Why the UK needs a dedicated improv theatre interview

Did you know nearly every successful writer or actor in America has taken a class in Improvisation? Since falling into the world of Improv a couple of years ago, I have become interested in the role it plays in the American comedy scene, and how that differs to over here. I caught up with Hollywood actor and veteran improviser Mark Beltzman (pictured), to find out more...

Hi Mark. You've done pretty well for yourself, acting alongside Bill Murray and the likes, but what was your first step getting into comedy?

I was living in Detroit, getting by as an actor doing commercials and the like. Then I read in Detroit news that [influential improv teacher] Del Close was teaching a workshop, so I literally cleaned out my bank account to pay for a place in the class. From that I got hired in the Detroit Time Theatre Company, which performed improv and sketch comedy.

And you were around at the birth of the ImprovOlympic theatre and workshop?

Yeah I was a founding member of the iO and part of the first group, Barons Barracudas. That was back in the early 80s, it was an amazing time to be in Chicago. The iO is well established now, it's become a gateway to Second City (the oldest and most established improv theatre) and to Saturday Night Live.

Do a lot of the performers on Saturday Night Live come through improv?

A large portion of the talent pool of performers and writers in SNL (and Hollywood in general) come through improv theatres. Not just iO but also Second City, The Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade - they are the main places TV scouts come to find new talent. Second City has given birth to a cavalcade of comedic icons: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, to name a few. Of course there are still people who are really funny and have never done improv in their life, Chris Rock for instance.

So is improv used often as a tool to help write?

Improv is like what scales are to creating music, it's the building blocks of the tools your use to create - whether you're writing sketch, theatre, TV or film. To the extent that now you have shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and films like This Is Spinal Tap, which are at their core improv based.

Why I cant see anything like that happening in Britain?

Everything in showbiz in a risk. Improv has become more mainstream in America, and so producers are more willing to take a gamble on it. Especially after the success of Whose Line Is It Anyway? (pictured), which was of course originally conceived in Britain by Dan Patterson.

Which brings us nicely to the UK, where a full time theatre dedicated to improv is unheard of...

... Yet!

Indeed! Please expand Mark...

The improv community in the UK is growing exponentially every year; it's spread out in pubs and theatres all over the country. But the community is in desperate need of a theatre to serve as an umbrella (pun intended) under which the community would come together, to be a training institution as well as performance space. It would be a solid foundation for all tourists as well as producers, TV and film directors, and talent agents could go and scout the best talent that the UK has to offer, plus a place the Americans can come to collaborate. I would like to create such a theatre.

So, why are you personally interested in doing this?

After coming to the city 8 weeks ago, and seeing what's happening here in the improv scene has been amazingly inspirational to me, it reminds me of what I experienced in Chicago in the mid 1980s. So having seen that I think it's a great opportunity for someone to serve as a catalyst and bring the improv community together in London. And why not me!

Why not indeed! You certainly have an impressive background; do you think you'll bring a lot to the table?

No other teaching professional has quite the breadth of improv and acting experience that I have, so that is what I bring to the table. People here in the UK are flocking to America to study, so there is a real hunger to learn. Since arriving it has been expressed to me repeatedly that my being here is invaluable, because to take a trip to go learn in the States cost thousands of pounds.

So what exactly do you teach in your workshops?

The principles of acting taught through improvisation such as; replace thinking with listening, explore and heighten relationship between two or more characters, making your partner look good (which makes you look twice as good).

Sounds good. Finally, what is so great about improv?

The beautiful thing about improv is it not only appeals to people in acting, writing, stand-up, but it also appeals to those who are interested in being doctors (for good beside manner), lawyers (better courtroom presence), or the stay at home mum who wants a better relationship with her kids. Even writing a letter to your grandma! (Sorry, I mean an email - no one writes letters anymore). The point is, the funniest thing about improvisation is you.

Thanks, that was enlightening!

Mark Beltzman will be hosting two drop-in sessions in London in December, and then leading two 6 week courses starting in January. More Details