Welcome to the feature which we are going to feature ever so often as part of Improv Corner. Ever so often, we are going to talk to improv acts about some of their favourite things about the comedy form. Today we are speaking to the improv troupe Canny Funny to find out all about their favourite things.

What is your Favourite:

Improv style: 

Maruš: short form 

Jen: musical 

Toni: Short form, especially any linguistically challenging or singing games

 Stu : short form punning

Short form game

Maruš: Pan Left

Toni: A-Z and Hymprov

Jen : Greatest Hits 

Stu: interview switch

Improv act 

Maruš: Tiny Stories 

Toni: I love Josie Lawrence and particularly the team that did the “Masterson Inheritance” on Radio 4, but the Just a minute original like Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Gardner, Jack Dee, Barry Cryer are amazing too.

Stu : Middleditch and Schwartz

Film or television show

Maruš: Stargate

Toni: Whose line is it any way (I don’t get out much!)

Stu : School of Rock

Jen : Spirited Away

Venue to perform at

Maruš: any park/outside

Toni: The Pom (it’s all I know)

Jen: Upstairs at the Western 

Stu : not performed at many but Atic Comedy at the Apothecary Tap (stand up but potential for improv!)

Way to wind down

Maruš: meditation

Toni: what’s that? Just a raspberry cider

Jen : Dancing with friends 

Stu : bath 

Way to warm up 

Maruš: dancing

Jen: singing or mind meld 

 Stu : Three Things (aka I’m a Tree)

Suggestion

Maruš: siblings for relationship

Jen : random words 

Stu : Five people yelling phonetically opposing words at the same time

Show by another improv act

Maruš: They are all unique

Toni: Improvoke is my favourite, because I love to sing, and I think Jen and Hannah are so amazing at that!

Jen : Really love North Coast 

Stu : Between Us

Memory of a show

Maruš: first being in a jam at Box of Frogs

Jen: singing ‘Whitby Goth Festival’ to the tune of Alexander Hamilton 

Stu : Singing a song about erectile dysfunction

Part of rehearsing a show

Maruš: other people’s funny moments

Jen : inventing new games 

Stu : coming up with new warm up games for the hell of it

Thing about performing 

Maruš: feeling like on top of the world

Jen : when everyone on the team is on the same page and it all just flows 

Stu: bringing a smile to the audience faces (after grossing them out)

Quote

Maruš: “You are my creator, but I am your master.” from Frankenstein

 Jen : Play touches and stimulates vitality, awakening the whole person – mind, body, intelligence and creativity. Viola Spolin 

Thing about the improv industry at the moment

Maruš: creativity 

Jen: The fact that online improv still exists, which is so inclusive to many. Love what Glossop Improv and Queen City Comedy are doing to keep this going.

Stu: Not sure, haven’t been too involved in it in a little while

Thing about this year so far?

Maruš: how many books I’ve read

Jen: turning 50 and realising how many amazing friends I have 

Toni: We’ve started going to the Picturedrome comedy nights, but I also love poetry and monologues, musical theatre…. just give me notice and I will have a go at watching anything! The whole experience is such fun and life-affirming.

If you are an improvisers or want your improv troupe to feature get in contact by emailing us at phoenixremixcomedy@gmail.com