This months SPOTLIGHT! falls on Matthew Dibbens, a local improv comedian. We enter the interview nervously ready to be sliced up on a quick wit and a few verbal silver bullets … but Matt puts us at ease and tells us how we can all benefit from learning the skills associated with his art form…. 

Q. Hi Matt , tell us … What is improvised comedy ?  

A. Comedy Improvisation was made popular by the television show “Whose Line Is It,Anyway?” and is acted by young and old alike. Improvisation,like magic,is the art of creating something out of nothing.What most people do not realise is that improvising,ad-libbing etc is something that we do everyday,as we have no script for our daily lives.

Q. Do you need to be good at acting/drama to be good at it ?

A. You do not need acting experience to improvise.All players will need is some enthusiasim and willingness to let go and have some fun.

Q. What do you think you learn by being able to inprove your ability to improvise?

A. During improv people explore and develop certain skills such as listening,quick thinking,risk taking,self confidence and also team work.Skills that will help acting and public speaking but also good for life in general. This will be done by playing games and  performing sketches.

Q. OK , sounds good.  Can you tell us about what you do… 

A.  I myself have been involved in improv for the past 3 years performing shows at venues throughout the Midlands and London with Coventrys WOW Impro and Impro Vivo troupes.We competeted in the Theatresports show in London against teams from around the UK. In this I won most memorable moment of the match. We have also performed to stand up audiences as well as writing and performing our own sketches.

 Intertested in knowing more ?  ………..Matt is running workshops opporuntinites

Comedy Improvisation Workshops

Fun Workshops In the Summer Holidays To Help Your Acting And Comedy skills.

These workshops will help develop quick thinking,risk taking,self confidence and team work all by playing games and acting out sketches.

If you have ever seen “Whose Line Is It,Anyway?” and thought you would like to have a go,then these workshops are for you.

If interested please call Matt on 07904 448 260 to discuss costs, times etc.

ANIMATE!

Saturday 3 October, 11am - 4pm

Young people aged 12 - 16 years can learn how to make their own short films as part of an animation workshop at Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum this autumn. The workshop which takes place on Saturday 3 October from 11am - 4pm is part of a regular series of events which offer young people the opportunity to work with a professional film maker to explore animation, film making and digital media.

Participants will work as a team to come up with an idea for a story, create characters and shoot their animated film. The finished film will be screened as part of the Art Gallery & Museum’s Thursday Flickers programme. This informal weekly event provides a platform to showcase work by local film makers. It will be a fantastic opportunity for participants to see their films on a big screen and to show them to friends and family. Participants will also receive a DVD of their film to keep.

The cost is £3 per person. Places are limited, early booking is recommended, please call 01926 742700.

Further information - Call Vicki Slade, Curatorial Officer, on 01926 742701 (victoria.slade@warwickdc.gov.uk) or Emma Lewis, Publicity Officer, on 01926 742709 (emma.lewis@warwickdc.gov.uk).