Comedic duo Ben Rutberg and Keddie Liptrott shoot for the stars

Earlier in March, the Carmel College year 9 students competed in state finals of Class Clowns, a development program run by Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and were a crowd favourite.

An original member of Awkward, the troupe that won the 2018 Class Clowns national finals, Ben left the group to spend time with family in England.

It was there that the inspiration for Ben and Keddie's new act was born.

"When I went over to England with my mum, it was with all the Liverpudlian people," he said. 

"I would hang out with my uncle and we would go down to the pub.

"I thought it would make a funny sketch because it's so traditional."

The act features two old men from Liverpool having a chat in the pub, tapping into the family heritage of both Ben and Keddie.

"Our families are Scouser (from Liverpool) so we both have the same sense of humour," Ben said.

Certain aspects had to be tweaked so the act would make sense to an Australian audience, he said.

"We had to change pounds and pence to cents and dollars and kind of tone down the accents," he said.

In preparation for Class Clowns, Ben and Keddie developed a rigorous rehearsal schedule, getting together every lunch time and some afternoons after school to refine their act.

Carmel College teacher Cher Williams said Ben and Keddie had great chemistry on stage.

"It's obvious when they perform that they've been friends for years," Ms Williams said.

"They are naturally extremely funny, super cheeky and all around great lads.

"They support each other through thick and thin."

Ben said the joy of performing was worth all the hard work.

"(Comedy) brings out the best in us," Ben said.

"We want to get noticed out there," Keddie said.

"I'm hoping it could lead to a career for us."

Keddie said he hoped to inspire the next generation to pursue a career in comedy.

"I wouldn't mind becoming either a dramna teacher or someone that engages people to (get involved in) Class Clowns," he said.