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 I speak to Rachael from the improv group Degrees of Error whoa re performing Murder She Didn’t Write across the UK between Friday 14^th March – Thursday 12^th June. Before they head on the road I wanted to find out about Rachael’s favourite things about improv.

What is your Favourite:

Improv style

We’re all about longform in Murder. Don’t get me wrong, we play a lot of games in scenes but ultimately, we want to tell a story that leaves the audience gasping as well as laughing.

Short form game

One we play a lot before shows is ‘Three Things’. In time with a beat, first player offers ‘Three….things’ say…. you’d get in a supermarket….names you’d call a lover….types of dog! Anything! The next player then must list them without hesitation. Some of the answers have left me howling. It’s a great way to get your spontaneity gear oiled and remind yourself how funny ‘strong and wrong’ can be.

Improv act

I saw MC Hammersmith at the Edinburgh Fringe and thought he was hilarious and so clever. He got everyone to take stuff out of their bags and then he did a rap including all the items, I was thrilled when I realised I had a bra in my bag…don’t ask!

Film or television show

The amazing 80s classic, Clue. Can’t think why….

Venue to perform at

We’ve been so lucky to play at loads of gorgeous venues; I think that The Gaiety Theatre, Isle of Man would be my favourite. It was a few rocky hours on a ferry to get there but that theatre was mind-blowingly beautiful. It’s a Victorian theatre and Opera house with so many original features, including the original Victorian stage machinery that allows actors to rise through the stage. We’re going back in September, and I can’t wait. Also, the Isle of Man has a Crumble Bar on a beach, it’s exactly what it sounds like!

Way to wind down

It’s wine. It should be yoga, but it’s wine.

Way to warm up

The last game we play before we head on stage, usually played in the dressing room whilst the audience files in, is Convergence. The idea is to try and say the same word at the same time. It’s a great way to tune in to each other and the feeling when it happens, and you get to do the convergence dance is ace.

Suggestion:

Oooooo. Hot air balloon race.

Show by another improv act

Closer Each Day, the improvised Soap Opera. It’s the world’s longest running continuous narrative and a cult classic in Bristol where I live. It’s on every other Monday at one of my favourite places, The Wardrobe Theatre. I might be slightly biased as I played the bar woman, Gina Pitts, for nearly nine years but it really is so much fun.

Memory of a show

At the Agatha Christie Festival, the victim was inflated like a balloon…to death! When we discovered the body, he got ‘let off’ and whizzed around the stage until deflated. Genius.

Part of rehearsing a show:

The way we rehearse is to play. It’s such a joy to do so much laughing and being silly with your friends as an adult.

Thing about performing

I love that I do a different play every night. We’re finding out alongside the audience what’s going to happen, and feeling it coming together, and hearing the reactions of the audience is incredible. It’s also such a mindful thing; I have to tune everything else out and just listen to what’s in front of me.

Quote:

I never remember any lines. It’s the curse of only having to use your short-term memory. I’ll leave this for our audience …

Thing about the improv industry at the moment:

It’s nice that improv is definitely on people’s radar a lot more now. Great shows such as Showstopper and Austentatious have paved the way for shows to get into bigger theatres and even the West End. You can catch us at The Duchess Theatre!

Thing about this year so far?

We did our show on a Transatlantic cruise in January! We all had so much fun performing during a storm on a very moving stage. We also loved sipping cocktails by the pool when we weren’t performing.

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