Five Questions With Ryan Patterson

This is a post in our "Five Questions" series of interviews with Improv Conspiracy members.  We aim to publish one per week over the next few months!

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

I guess it would be Whose Line Is It Anyway, the British version. I particularly loved the songs. I did a bit of improv and a lot Commedia dell'Arte (a style of theatre where stock characters improvise within specific scenarios) at school and university but then I took a break from performing for a bunch of years. About a year or so ago I started doing some Standing Up Comedy but found myself quickly getting a little bored and a little lonely performing by myself.  Improv was a certain cure to this loneliness, as I would have team mates that would have to be my friends (or at least act like my friends on stage!), I did a bunch of impro/improv classes and now I'm the most popular kid in school.

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

When it's working it can be magical - there's something incredibly cool about creating, very organically, with a bunch of likeminded players. Personally, Also I find wiping a scene at it's apex incredibly rewarding, ensuring that your teammates go out on a high.

The biggest challenges for me at the moment are keeping up with all the different beats, and keeping it simple - it's all about the relationships y'all. 

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

I would like to see our team continue to develop our own personal style. Utilising each team member's strengths and building on areas where we could improve. Hopefully the results will speak for themselves, that way I won't have to.

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

Who do I not have crushes on? Looking at our roster, I'd nearly have to list them all.

Marcus WIllis is an Improv Ninja.

Charlie Sturgeon clearly has joy when he improvises, that's contagious methinks.

Harley Hefford is consistently coming up with offers that surprise and amuse me (most of which seem to involve amputated limbs)

Andrew Watt is quite a bit of wit. 

Jack Smith's characters are just the best, with tres interesting perspectives. 

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

As a human I tend to play it quite safe, methinks reconnecting with improv has reminded me that saying 'Yes and' can be the beginning of great things.