Three techniques for creating funny characters and funny skits

When writing a three- to six-minute comedy skit to act out in church, school, or some other organization, you need to quickly move to your plot and the theme of your skit. There is little time to develop funny characters.

But if your audience doesn’t have a level of understanding for your funny characters, your comedy skits will be dull and lifeless, without depth or the emotion that creates the conflict and propels you significantly forward.

Therefore, your audience needs to get an idea of ​​where a funny character is coming from in order to understand the motivation behind what he says and does. So use these three techniques to create fun characters that your audience will relate to and comic skits that they will enjoy.

Use stereotypes to create funny characters

The most obvious character that everyone already knows and understands in a comedy skit is the stereotype. The vain and feminine diva, the silly jock, the crafty guy who lurks in the shadows, the nerdy geek, the tight-fisted accountant. And now that I’ve started you with some for your comedy skit, I’m sure you can create an extensive list.

Stereotypes create funny characters because your audience understands the character immediately. You already know something of the character’s motivation and the reasons behind what they say and do.

Exaggerate the most

Now, to make that stereotypical character really funny and add to the laughs, go overboard. The female diva is not just vain. She is so vain every time her reflection shows up, she stops to preen herself. The dumb athlete is so clueless that he doesn’t realize that the football helmet he lost is on his head. And the nerdy geek is so socially awkward that he talks to computers as if they were people.

People laugh at stereotypes because the funny characters in your comedy skit are so exaggerated that they can’t possibly represent anyone in the audience. Although everyone can probably think of someone in the audience who is very well represented in that funny character.

In a comedy skit I wrote and directed for a church worship service titled, Focused on Priority, three out-of-shape suburban women enroll in a fitness class thinking it will be a relaxing time of easy exercise. Instead, their personal trainer looks like a military drill sergeant pushing them far beyond their expectations and comfort zone.

Add contrast to funny characters and situations

In comedy skits, opposites don’t attract, they create conflict. And conflict creates humorous energy in your parody. People in real life are never one-dimensional. And your funny characters shouldn’t be either. Even your stereotypical characters can surprise your audience and take your comedy skit to a deeper level.

The easiest way to achieve this is to think in opposites.

So his cocky Diva volunteers at a homeless shelter. The fool is good at chess. The nerdy geek skates while listening to hard rock music. The stingy accountant gives premium dog food to a stray who lives behind his office building.

You can also match opposite characters. This is the whole premise behind the odd couple. One guy is exceptionally clean and tidy and the other is a complete bum.

When you put your stereotypical and exaggerated characters in a situation together, you create instant conflict and the possibility of great comedy skits.

What happens when a liberal atheist and a conservative evangelical work together for a common cause? A church moves next door to a strip club? A grumpy and negative old man adopts his innocent, faith-filled eight-year-old grandson who just lost both of his parents?

By creating exaggerated and stereotyped characters, adding contrast, and combining them with opposing characters in various situations, you will create fun characters with in-depth, comedy skits that your audience appreciates and enjoys.