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Dear John

Setting up improv comedy classes

Question:
I am an established comedian living in Wales. I should like to join or be part of a comedy improvisation class to sharpen my skills. However there are no improv groups or teachers in this area - they are all in London. How would I go about finding out more or starting a group/class and locate a teacher?

Answer:
Obviously, having written several 'how to' books on comedy, I sincerely believe you can both teach and learn the subject. However, I also believe that you don't necessarily need a formal education in any performance field to succeed so much as you need practical experience in doing the performing, wherever you can get it from.

Some of the best actors started off as comics or singers and some of the best comics started as serious actors. With that in mind, if you can find a good acting teacher or experienced actor in your area - try asking in theatres, libararies or bookshops - they may well have the skills and interest in leading an improv class with a comedy slant, even if they are not comedy specialists.

Putting ads up in those same places could well get you class members and while you're at it, you might even be able to persuade a local pub owner to let you have an upstairs room on a slow night to try an improv club so you can test your material.

Sounds very homemade, I know, but that is how many top clubs and top comics in the big city get started - by doing not just dreaming. The trick is to seek the right help, which may be people with different skills and to remember that your improv skills can be just as handy in improvising ways to get yourself onstage as they are while you are onstage. Keep us posted and if any teachers or fellow improv fans in Wales get in contact via the Dear John website, we shall certainly pass on the messages.