This week we are heading to Hoopla Impro at the Miller for a show that is becoming a sell out every month. Do The Right Scene host the only BAME improv comedy  night in London and this Wednesday the show Special Delivery returns to the stage. To find out all about this fantastic show I caught up with one of it’s founders Tai to discover all about it.

How did the show come about?

We we’re performing as a group over 2017 and got the attention of Angela and Steve from Hoopla who asked if we were interested in running a Hoopla night. They’ve been so supportive and helpful over the last two years

How did your troupe form?

We were formed pretty organically really. It started with me and Athena Kugblenu as a two-prov. We booked our first gig and thought “Why don’t we invite Shem?” and then Shem said “How about we invite Cody?” then Cody said “I’ve got a friend called Andrae” and so forth. By our first gig we went from two to seven

Tell us a little bit about the guests appearing this month!

We have many fantastic guest improvisers as well as performers from Crash Landing who go from our BAME workshop to our show. This month performing their debut as guest players are Jonah Fazel and Pepa Duarte Soldevilla with stand up Ginnia Cheng with her cheeky brand of observational humour

Tell us a little bit about the show that are happening this week?

Special Delivery (the name of our show) is London’s first and only BAME improv/comedy night. It’s a combination of short form games, long form and stand up with sauce! What’s different about our show? It’s a big party vibe with a friendly atmosphere

What improv styles do you think are most underrated?

Hard to say, I think as long as you’re having fun that’s the most important.

What festivals are you guys planning on heading to this year?

We’ll be bringing our show to Bristol Improv Theatre on 11th October

It is the month of june – what’s your most memorable character that you have created in stage?

We’ve had so many great players playing memorable characters but if we’re just talking about me I’d have to say Vice Principle Campbell; a man who provides everyday information in the loudest and angriest way possible

What advice would you give for people thinking about starting an improv troupe themselves?

Finding people you play well with is always a good start but I’d also suggest looking at your group and seeing if it’s how you’d like to be represented

What is the best thing about a night at your show for the audience?

We bring a big party atmosphere and a lot of energy to the show that carries on between sets. Since it’s a night that celebrates BAME talent you’ll see scenes and characters you won’t see in any other show.

You also teach improv as well specifically aimed at BAME tell us more about these?

Crash Landing is a one of a kind experience where people go from our class to performing at our show that very evening! It’s primary goal is to get more people of colour into improv and Hoopla have been there to support it from conception to delivery

You recently changed your groups name as well, for anyone that doesn’t know, why did you do this?

When we were called Nu Z Land (which is a reference to the New Zealand Rugby Team the All Blacks) it was just Athena and I. About a year and a half later we were a bigger group that ran our own night Special Deliver, taught Crash Landing as well as being a creative collective and we needed a new name to reflect that

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @dtrscomedy, like our ‘Do The Right Scene’ Facebook page and for all those BAME peeps why not join the ‘BAME Improv Collective Facebook’ group.

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show? 

Friendly party atmosphere

QUICK FIRE ROUND

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

A fly but I could be forgiven because I was a baby

If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would it be and why?

One of the Russo Brothers and learn all I can from the other

What would your autobiography be called?

Writer’s Block, it would also be two pages long

What is the most delightful word you can think of?

Variety

Favourite film?

I have about 20

Who is your comedy hero and why?

Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele

What is your favorite movie quote?

“Survive!” Robert Downey Jr, Tropic Thunder

If you could be any flavour of ice cream what would it be and why? 

Nutella