running successfully for years at various Southend venues such as local theatres, clubs and pubs. Scared Scriptless has drawn guest improvisers from renowned groups like The Comedy Store Players and the West End’s Showstoppers, mixing local and national talent.[5]
Notable performances
In 2004, members of the Comedy Store Players, including Paul Merton, Jim Sweeney, Suki Webster, Richard Vranch and Lee Tearrell, performed in India. The Times of India reported on their Bangalore appearance, noting the strong audience reception.[6] The Comedy Store Players' official history also confirms a 2004 India tour.[7]
Rossi Southend Comedy Festival
In the early 2010s, Lee Tearrell expanded his comedy activities into festival production. He was among the co-founders and directors of the Southend Comedy Festival, an annual multi-night event launched in Southend-on-Sea. The festival later secured sponsorship from local ice cream brand Rossi, becoming informally known as the "Rossi Southend Comedy Festival. Tearrell and a team of fellow Essex comedy promoters organised the festival’s programming. The inaugural Southend Comedy Festival was held in 2012, and the second edition took place in July 2013 on Southend Pier.[8]
The 2013 Rossi Southend Comedy Festival spanned four days and showcased around 40 comedians. It featured headline acts by Essex-born comedian Russell Kane, as well as a variety of stand-up, sketch, and improv shows. Tearrell’s troupe Scared Scriptless was featured with a Friday night improvisation show. Other events included Richard Sandling’s film-themed show Perfect Movie, a showcase by The Joker Club, and a charity comedy gala starring Terry Alderton.[9]
Legacy and community impact
Lee Tearrell is regarded as a central figure in Southend’s performing arts community, particularly in comedy and improvisation. Through The Laughter Academy and Scared Scriptless, he has helped to built a vibrant grassroots comedy scene. Many professional improvisers started under Tearrell’s tutelage, and he has been commended for his supportive, confidence-building approach to teaching.
Now in his 60s, Tearrell continues to perform and teach actively. His career — from producing music videos for pop legends to leading improv workshops — reflects a lifelong commitment to creative expression and comedy.
| Year | Show/Performance | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–1990s | Various improvisational comedy shows | United States (multiple cities) | Performed during an extended period living and working in the U.S., developing his improvisational style.[10] |
| 2004 | Comedy Store Players India Tour | Bangalore, India | Performed improv with Paul Merton, Jim Sweeney, Suki Webster and Richard Vranch; praised in Times of India coverage.[6][7] |
| 2011 | The Laughter Academy (founder) | Southend-on-Sea, Essex | Founded an improvisation training school and troupe.[10] |
| 2013–present | Scared Scriptless | Southend-on-Sea, Essex | Long-running improvised comedy show created and hosted by Tearrell and know for multiple guest appearances from around the world of comedy[11] |
| 2023 | This Is How We Do It (with Luke Mason, Anna Mae Curbeson and Ashley Edwards) | Southend-on-Sea, Essex | Multiple players in an improvised comedy show with a format twist. |
| 2024 | John & Lee: An Improvised Comedy Show (with John Oakes) | Caddies Comedy Club, Southend-on-Sea | Two-man improvised comedy show.[12] |
| 2025 | Idiot Until Proven Guilty (with Ashley Edwards) | Maidstone Improv Festival, UK | Headline two-man improvised comedy show.[13] |
References
- ↑ AlisonMoyetVEVO (2012-03-03). Alison Moyet - Wishing You Were Here (Video). Retrieved 2025-09-26 – via YouTube.
- ↑ AlisonMoyetVEVO (2011-03-25). Alison Moyet - Whispering Your Name (Promo). Retrieved 2025-09-26 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Alison Moyet – Whispering Your Name – VHS (Single, Promo, PAL)". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
- ↑ "The Laughter Academy". WeGotTickets. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
- ↑ Team, Spotlight (2024-03-15). "5 Tips to Bring Comedy to Your Improv". Spotlight. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The things they do for laughs". Times of India (Bangalore Times). 17 February 2004. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Comedy Store Players – History". Comedy Store Players. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ "Southend Comedy Festival – July 2013". Sarfend.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
- ↑ "Southend Comedy Festival – July 2013". Sarfend.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "About Us – The Laughter Academy". The Laughter Academy. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ "The Laughter Academy – WeGotTickets Profile". WeGotTickets. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ "John & Lee – An Improvised Comedy Show". WeGotTickets. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ "Maidstone Improv Festival 2025 Programme". Maidstone Improv Festival. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
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