Vancouver performers turn to improv this winter

January is typically the slow season for film and TV production, so you might find some Vancouver screen actors doing live theatre and comedy this winter.

Tightrope Theatre co-founder Jeff Gladstone says his theatre launched in February 2020 and managed to survive and thrive through the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it hosts theatre classes, studio space, and plenty of weekly shows.

“I’ve always said, maybe in Hollywood, you can just be an actor,” Gladstone said. “But most Canadian actors I know actually have a few things in their life that keep them busy. They’re teachers, they perform in theatre, other things.

“Myself, I work in film and TV as well, so when it’s slow, I spend my time here.”

This winter, the theatre is relaunching a show, “F Marry Kill, the Improv Show,” after a great response to the show last year and a stop at the Winnipeg International Fringe Festival.

Gladstone says the 90-minute improv show is based on an old and nonsensical drinking game.

“Basically, we play it. It’s one long-form improvised play, you might say,” he said.

“Comedic, but also has other tones. Basically, there are four characters reuniting after some time apart, by drawing cards at random, they select their secret objectives.”

Company member Sarah Ferguson says they try to make the shows feel like a fun house party.

“People come, they get to connect with other people, they get to have a nice cold drink or snack, listen to good music beforehand, and then just enjoy a really fun show they feel a part of,” she said.

While laughter may be guaranteed at a show like this, Gladstone says his theatre’s approach aims to reach beyond comedy. He explains the cast uses the show as an opportunity to hone different techniques and show a range of emotions.

“If you come up onstage to make a relationship with another character, tell a story, then when it’s funny, great — bonus,” he said.

“But you’re not relying on that, or hoping for that. It’s story and character that I think really draws people in, and makes them interested in what you’re doing. At least at Tightrope Theatre, that’s really our focus here: narrative and character relationships.”

Showtimes and other information are available on Tightrope Theatre’s website.