Art Meets Comedy in ‘Real Sketchy’ Premiere

Blah Blah Blah Improv is set to dazzle audiences with their innovative new show, Real Sketchy, at the Brisbane Improv Festival on 27 July 2024 at Big Fork Theatre.

Combining the whimsy of quick-sketch artistry with the spontaneity of long-form improvised comedy, this family-friendly show promises a night of unique entertainment.

Real Sketchy brings the magic of quick-sketch artistry to the comedy stage—audience suggestions inspire a skilled quick-sketch artist to draw whimsical caricatures, which then spark improvised scenes crafted by the talented cast, resulting in an interplay of art and comedy that guarantees to leave spectators in stitches.

Blah Blah Blah Improv Director Mandy Plumb describes the show as a one-of-a-kind experience where art and comedy collide in the most unexpected ways.

“Our improvisers take these quirky sketches (that have just unfolded in front of the audience’s eyes) and build entire worlds around them, making each performance completely unique," Plumb said.

“Our latest show is designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences, from families to comedy enthusiasts to lovers of art.

“Real Sketchy is not just about the laughs; it's about witnessing the spontaneous creation of comedic art.

"It's incredibly rewarding to see how each sketch evolves into a story, captivating the audience with its creativity and humour." Plumb added,

Tickets for Real Sketchy are priced at $21, which also includes a performance of Don’t Put That In Your Mouth by renowned Brisbane improviser Jim Reynolds, which makes for a double feature of top-notch improv comedy.

Mandy Plumb emphasised the festival's importance, saying, "The Brisbane Improv Festival is a celebration of creativity and spontaneity. It’s a fantastic opportunity for audiences to see some of the most innovative performances in the world of improv."

Real Sketchy is set to be a standout event at this year’s festival. With its blend of art, comedy, and audience interaction, it's an evening that promises to be as memorable as it is entertaining.

The Brisbane Improv Festival, now in its fourth year, features some of the best local and international improv talent, and with five nights of live improv comedy shows and workshops, the festival is a highlight on Brisbane's cultural calendar.

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Media enquiries and photo opportunities:

Mandy Plumb, phone 0412 702802 or email lol@blahblahblahimprov@.com 

Note to editors:

About Blah Blah Blah Improv

Blah Blah Blah Improv was born in February 2023 to fill the improv void in the Qld-NSW border region. The teachers, who are well-versed in many improv forms and formats, have collectively performed well over 300 improv shows to live audiences in Australia and internationally. They teach and perform improvised comedy, including theatresports-style short-form improv (like ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’) and long-form improv.

About the Brisbane Improv Festival

Now in its fourth year, the Brisbane Improv Festival returns to Brisbane from the 23– 27 July 2024. Celebrating all things improvised comedy, the Brisbane Improv Festival will showcase some of this city’s best and most innovative comedians and performers as well as visiting guests from Australia and New Zealand across five nights of live shows and workshops. Comedy, musicals, surprise guests and more – the Brisbane Improv Festival has something for everyone.

Adults Urged to be Kids Again

Blah Blah Blah Improv is abetting adults living near the Queensland-New South Wales border to be in the moment and have fun, just as when they were kids with no inhibitions.

The comedy improvisation group are re-teaching adults important life skills they may have forgotten—such as how to have fun while embracing failure, running with the first instinct, connecting with others—through a niche style of performance art.

According to founder and teacher Mandy Plumb, people often lose their sense of fun when they grow up.

“Something happens when you become a ‘responsible’ adult: you forget how to have fun, you stop being in the moment, you get in your head and overthink everything, and these things steal your joy and enhance stress levels.

“Our teachers have been helping Brisbane adults for years to have fun, and make themselves and others laugh through improv.

“Our participants have fun learning how to make up short comedy sketches on the spot and they also get to play some of the hilarious theatresports-style games made famous by the hit improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Plumb said.

“The improv techniques we teach help increase communication, self-awareness, and skills, which can enhance other areas of your life.

“For example, learning and performing improv has helped me to be better at accepting and working with other people’s ideas at work,” Plumb added.

Plumb believes where there is a supportive and inclusive community, people feel safe to play like children.

“It doesn’t matter if participants have previously performed or not, because we create an environment in our classroom that feels safe and is loads of fun!" Plumb said.

“Some students learn improv to become better at auditions or stand-up comedy, while most wanted to learn improv to apply the techniques socially or at work, or just to experience the joy of performing through a fun new hobby.

“The best thing about improv is there is no pre-planning or scripts, so you have to get out of your head, be in the moment, and have fun."

Blah Blah Blah Improv’s courses occur on Sunday afternoon in Coolangatta and Tuesday night in Helensvale on the Gold Coast.

Improvisers performing at Blah Blah Blah Improv