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 speak to David Puck show has a solo interactive improvised musical storytelling act under the name of David Puck Drag’s Big Book of Improvised Interactive Musical Stories. Today we find out about David’s favourite things about improv.

What is your Favourite:

Improv style:

Musical narrative!! I love stories and singingggg. I will often get told off for singing in non-musical improv 

Short form game:

I love playing “That reminds me of…”, it’s basically word association but you can say full premises/ideas/stories instead of just one word. Its a great idea-generator warm-up also.

Improv act :

‘Hell Yeah’ Musical Improv team in NYC are fire

Film or television show:

Ru Paul’s Drag Race and Adventure Time. Ideally I could blend the two somehow…

Venue to perform at:

Bristol Improv Theatre in Bristol, my first home theatre, so friendly and great shows.

Way to wind down:

I walk around my neighbourhood singing along to instrumental tracks. 

Way to warm up:

The same as winding down hahhaha. My best improv is done from a place of relaxation. Anxiety is such a blocker. So warming up and winding down are similar to me. 

Suggestion:

Mermaid pirates!!!

Show by another improv act

Hell Yeah & Friends – Hell Yeah’s musical improv show but with a few new friends thrown in the soup to spice it up. 

Memory of a show:

The very first improv show I was cast in, the form meant it was just me solo talking to to the audience for large parts of the show. I had so much fun, and I didn’t realise at the time that it was a baptism of fire, when experienced Improvisers afterwards told me how hard that would be to do. So it was a big confidence boost. Plus you never forget your first time eh. 

Part of rehearsing a show:

I just love doing runs. It’s very easy to get pulled into analysing forever, and I have a strong analytical side. But for me the best and most fun way of learning is just by doing the thing, falling over and doing it again.

Thing about performing :

Improv makes me feel completely present to myself and the moment. Even though I’m playing a crazy character, I feel at my most authentically me. My inner child gets to play, in an environment of trust, support, and joy of “failure”. It’s magical.

Quote:

“Those who were seen dancing, were thought to be insane, by those who could not hear the music” – Nietzsche 

Thing about the improv  industry at the moment:

I just love that it exists! And theatre’s prioritise accessibility and involvement.

Thing about 2023?

I moved to NYC this year, it was a big move for me and I did it to level up my performing, and that has definitely happened!