All this month, we are interviewing the improv team Canny Funny. A troupe that is located in Northampton who have monthly shows as well as some huge ones coming up in the next month. They have their Halloween show on the 27th October and then have two shows at the same location, Pomfret Arms in Northampton on the 24th November and 15th December. All this month we are going behind the scenes of the team to find out all about them. This week we find out more about the team and learn about their 2023 highlights so far.

Hello Canny Funny how are you since we last spoke?

Hi Phoenix Remix . we are all doing well .We have had a bit of a summer break , but are raring to go for our autumn season .

What have been the highlights of 2023 for you?

Toni: Being invited to appear at The Northampton Playhouse Theatre and at 86 Derngate. Both venues are of huge historical importance in Northampton.

Autumn: The Robin Hood international Improv Festival.

David P: Performing with Canny Funny for the first and subsequent times. Guesting at shows in Birmingham and Nottingham. Also the Canny Funny team winning the Northampton Interdrama group quiz (meaning we have to set the next one).

Jen: Robin Hood International Improv Festival and our first theatre show at the Playhouse in Northampton.

Neesha:  Appearing in my very first show in January. It was exhilarating!

“…We’re very aware that there are areas of town that aren’t aware of us and are looking to cover more local areas...”

David, Canny Funny

Tell us a bit about each of the members in your team?

Jen : So we have quite a few members who all bring something different to the team . Dave and I have performed together in teams for the longest . He is  one of the funniest people I know and blows me away with his talent , yet is so humble about it . He has a ridiculously good knowledge of such diverse topics as maps , Vikings and weird hauntings .

Autumn is just a brilliant comic and  blows me away every time I am on stage with them . I am lucky enough to be in another team( Tiny Stories )  with Autumn and Hannah. Hannah is my partner in crime  and an amazing performer and wonderful friend . I am lucky to also get to perform in Improvoke with Hannah.  Sophie is a brilliant musician and beautiful  singer and has a knack of just doing a simple move that   can  contribute so much to a scene in an almost effortless way .

Chris is  massively talented  and again contributes so much to scenes in an intelligent and understated way . Craig is a brilliant wordsmith, he is quick-witted and again very musically talented. David P is a real asset to the team. He is again knowledgeable about so many topics and brings a wealth of experience to scenes. Toni is a quick thinker and a really thoughtful player.

Neesha has also become a vital member of the team . She  is so kind hearted and always has other member’s backs . We are also so glad to have the wonderful Tracey back with us again. She has a brilliant sense of humour and great comic timing . As for me , well I am just so pleased to have this bunch of people to play with .I guess I bring energy and playfulness . ( we also have some other people who perform with us occasionally, who are equally brilliant ) 

How did you form?

Jen : I had been in other groups and wanted to do something more local so decided to ask Dave, Hannah, Russ , Ki and Autumn as well as others  if they would like to perform at the Nottingham comedy festival . That show went really well so I decided to keep the group going and once I had started up improv workshops in Northampton , was able to grow the team.

What sort of improv do you perform?

We mostly perform short form improv , but are beginning to play around with some mid form formats such as Armando and Living Room 

You are based in Northampton, what is the improv scene like there?

 Toni : Well, we’re the no. 1 improv group in Northampton, and we’re the only improv group in Northampton, not to take anything away from us…!

David: We’re mostly it at the moment, at least one show a month (our free gig at the Pomfret Arms on the 3rd or 4th Friday of the month) plus appearances at the Lab’s Laberet, the Playhouse Theatre, and most recently the Mackintosh house at 78 Derngate. We’re very aware that there are areas of town that aren’t aware of us and are looking to cover more local areas.

 Jen : We are basically it

 Craig: Monthly Canny Funny shows and Jen’s workshops mean there’s more improv than many towns!

Neesha: We are the one and only, small but feisty team in Northampton. We have monthly shows with guests from around the country at a local pub, the Pomfret Arms.

What is your favourite thing about improv?

Toni:  The team spirit – we really do have each other’s backs

Autumn: It’s so free and transient. Whereas with stand up your doing the same show and jokes night after night, improv is spontaneous for the performers as much as the audience

David P: When two minds take a simple suggestion to somewhere totally unexpected.

Jen: The chance to play with such wonderful people . Even after a long tiring day , improv can take me to a completely different mindset

Neesha: The laughter, the friendship and creativity.

“…I had been in other groups and wanted to do something more local …”

Jen, Canny Funny

Who are your improv heroes?

Toni: I first heard improv on Radio 4 (and watched “Whose Line is it Anyway” on TV. I think Josie Lawrence is one of my heroes.

Autumn: Ki Shah, the cast of I’m sorry I haven’t a clue, my dad when he’s tipsy

David P: Jen Kenny who runs Canny Funny almost single handed. Dave Gotheridge who is just insanely brilliant, the rest of the team and of course the big celebrities such as Josie Lawrence who really brought Improv to the British public’s attention and provide us with a reference point to explain to people what we do.

Craig :The idea of improvisation can be intimidating to some newcomers. My improv heroes are anyone who overcame their fear/anxiety to take the plunge and get involved.

Jen: Josie Lawrence and anyone who takes the chance to try improv for the first time

Neesha: Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, and Wayne Brady.

Tell us a about the shows you have coming up the rest of the year! 

We do a monthly show at  a lovely local pub called The Pomfret Arms . We will be having shows on 27th October ( Halloween ) with Jen’s solo show  Jen’s Mixtape  then 24th November  with Improvoke and then 15th December a full length Chritsmas themed show .

What is the best bit of improv advice you have ever been given?

Toni :Just enjoy it and be prepared to say “yes, and…”

Autumn: Follow your feet. If you have an idea, do it. Your team will support you to make it work. And if it doesn’t, that’s the nature of the beast

David P: Go bigger. Don’t hold back from having the “Jack Dempsey lean mean grilling machine” as an appliance in the first Northampton kitchen to have electric power in the 1920s

Craig: It doesn’t have to be that complicated.

Jen: Follow your feet

Neesha: Be in the moment, completely and confidently.

If people want to follow you on social media, where can they visit?

https://www.facebook.com/CannyFunnyImprovhttps://www.instagram.com/cannyfunnyimprov/https://www.tiktok.com/@cannyfunnyimprov

Finally in three words why should people come and see  Canny Funny ?

Toni :Uniquely entertaining experience

Autumn: Wild raucously fun

David P: Ask the Oracle

Craig: Daft cerebral artistry

Jen: Canny Funny Rocks

Neesha: Lively, refreshing, imaginative