Valerie Ward

Guest Name: Heather Urquhart Location: Brighton/London, UK Years improvising: 18 Team affiliations: The Maydays, Showstopper, 10,000,000,000 Love Stories, The Playground, The Bumper Blyton Improvised Adventure Improv style: Truthful, silly, connected, musical (when I’m allowed) Website: www.heatherurquhart.com Twitter: @musicimprov Additional notes: Today’s robot is probably different to yesterday’s robot and tomorrow’s. Bit like improv I guess. Here’s a Youtube video that sums up life for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGoTmNU_5A0

Guest Name: Dylan Emery Location: London Years improvising: 16 – although my first improv was actually 32 years ago when my amazing English teacher would do impro classes once a week. Team affiliations: The Showstoppers, Grand Theft Impro, The Crunchy Frog Collective, The School of Night, Ghost Couple, The London 50-Hour Improvathons, Extempore Theatre. Improv style: Theatrical. Ambitious. Well-acted or well clowned. Unexpected. Website: www.dylanemery.com Twitter: @dylanemery Additional notes: Something to watch – the brilliant Kurt Smeaton and his impro/sketch troupe Falcon Powder made a series of educational webcasts called The Whole Truths. First episode of six: Wolves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tND1J13xXH4

Guest Name:Valerie Ward Location: Austin TX Years improvising: 16 Team affiliations: Parallelogramophonograph, Echo Lake Improv style: Narrative, organic, stylized, playful, connected Website: www.pgraph.com Additional notes: What another would have done as well as you, do not do it. What another would have said as well as you, do not say it; what another would have written as well, do not write it. Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself — and thus make yourself indispensable. -Andre Gide

Guest Name: Joe Samuel Location: Brighton Years improvising: 40 on piano, 10 as an improviser musician Team affiliations: The Maydays, The Dreaming, Theatre De L’Oignon, The Concept Improv style: Music Website: www.joesamuel.co.uk

Guest Name: Naomi Petersen Location: London Years improvising: 4 Team affiliations: The Free Association, Sweet Fanny Adams, Nicely Turned Out, Wednesdays Improv style: Playful, Committed, Big On Game Website: www.thefreeassociation.co.uk Twitter: @NaomiPetersen

Guest Name: Adam Meggido Location: London Years improvising: FOREVER!!!! Team affiliations: Showstopper, The School of Night, Rhapsodes, The Society of Strange, The London 50 Hour Improvathons Improv style: LET’S PUT ON A SHOW! Website: www.theshowstoppers.org and www.extemporetheatre.com Twitter: @adammeggido Additional notes: I’ve worked in theatre all my life

Guest name: Rachel Parris Location: London Years Improvising: 10 years Team Affiliations: Austentatious, The Beau Zeaux, Monkey Toast Improv style: Long form narrative (in Austentatious anyway). In other things: Harold, scenic short-form, musical… Website: rachelparris.com Twitter: @rachelparris

Guest Name: John Cremer Location: Rural Sussex Years improvising: 24 years Team affiliations: The Maydays. Guest on Whirled News Tonight. Improv style: Character led, emotional, provocative, absurd. Website: www.johncremer.co.uk Twitter: @johncremer Additional notes: My main non-improv influences are Monty Python, Alan Partridge, Ivor Cutler, Van Morrison, George Gurdjieff, Beethoven, holocaust literature, Cheri Huber, Cormac McCarthy and salt water fly fishing.

Guest Name: Ruth Bratt Location: London Years improvising: 17 Team affiliations: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, The Glenda J Collective, guest with Comedy Store Players, The London Improvathon, Panthercannon, Ghost Couple, Letts Vegas Improv style: Narrative, fun, playful, generous. Good. Website: www.ruthbratt.com Twitter: @ruthbratt Additional notes: If I’m ever feeling down, I watch these videos. Reg Kehoe and his Marimba Queens Way Out West

Guest Name: David Shore Location: Toronto, Canada Years improvising: 20 years Team affiliations: Monkey Toast (Toronto and London), Bald (London), Alumnus Second City Mainstage (Toronto) & IO West Improv style: Organic Chicago-Style (focusing on letting the scene happen) Website: monkeytoast.com Twitter: @thedavidshore Additional notes: Taking risks in improv isn’t about making bold, big or crazy moves, it’s about trusting your ideas and yourself and not being afraid to suck or tank in front of an audience or your peers.