Our very own Dave Hodgson – photographer, improvisor and Oicker – takes stock of where we are and where we’re going with improv.
The past year or so has been an interesting one for varying reasons (or one big reason) for a lot of people… all 8 billion of us, living on this blue rock we call Planet Earth.
In the space of one solitary year, Improv Online… or Zoomprov… has hit the ground hard and fast, seemingly with no sign of slowing down. It has drawn together people from all walks of life in every country, on every continent who all share a common love of ‘Making Stuff Up’ (a phrase coined by Iain ‘The Hat’ Luke Jones for his podcast introduction entitled, Liverpool Comedy ImprovCast).
I have been fortunate to have performed Improv live before the world we all knew came crashing to sudden halt, due to a pesky, invisible foe that we came to know as COVID19.
Zoomprov
When the chances of continuing, as well as performing, Improv seemed lost, Liverpool Comedy Improv (LCI) made the transition to doing online classes and what we now refer to as Zoomprov. The online format at first, presented its challenges, especially with the sound lag that accompanied partaking in the ‘New Norm’ for the Improv world.
Over time it allowed us to adapt to the new ways of performing improv in an online setting. Putting every performer in the position of listening more astutely to our fellow performer, whilst continuing the age old mantra of Improv that was to ‘Yes and’ the suggestion that your scene partner had opened the scene with.
Zoomprov goes Global
As mentioned previously, a major positive that the whole Pandemic and countries being under Lockdown has done, is that it has resulted in Zoomprov becoming a global phenomenon. The ability to connect with fellow Improvisers across the world has opened up a Pandoras Box of possibilities, as well as creating everlasting friendships with people who are half a world away, who share the common love of Improv.
Each Improviser, whether they are from the likes of the USA, India, Australia, Denmark, or Canada (to name but a few places) all bring their own unique styles of improv. This could be purely character based, it could focus on an emotive stimulus or the simplicity of a single word that encompasses all of the above.
What the future holds
So, where do we go from here? We currently live in uncertain times. We still don’t know as to when live Improv will return to our lives. But, what is certain, is that ZoomProv will be here to stay for a long time to come and whilst we have been mostly confined to our homes for over the past year, having that connection with our fellow ‘Making Stuff Up’ creatives in an online setting aids in helping with basic human needs and puts a smile on our face and friendships that will last a life time.
The Oickers 