In May, I went to Royal Albert Hall, a storied venue that has hosted world class artists, dignitaries, even Muhammad Ali. That night, though, I was there to see improv comedy. Improv, the artform rooted in theatre games meant to encourage spontaneity and play, takes many shapes, but in most performers take inspiration from the audience and craft something that exists for just those fleeting moments on stage. It’s completely unwritten, pulled from thin air by performers following a few simple guidelines. A good improv show is a high wire act full of laughs. A great improv show is divine.
As an unapologetic improviser, seeing my artform go mainstream on such a hallowed stage filled me with pride. The halls were full of improvisers I knew, basking in our shared glory, but we were outnumbered ten to one by regular comedy fans, out for a night of fun. The performers, Ben Schwartz & Friends, were there from the United States, where improv has been a big draw for decades now, but what struck me as I watched was how small the gap was between them and what I see regularly at top improv theatres in London.
Improv is having a moment. There are thriving scenes all over the UK, from theatres and schools like London’s Hoopla Impro and the Free Association, or the Bristol Improv Theatre, to dedicated smaller communities founded by people determined to spread their love of the artform. “People love improv because it fosters connection – it puts people on an equal playing field, and the only way out is through collaborating with the other person,” says Will Naameh, aka MC Hammersmith. There are big, award-winnning acts like Showstopper and Austentatious, that sell out entire runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, but also small groups who perform not for ticket sales but simply for each other. I’ve played to crowds in Edinburgh, Norwich, Cambridge, Birmingham, Brighton, and have met improvisers from scenes in Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Belfast, and even Shetland.
Why is it so successful? “I’ve lived in a bunch of different cities over the past few years – Nottingham, Leeds and Oxford – and improv is always a brilliant way to connect with new people, ” says Emily Brady, an improviser in Oxford. ““It’s a safe space for people to gather and be creative and play, explore their world and themselves without fear of judgement,” adds Steve Roe, founder of Hoopla Impro.
I got into improv in Ireland in 2015, as a way to make friends and meet comedy people, and when I moved to London I did the same. Some of my best friends are improvisers. It’s an artform that runs on passion and joy, with a strong sense of community. “The growing community of improvisers in Norwich feel they have found their tribe, people who want to support each other and push their own personal boundaries in a safe and welcoming environment,” says Jon Nguyen, from Dogface Improv in Norwich.
Improv also has become a bit of a hacky punchline in the comedy world. My group Crime Scene Improvisation won an award at the Leicester Comedy Festival, and the presenter couldn’t help negging us even as he honored our show. I’m sure there are people who, if they’ve made it this far, have been rolling their eyes. Improv can be self-indulgent, it can be culty, and a bad improv show can be a truly painful experience. However, no one has gone to a bad open mic night and concluded that the entire artform of standup is bad. Just because improv is made up doesn’t mean there isn’t craft at work, and to think that is a disservice to the countless hours people spend honing skills that make great improv seem effortless.
And then there is a trend of improv infiltrating other comedic forms, with performers using it to add jeopardy to their act and create something special. Just look at the recent rise of crowd work in stand up, where entire shows are improvised chats with the audience. In my own solo debut, ‘Michael Kunze: Infinity Mirror’, a huge section of the plot hinges on a completely improvised moment, and every night the audience leans forward, the tension palpable. It could easily become a car crash at any moment, and that makes the story come alive.
Improv has given me so much in life. A stage to perform on, collaborators and friends, and countless hours of laughter. It has made me a better performer, a better writer, and a better listener. If any of that sounds appealing to you, I highly recommend you check out your local scene, and if it doesn’t exist yet, all it needs is one dedicated person.
Michael Kunze: Infinity Mirror, 12.55, Underbelly Cowgate, Until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/michael-kunze-infinity-mirror
