All this month we are speaking to AndAlso Improv, a company that is in Brighton and is ran by Heather and Jules. They host many improv classes, host shows, with plans for a theatre in Brighton in the future! They also run an Improv retreat which is also happening this month! Today we find out more about the company and also about a podcast that they host as well!

Tell us a bit about each of the members of &also?

We are pretty opposite to each other. While Heather is extroverted and improvises through emotion, music and impulse, Jules is an introvert with an eye on the theme and technical elements. He loves pattern and structure. The contrast gives a good balance, even if it does cause the occasional (shall we say) ideological disagreement. 

What sort of courses do you offer?

Our Brighton classes teach classic longform, from beginner up to experienced performer. But as we expand the school, we plan to do more musical and narrative classes. We have lengthened our levels to 12 weeks, and we believe helps to dig in to the material and bond the class. 

Online, we have been running high-level classes for scenes and music, but this year we are launching a new online beginners programme and we plan to gradually build the online school, experimenting with what still works after the pandemic improv boom has died down. 

You also do corporate improv training as well, how does that differ from normal lessons?

It’s a lot more about the ‘why’ of the exercise. In an corporate setting, you concentrate on the specifics of what an exercise might do, or how someone might respond to it.  We know that improv has loads of benefits, you just have to get to that bit as quickly as possible. 

What is personally your favourite sort of improv lessons to teach?

Heather: I always love watching people do improv for the first time, but music has a special place in my heart. 

Jules: I am a Harold nerd. I an always thinking through that lens and love how, if you let it, it creates little miracles. 

You also have a podcast – tell us all about that and what sort of topics you cover?

We talk about improv all the time, so rather than inflict it on our kids, we decided to set up some mics and share it with people who might care. Each episode has a specific topic, like the audience, or being a beginner, or suggestions. The aim is to be useful, but not dogmatic. Saying ‘this is how you do it’ is very dangerous in improv, because the opposite is almost always true as well. We kick ideas about, share our experiences, and occasionally invite a guest along too. 

What are your favourite topics to discuss about improv and why?

Jules: Ah man. This is pretty meta, but I am obsessed with ‘why’. Why did this go wrong, or right? Or why do we call what happened wrong and right? For me, it’s a prt of the no-right-answers idea. We’re just looking to know why things happen, cos then we can get in control of what does. It’s the same as an artist doing life drawing. It might not be what you want to do in the end, but it is 

In the summer do you do any lessons or events on the beach for fellow improvisers?

We’ve never had the best experience with improvising outside, though Jules did do a couple of Impromptu Shakespeare gigs when the Warren built a theatre on the beach. One got cancelled cos the wind was so high that flying stones were dangerous to the audience. 

You have merchandise as well! You have to tell us all about it and what we can expect for the rest of the year?

Well there are the obvious AndAlso branded things, but we’ll be releasing new t shirts over the course of the year with dumb slogans like ‘Harold is my homeboy’ and ‘What’s on YOUR stupid t-shirt’. Improv nerd stuff. 

Finally, if people want to get involved or learn more about &Also where can they visit?

Everything is where you expect on the website and social media, but if you are Brighton way, Thursday evening drop in is where to start!