About
The Humourversity is a place to learn about and express humour, comedy and laughter. Humour as in laughing at yourself and comedy, as in making other people laugh.
For 50+ years, the Humourversity existed almost entirely offline. Barely a website, no social media. Just live programs, word of mouth, and real-life relationships. It was build by one man's obsession with importance of humour, not just for the place it has in our lives personally or on stage, but in it's value as a peaceful and creative force for the world.
Over those 50 years, a core belief took shape: that being able to laugh at yourself is equally or even more valuable than being able to make others laugh, and that virtually anyone can benefit from developing their sense of humour. Not just comedians and speakers.
Today, the Humourversity is being reimagined for a new generation. The original programs and philosophy remain at the core, with the programs being rebuilt as a mix of live and digital delivery for the modern world. In addition to stand-up comedy and speaking programs, for the first time, we offer programs designed specifically for people who want to explore and enrich their sense of humour in a non-performance context. Whether it be to have an edge in their business, general communication, dating and relationships, health and wellbeing or just for the fun of it.
Pete Crofts - Founder
Pete Crofts left home at 18 to pursue a career in comedy, working as a butcher by day and a joke-teller by night, before comedy clubs even existed in Australia. He travelled the country, became a legend in Kings Cross, and appeared on TV many times including major talk shows like The Don Lane Show and The Mike Walsh Show. Pete and the Humourversity have also been featured in countless articles by The Age, The Financial Review, Beat Magazine and many more.
In 1973, Pete opened the world's first bookshop devoted to humour, comedy, and laughter. What started as a shop became something much bigger. Over the next 50 years, Pete built one of Australia's most respected comedy institutions. He spoke at humour conferences and international events such as the World Masters of Business in Singapore. He training well known comedians like Russell Gilbert, Rachel Berger, Tim Smith the late Dave Grant and Elliot Goblet and many more. All the while developing a unique philosophy on the Australian sense of humour.
Now in his 80's, Pete remains active in the business in an advisory role.
Thomas Langley - Director
Thomas Langley first came to the Humourversity as a student in 2001. He completed Pete’s programs, went on to perform more than 300 stand-up comedy gigs, and created multiple Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows. Alongside his comedy background, Thomas is a visionary in his own right and was one of the first people to recognise the broader vision of what the Humourversity could beyond training speakers and comedians. He brings an understanding transpersonal psychology, a strong foundation in sales and business development, program development and creative writing and program development, human potentials and community development.
Today, he leads the Humourversity’s next chapter, working with Pete to reimagine and expand the programs to suit a rapidly changing and humour hungry world.
