Learn comedy from Canada's most legendary institution — Second City runs beginner improv workshops where you learn the core rules (yes, and; agreement; scene work) in a low-stakes, hilarious 2-hour session taught by working professional performers. You don't need to be funny coming in. You'll be funnier going out.
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District · Address: 1 York St, Toronto, ON · Hours: Weekend workshops — check secondcity.com/toronto
Why Visit
For two hours, you’ll actually get on your feet and try improv games taught by real comedians, not just sit and watch. Whether you're outgoing or nervous, they break down the basics so everyone ends up laughing.
What Makes It Unique
Second City isn't just some comedy club—Toronto’s funniest comics actually train and teach here. Unlike open mic or spectator-only improv nights elsewhere, these workshops get you actively performing in scenes with professional feedback, all in a low-pressure environment.
Improv workshops at Second City Toronto provide access to one of the world's most celebrated comedy training systems — a structured curriculum of exercises, games, and performance that has produced a disproportionate share of North American comedy's most influential figures since the Chicago Second City opened in 1959. For people who want to learn improv for any purpose — performing, public speaking, personal confidence, or simply the creative experience — Second City Toronto's conservatory and workshop programmes offer instruction within the tradition that shaped the form.
The Second City approach to improv is based on the fundamental principles established in Chicago and developed through decades of training at the Toronto theatre, which has its own distinguished alumni including Mike Myers, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Gilda Radner, and dozens of less-famous but equally skilled performers who have sustained Canadian comedy on stage, screen, and television. The training methodology — starting with basic agreement principles ("yes, and"), developing ensemble listening skills, learning to fail gracefully, and building to scene work and eventually full-length shows — provides practical skills that transfer well beyond performance contexts.
The workshop format at Second City ranges from single evening drop-in sessions for curious beginners through the full conservatory programme that takes dedicated students through multiple levels of increasingly sophisticated improv technique over months or years. The entry-level workshops are designed to be genuinely accessible — no prior comedy experience required, and the specific anxiety of performing comedy in front of strangers is addressed directly by the workshop structure, which creates the psychological safety that allows genuine risk-taking.
The corporate training programme at Second City applies improv principles to business communication — public speaking, team dynamics, creative problem-solving, and presentation skills — which has made Second City training relevant to professionals who have no interest in performing comedy but significant interest in the underlying skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need comedy experience to take a Second City improv workshop?
No — beginner workshops are specifically designed for people with no improv or comedy background. The foundational exercises build skills from scratch, and the workshop format creates psychological safety that makes attempting comedy in front of strangers manageable even for very shy participants.
What skills does improv training at Second City teach?
The core improv skills — active listening, spontaneous response, collaborative building, accepting and expanding offers — transfer directly to public speaking, creative brainstorming, interview performance, and team communication. Second City's corporate training programme specifically targets these professional applications.
How do I enroll in Second City Toronto workshops?
Register through the Second City Toronto website at toronto.secondcity.com. Single-session workshops are available for beginners; the full conservatory programme requires level-by-level registration. Popular workshops fill in advance — check the current schedule and book early.
Where is Second City Toronto?
Second City Toronto is at 1 York Street in the Entertainment District, near the waterfront and Union Station. The 509 Harbourfront streetcar from Union Station runs nearby; Union Station on Lines 1 and GO is a short walk.