Hi Tanya. Who are you and what do you do in comedy?
I am a comedic actress, improviser, writer and podcaster.
Tell us about how you first became involved in the comedy world.
I have always been a big face puller - my own, of course - and a very physical comedian, so growing up I loved The Two Ronnies. Ronnie Barker's eyebrows were especially captivating.
I used to make home movies on a camcorder with my brother. Pieces to camera that usually ended with me falling off a gate or 'injuring' myself. Slapstick was my go-to form of entertainment.
At secondary school in the mid 80's I co-wrote and performed in a play for the competition, 'In Your Own Write'. We got through to the finals where we performed in The Theatre Royal, Bath. I got nominated for best actress and we won overall for our play, so a great experience all round!
Tell us about your comedy favourites.
These are comedians I both admire and are my favourites. Some of whom I've grown up with: Ronnie Barker, Julie Walters - she and Celia Imrie cracked me up in 'Acorn Antiques' from Victoria Wood - As seen on TV, John Cleese - all the Pythons, really - The entire Blackadder cast, Rick Mayall, Eddie Murphy, French and Saunders, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Richard Pryor (not sure there's going to be enough room, there will be lots I've missed) Morecambe and Wise, Will Ferrell, Lee Mack, The Fast Show, Harry Enfield and chums. I am also a huge fan of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith.
Favourite sketch? Really? Just one? Ok.
'Two Soups'
The comedy industry is competitive. Why should people pick you to work with?
I'm upbeat, but not annoying. Positive, yet realistic. Open to all creative ideas yet strong enough to stand by my own if I think it's for the good of the piece. I have always been a 'yes' person; but I only truly understood the importance of it when I did an improvisation course with 'Monkey Toast'. No 'yes', no scene.
My proudest moment is writing an hour long, one woman show and not self sabotaging the process, as I did when I was younger. "I'm not funny enough. I've got nothing to say. Why would anyone choose to come and watch me?"
My show is continuously evolving. I really like what I've done, but I think a fresh pair of eyes on it are needed to tease out the 'funny' and add laughs where I might not have seen them.
Improvisation is a real safety blanket for me. Inevitably things will go wrong during the show. During one particular performance my phone stopped connecting, my speaker stopped working, and the microphone kept going on and off. I just kept going, as if it was all meant to happen, and afterwards, the audience apparently thought so too!
I've realised that when writing comedy I have to be completely open to the editing process. A line that I thought was funny when I first wrote it, might not sound so good out loud, and vice versa. I can't afford to be precious with my writing, as that only closes it off to other comedy writers making it even funnier.
What's the best advice you've ever been given, read or heard?
Seize the put off until tomorrow day and once live it only to fear anyway what you do feel.... or something like that...
Who would you most like to work with in the future?
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith
If you ever get free time, how do you spend it?
Walking my black lab, Suki, whilst listening to comedy podcasts.
If you ever get free time, how do you spend it?
I would have the power to inflict a low level of pain - secretly, from a distance - on those who give the human race a bad name.
Published: Saturday 2nd March 2024