Five Questions With John Corry

This is a post in our "Five Questions" series of interviews with Improv Conspiracy members.

What was the first improv show you saw that made you think "wow, I'd like to do that!"?

The BBC's "Pebble Mill at One" circa 1985. I was at home from school sick watching this now defunct English daytime TV show, when they had a troupe of local actors on performing, a new acting style called "improv". It was crazy. There were no scripts. They just made it up as they went along. They wore bad jumpers. Wild.

Back then though, there was a lot of buzz about improv in the British Isles, so much so a local group could get on TV, just do some short form games and everyone would be impressed. I seem to remember this group playing a scene involving a box. Unfortunately the box never got opened leaving this viewer wonder to this day as to its content. Lesson 1: Open the box.

What aspects of the Harold do you find the most rewarding? The most challenging?

I enjoy a good opening. There's nothing better than coming out on stage a little nervous and together with the other performers taking a word from the audience and riffing up some great ideas. You feel inspired and excited. However that said, a good opening sets a certain expectation for the rest of the Harold which is challenging and sometimes daunting. How do you keep the energy and the ideas flowing?

What would you like your team to be capable of by the end of Comedy Festival? A year from now?

I guess I'd like what everybody would like - the perfect Harold. That is the Harold that is playful & imaginative whilst tying up all its threads neatly at the end. We've come close in the past so I hope the Peeping Toms can do it this season.

Next year I'd like to see the same but on ice.

Which Conspiracy members do you have improv crushes on, and why? What do they do that inspires you?

Well Scott McAteer and I go back a long way so it's not really a crush anymore. He's just plain awesome.

Kathleen Douglas has been fun to watch and perform with. She's got great stage presence and makes me laugh.

Sophie Fernandes is a clever improviser. She listens well and then adds which helps to drive stories forward.

I'm only getting to know April Seymore and Andrew Watt but I like their work. I hope I get to play with them some time.

Lastly, Emmet Nichols because he's so handsome.

How has your improv training helped your non-improv life?

Not much really. If anything it's made things worse. You see most folks ignore the crazy guy on the tram that comes up and talks to you about how he used to hang out with Bon Scott or how he knows where Ned Kelly's skull is. Unfortunately, improv has taught me to engage with his offers and advance the story. So next time you're on the 96, watch out for Richo and I as we've got quite an act going.