Comedy training school launches

A FIRST FOR NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE

- By DEBORAH HALL

THE Improv Chippy, North East Lincolnshire's first dedicated comedy school, has officially launched.

Initially offering lessons in improv, the school plans to expand into sketch, clown and stand-up in the coming months.

Its origins were laid after local comedian and writer Rob Carr, frustrated with the lack of opportunities in the area, flew to Melbourne, the comedy capital of Australia. His original intention was to pursue stand-up, but after taking a taster session at an improv theatre, he soon found his life taken over by improvisation and began intensive study with three different schools under the tutelage of some of the best improvisers in the country.

He has now returned to North East Lincolnshire with the aim of gifting the same opportunity to others. Rob is keen to emphasise that improv is not just for those with performance ambitions.

"Improv is for everyone, not just for actors and comedians," he said. "My classes in Melbourne had a whole mix of people - uni students and pensioners, tradies and teachers, lawyers and cleaners - all forming deep and meaningful connections with each other.