Making an audience laugh doesn’t come more difficult or scary than this – but surprisingly some comedians love the challenge.
| YOU think jumping out of a plane and parachuting to the ground is exciting?! I’ve done it, but compared to getting up on stage without a clue of what you are going to say for the next 60 minutes, skydiving is… meh. Improv Comedy, or Impro as it is called in Britain, is a form of improvised theatre that involves taking a suggestion (or a volunteer) from the audience and making up some funny shit on the spot. Scenes or sketches are invented by the performers right in front of the audience’s eyes. It’s terrifying as hell, but when it works, it is a comedy thrill-ride like no other. I distinctly remember sitting at the open door of the airplane, ready to make my first parachute jump, and thinking to myself, “This is scary, but I’ve been more scared on stage!” |  |
The British and American TV shows Whose Line Is It Anyway? brought this form of comedy to the great unwashed masses. And while the TV shows are great, to really experience the thrill of by-the-seat of- your-pants comedy, improv is something that needs to be seen live.
They say the most common fear in the world is public speaking, so imagine that times a thousand: You have no idea what you are going to say, but whatever it will be, it better be funny!
For over four years now, The Comedy Club Bangkok has presented regular bi-weekly improv comedy shows. These shows have proven to be a great hit with the audiences.
“There is a connection between the audience and the performers that you don’t get from other forms of comedy,” explains Chris Wegoda, who performs the improv regularly.
“Because you are using a suggestion from the audience, they become invested in the scene they are watching; they wanna see how you will use their suggestion and turn it into comedy gold. The fact that it is being made up on the spot adds an element of danger and excitement that you just can’t get from rehearsed material.”
Natty Warisa started her improv career taking workshops at The Comedy Club Bangkok. “Walking on stage with no idea what you will say is one of the most terrifying things Ihave ever done. But the thrill you get when something funny comes out of the scene is amazing. It’s like a drug, and I am totally addicted,” she says.
Since learning to do improv Natty has gone on to actually jump out of an airplane and parachute. Meh! So what?!
They say the most common fear in the world is public speaking, so imagine that times a thousand: You have no idea what you are going to say, but whatever it will be, it better be funny!
For over four years now, The Comedy Club Bangkok has presented regular bi-weekly improv comedy shows. These shows have proven to be a great hit with the audiences.
“There is a connection between the audience and the performers that you don’t get from other forms of comedy,” explains Chris Wegoda, who performs the improv regularly.
“Because you are using a suggestion from the audience, they become invested in the scene they are watching; they wanna see how you will use their suggestion and turn it into comedy gold. The fact that it is being made up on the spot adds an element of danger and excitement that you just can’t get from rehearsed material.”
Natty Warisa started her improv career taking workshops at The Comedy Club Bangkok. “Walking on stage with no idea what you will say is one of the most terrifying things Ihave ever done. But the thrill you get when something funny comes out of the scene is amazing. It’s like a drug, and I am totally addicted,” she says.
Since learning to do improv Natty has gone on to actually jump out of an airplane and parachute. Meh! So what?!
RSS Feed
