I am so busy my head is buzzing!
NExt week I am working every day except Sunday.
Workshops galore, all that I have made up myself... which sounds and IS fun, as usual though I've not planned my time very well so I am now rushing everything. For Monday I have to have planned a 45 hour 3 week course in Naturalistic Acting for Camera, a 8 hour 4 week course for TV Acting (different), a 3 hour Second Year Radio lesson and a ten week CSz beginners workshop...
Not to mention the packs I was supposed to put together for a few schools!
Taking too much on you say? I dont think so, I just need to manage my time better... as it stands I've done a rough outline for all of them I just need to spend tonight finishing it off... oh yes I forgot to mention, I am comedysporting all day tomorrow and this afternoon! argh!
It's MAD I tell ya - MAAAAAD
And in the midst of all that I finished Chris's website
And we wrote an interview for the Manchester Comedy Festival:
ComedySportz UK @ The Manchester Comedy Festival
By Gazpacho
On Sunday October 23rd The Frog & Bucket comedy club will play host to the first ever ComedySportz event to take place in Manchester. What, you may ask, is ComedySportz? Well, it’s less about sport then it is about comedy but it’s definitely still a sport. Confused? Allow me to elaborate.
ComedySportz began life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1984 as an offshoot of the established Theatre Sports group. Started by Dick Chudnow, a man who had built a fine reputation for himself in Hollywood working on films such as Kentucky Fried Movie, Airplane and later (To his eternal shame…) Spy Hard. Having moved back from Los Angeles to Milwaukee, he decided to try his hand at something new and started an improvisation group. He envisioned two teams of “actletes” using the audience’s suggestions to battle it out for their applause and affection in a spot of friendly competition. Thus ComedySportz was born and soon began to spread. Nowadays, CSz (As it’s affectionately known.) has spread all across the United States, has hundreds of members, thousands of fans and even has a championship every year. The championship is a massive event that draws teams from places like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Chorley.
Chorley?
The Chorley? The one near Preston? Chorley F.M. and all that?
Yes, the very same. ComedySportz’s first (and so far still, only) foothold in Britain was in the modest Lancashire town known for its cakes and market. ComedySportz UK follows the fine tradition of taking an American idea and adding a few British nuances to make it better, effectively succeeding where Wimpy failed. In this case the name of the game is improvisation, using the audience’s ideas to create the proverbial comedy gold on the spot. Two teams battle it out for honour, respect, and, most importantly, bragging rights for the following couple of weeks. What’s more, this is comedy without the shortcuts; no swearing and no explicit subject matter or you may well end the night with a bag over your head to hide your shame. It’s spontaneous, hilarious and it’s for absolutely everyone to enjoy.
I decided the best way to find out more was to catch up with the woman responsible for importing ComedySportz in the first place, Brainne Edge.
If you forgive me saying, you don’t sound American… How on Earth did a Lancashire lass like yourself get involved in all this?
Well, I lived in America for a few years. While there I was introduced to ComedySportz by a friend. I thoroughly enjoyed it but thought nothing of it. Years later, 2001 to be exact, while working with Chorley Youth Theatre, I was looking for a fundraiser to do. It entered my head that this would be an easy, quick show to put on. Oh how wrong I was. I met up with Dick Chudnow in Wisconsin, he threw a contract and a 300 page manual at me and said “Have fun.” Four years later we’re putting on a show every fortnight and I’ve almost finished reading the manual.
Isn’t that always the way? What can I expect if I throw my hard earned readies your way in October?
A laugh.
Just the one?
We guarantee at least one. The hard thing about ComedySportz is explaining what it is to people. The closest thing that people will have heard of is Whose Line Is It Anyway and even that doesn’t quite do it justice. There’s no substitute for live improvisation. To see something happen in front of you, that you’ve maybe even had a part in making, is the best type of comedy in the world to me.
Comedy that I’ve had a part in making… How exactly does that work?
The format of the show is that there are two teams making up scenes and gags on the spot and the audience decides which team was funniest. However, none of that can happen without the audience’s ideas to begin with. Whatever the audience suggests we take and turn into live comedy. By the end of the night one team are the winners and one team are the losers. Usually my team, not that I’m bitter you understand. The real winners are always the audience…
Shame on you for employing that dreadful cliché, even if it is true. I noticed that the sports theme is all over the show, you even dress sportily and have a referee. A referee? Do things have a tendency to get violent?
That depends on who’s playing... No, not at all. The referee is effectively the compere for the evening, getting the suggestions from the audience and making sure that the players stick to the rules of the game.
Rules? Explain yourself.
Like every sport there are rules, ComedySportz is termed as a show for everyone. Unlike other improvisation groups we have a strict policy on swearing, lewd conduct, basically cheap gags. We even have fouls if such things occur. This doesn’t mean we’re a show for kids by any means, in fact we really enjoy pushing the line to see how far we can actually go before we get called up on it. Innuendo is one of my favourite forms of comedy. I love the Carry On films. Yes, I am ashamed.
Yes, hang your head in shame. Speaking of British exports, I understand you took a team over to Los Angeles this year to take on America’s finest at their own invention. How did that go?
It was fab. The championships are held every year and this is the third time I’ve attended. Myself, Rachel Wareing, Steven Martin and Steven Catterall took on the New Orleans team and won at this year’s championships in L.A. Last year we beat Milwaukee, soon after that we went to Dublin and beat their team as well. We’re on a roll! It’s been loads of fun. This summer I got to play in six different states in five weeks and was one of the best times in my life. ComedySportz is not just an improvisation show but an extended family. Everyone looks after each other, especially the New Orleans team in light of what’s happened lately. They’ve been adopted by many of the other teams in the States.
First the world and now Manchester… What are you looking forward to most about your show at The Frog & Bucket?
The chance to play in front of a completely new audience. We love our fans in Chorley but it’s going to be great to break out a bit more. Hopefully it’ll be the start of more shows in Manchester and maybe even a Manchester team at some point. It’d be nice to be able to play another team without leaving the country!
ComedySportz UK makes it’s debut at The Frog & Bucket, Oldham Street, Manchester on Sunday 23rd October. Doors open at 2:00pm and the show starts at 3:00pm. Tickets: £4 (£3 Concs or with flyer.) £10 for a family ticket
For more information or to book online go to www.frogandbucket.com. Find out more about ComedySportz UK at www.Comedysportz.co.uk
NExt week I am working every day except Sunday.
Workshops galore, all that I have made up myself... which sounds and IS fun, as usual though I've not planned my time very well so I am now rushing everything. For Monday I have to have planned a 45 hour 3 week course in Naturalistic Acting for Camera, a 8 hour 4 week course for TV Acting (different), a 3 hour Second Year Radio lesson and a ten week CSz beginners workshop...
Not to mention the packs I was supposed to put together for a few schools!
Taking too much on you say? I dont think so, I just need to manage my time better... as it stands I've done a rough outline for all of them I just need to spend tonight finishing it off... oh yes I forgot to mention, I am comedysporting all day tomorrow and this afternoon! argh!
It's MAD I tell ya - MAAAAAD
And in the midst of all that I finished Chris's website
And we wrote an interview for the Manchester Comedy Festival:
ComedySportz UK @ The Manchester Comedy Festival
By Gazpacho
On Sunday October 23rd The Frog & Bucket comedy club will play host to the first ever ComedySportz event to take place in Manchester. What, you may ask, is ComedySportz? Well, it’s less about sport then it is about comedy but it’s definitely still a sport. Confused? Allow me to elaborate.
ComedySportz began life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1984 as an offshoot of the established Theatre Sports group. Started by Dick Chudnow, a man who had built a fine reputation for himself in Hollywood working on films such as Kentucky Fried Movie, Airplane and later (To his eternal shame…) Spy Hard. Having moved back from Los Angeles to Milwaukee, he decided to try his hand at something new and started an improvisation group. He envisioned two teams of “actletes” using the audience’s suggestions to battle it out for their applause and affection in a spot of friendly competition. Thus ComedySportz was born and soon began to spread. Nowadays, CSz (As it’s affectionately known.) has spread all across the United States, has hundreds of members, thousands of fans and even has a championship every year. The championship is a massive event that draws teams from places like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Chorley.
Chorley?
The Chorley? The one near Preston? Chorley F.M. and all that?
Yes, the very same. ComedySportz’s first (and so far still, only) foothold in Britain was in the modest Lancashire town known for its cakes and market. ComedySportz UK follows the fine tradition of taking an American idea and adding a few British nuances to make it better, effectively succeeding where Wimpy failed. In this case the name of the game is improvisation, using the audience’s ideas to create the proverbial comedy gold on the spot. Two teams battle it out for honour, respect, and, most importantly, bragging rights for the following couple of weeks. What’s more, this is comedy without the shortcuts; no swearing and no explicit subject matter or you may well end the night with a bag over your head to hide your shame. It’s spontaneous, hilarious and it’s for absolutely everyone to enjoy.
I decided the best way to find out more was to catch up with the woman responsible for importing ComedySportz in the first place, Brainne Edge.
If you forgive me saying, you don’t sound American… How on Earth did a Lancashire lass like yourself get involved in all this?
Well, I lived in America for a few years. While there I was introduced to ComedySportz by a friend. I thoroughly enjoyed it but thought nothing of it. Years later, 2001 to be exact, while working with Chorley Youth Theatre, I was looking for a fundraiser to do. It entered my head that this would be an easy, quick show to put on. Oh how wrong I was. I met up with Dick Chudnow in Wisconsin, he threw a contract and a 300 page manual at me and said “Have fun.” Four years later we’re putting on a show every fortnight and I’ve almost finished reading the manual.
Isn’t that always the way? What can I expect if I throw my hard earned readies your way in October?
A laugh.
Just the one?
We guarantee at least one. The hard thing about ComedySportz is explaining what it is to people. The closest thing that people will have heard of is Whose Line Is It Anyway and even that doesn’t quite do it justice. There’s no substitute for live improvisation. To see something happen in front of you, that you’ve maybe even had a part in making, is the best type of comedy in the world to me.
Comedy that I’ve had a part in making… How exactly does that work?
The format of the show is that there are two teams making up scenes and gags on the spot and the audience decides which team was funniest. However, none of that can happen without the audience’s ideas to begin with. Whatever the audience suggests we take and turn into live comedy. By the end of the night one team are the winners and one team are the losers. Usually my team, not that I’m bitter you understand. The real winners are always the audience…
Shame on you for employing that dreadful cliché, even if it is true. I noticed that the sports theme is all over the show, you even dress sportily and have a referee. A referee? Do things have a tendency to get violent?
That depends on who’s playing... No, not at all. The referee is effectively the compere for the evening, getting the suggestions from the audience and making sure that the players stick to the rules of the game.
Rules? Explain yourself.
Like every sport there are rules, ComedySportz is termed as a show for everyone. Unlike other improvisation groups we have a strict policy on swearing, lewd conduct, basically cheap gags. We even have fouls if such things occur. This doesn’t mean we’re a show for kids by any means, in fact we really enjoy pushing the line to see how far we can actually go before we get called up on it. Innuendo is one of my favourite forms of comedy. I love the Carry On films. Yes, I am ashamed.
Yes, hang your head in shame. Speaking of British exports, I understand you took a team over to Los Angeles this year to take on America’s finest at their own invention. How did that go?
It was fab. The championships are held every year and this is the third time I’ve attended. Myself, Rachel Wareing, Steven Martin and Steven Catterall took on the New Orleans team and won at this year’s championships in L.A. Last year we beat Milwaukee, soon after that we went to Dublin and beat their team as well. We’re on a roll! It’s been loads of fun. This summer I got to play in six different states in five weeks and was one of the best times in my life. ComedySportz is not just an improvisation show but an extended family. Everyone looks after each other, especially the New Orleans team in light of what’s happened lately. They’ve been adopted by many of the other teams in the States.
First the world and now Manchester… What are you looking forward to most about your show at The Frog & Bucket?
The chance to play in front of a completely new audience. We love our fans in Chorley but it’s going to be great to break out a bit more. Hopefully it’ll be the start of more shows in Manchester and maybe even a Manchester team at some point. It’d be nice to be able to play another team without leaving the country!
ComedySportz UK makes it’s debut at The Frog & Bucket, Oldham Street, Manchester on Sunday 23rd October. Doors open at 2:00pm and the show starts at 3:00pm. Tickets: £4 (£3 Concs or with flyer.) £10 for a family ticket
For more information or to book online go to www.frogandbucket.com. Find out more about ComedySportz UK at www.Comedysportz.co.uk
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