WHAT’S THE STORY?
A BRAND-NEW festival is coming to Scotland, showcasing the best in improvised comedy.
This month’s four-day Edinburgh International Improv Festival will feature 73 performers from around the world in a total of 26 performances and 10 workshops led by improv artists who have starred in shows like 30 Rock and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
The opening gala night is headlined by award-winning hip-hop musical improviser Abandoman, supported by Edinburgh’s own Spontaneous Players, with their Fringe sell-out show Spontaneous Potter.
There will also be a full curriculum of improv classes and shows every day in Edinburgh including two for the family, an open jam night for anyone to give improv a try, an LGBTQ-friendly jam night and a final all-star performance.
DOESN’T EDINBURGH HAVE ENOUGH FESTIVALS?
AMERICAN improviser Jason Perez, who is now living in the city, doesn’t think so – which is why he has joined forces with Scottish theatre producer Michelle McKay, pictured below, to stage the event.
“I felt sad that this beautiful, amazing festival city did not have an improv festival even though it has one for every other thing I have seen in my life,” said Perez, who has been performing and teaching improvisation for 16 years. “Back in the States they pop up everywhere and I thought there should be one here as well.
“It is a newer scene in Scotland but there is a lot of great talent and a huge potential audience that doesn’t know about it. We want to showcase what’s going on as well as bring in amazing improvisers from the rest of the world to boost the scene so that it continues to grow.”
WHAT IS IMPROV EXACTLY?
“BASICALLY everything is made up on the spot with nothing scripted or planned out,” said Perez, who has been studying and practising the art form from an early age. “Some people find it hard but I think it is so much easier than doing stand-up, which is the most terrifying thing in the world as you are alone on stage.
“With improv you have the support of a team or a partner and that’s what makes it so interesting. You are not trying to be the funniest person – it’s the exact opposite as your job is to make the other person seem like the funniest. If everyone is doing that, it makes everyone look like a genius. You get community support and brilliance comes out of it.”
IS NOTHING REHEARSED THEN?
“IT’S sort of like football or rugby where there are set pieces that you practise or rehearse in case that situation comes up, but when you are on the pitch you never know what is going to happen or what your teammates or the other team are going to do so you always have to react within the moment,” Perez said. “If you know the fundamentals no matter what occurs you can shift and mould to the situation.”
However, setting up the festival has not been easy, even in a city of festivals, he admitted.
“It has been difficult but it’s the first year so it was always going to be a massive undertaking,” he said. “And because it is our first year we are making zero dollars out of it and doing it on top of our day jobs. Now things are in place and we know what to expect we can be a little bit more prepared next year.”
SO WHAT CAN WE SEE?
“WELL, we are really excited about the opening night gala with Abandoman and Spontaneous,” said Perez. “We also have an incredible husband-and-wife duo from LA called Dummy who are headlining the Friday night show and giving a masterclass in what improv is. And one of my big heroes is Chad Carter who wrote for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, so it is a great honour to have him too.”
In addition, there is a Glasgow-based group called Couch, who run a monthly show in Glasgow which is becoming a mainstay of the city’s comedy scene, and Tinderellas, an all-female improv team based in Edinburgh, as well as Imposters, who are coming all the way from Shetland to perform.
ANYTHING ELSE?
SPONTANEOUS and Absolute Improv are headlining two different children’s shows which the whole family can enjoy, while Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity, has partnered with the festival to give children from Edinburgh schools the chance to see the hilarious Dr Bunhead’s Science Education Show. The charity’s involvement has been welcomed by Perez and McKay.
“Even though Edinburgh is the festival city, certain communities feel less included within the arts scene,” McKay explained. “Having been lucky enough to be involved in the arts from a young age and having taught children in the arts, I know first-hand how important they are for children’s development. It was important to us to be able to give back. Dr Bunhead is hilarious and inspirational – children love him.”
The festival runs from February 7-10 at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and Assembly Roxy. http://edimprovfest.com/
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