This month we have a fantastic act that we are speaking to and if you are a fan of such shows as The Office then this is an improv act that you will want to see live. All this month we are speaking to Jack of the team and 2024 has been a really fun year – doing really well at Brighton Fringe and also performing on many stages including their home turf of Cambridge. All this month we will go behind the scenes of the team and today about rehearsals.
How do you warm up for a show?
A few of the typical Improv warm up games, some brainy stuff and some physical stuff.
Then we practice giving ‘Talking Heads’ as a variety of characters to get us ready for whatever ends up happening in the show.
We also take turns introducing a fake business and talking about the former boss. Then the next person acts as that former boss, we call it The Boss Circle.
How do you wind down afterwards?
It depends where we are really. In Cambridge there were lots of friendly faces in the audience so we went for a drink with them.
In Brighton we talked a little about what we liked about the show then put it in the back of our minds and just hung out together as friends.
“…Rehearsals are never an imposition, I never feel obliged to go, they’re always something I look forward to…”
Tell us about the day of a show – what is the process your team goes through to get ready?
We usually meet up a few hours before hand, have dinner together, catch up if we’ve not seen each other for a while, then go to warm up for the show. We perform together, but we’re also friends and have been for a long time, I think that really helps the show.
How many times do you rehearse a week?
We tend to rehearse once a fortnight, then when there’s shows approaching we go to once a week. We all perform with other groups and do other shows so it’s more about keeping the format fresh in our minds then perfecting it as shows approach.
What are some of the most important lessons you have learnt about improv whilst being in The Workplace?
It was the first time I ever ‘created’ a show, and I think it’s the same for the others.
Experimenting with the show, what suggestions we should ask for, how it should end, what the structure looks like, it was a big learning experience.
The biggest lesson for me was that the listening skills in Improv need to extend not just to onstage. We built this show together, and had we not listened to each other and worked together the show wouldn’t be what it is today.
Some of my favourite parts of the show were things the others came up with.
What is the best suggestion you have been given so far?
In Brighton we were a company who fried donuts on the seafront which I thought was very apt. We’ve also worked at a Crash Test Dummy facility which wasn’t anything we’ve gone near in rehearsals so that was a lot of fun.
Your favourite part of rehearsing for the show?
Honestly the other three are just so incredibly funny. I need to get all the laughter out in rehearsals or I’d completely crumble on stage.
Rehearsals are never an imposition, I never feel obliged to go, they’re always something I look forward to.
How do you feel when you get up on stage?
To this day I get a little nervous, but I think that’s good. It wouldn’t feel right getting onstage and feeling nothing. Mostly I’m excited, to see what the audience come up with, to see what my teammates come up with, to make something original and hilarious together.
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