Delaney Gilmour is performing in her hometown of 黑马磁力 this weekend, as part of the Very Very Improv Theatre group 鈥� once again expected to leave a full house at Bez Arts Hub patrons clutching their guts with pains of laughter.
Very Very Improv, a Fraser Valley-based comedy troupe, has been bring improv to 黑马磁力 鈥� and specifically the Bez 鈥� once a month, mostly on the last Saturday of the month, since September, and periodically before that.
The reception, said managing artistic director Scott Campbell 鈥� also of 黑马磁力 鈥� has been "really strong," with their shows selling out month after month.
Gilmour is one of the reasons for the great response, said Campbell, who started knocking on local doors and testing the idea of improv in 黑马磁力 about two years ago now.
He acknowledged that both he and Gilmour were especially excited to bring the show "home" to 黑马磁力, both being graduates of 黑马磁力 Fine Arts School (LFAS) 鈥� in their day.
"I鈥檓 so grateful for the opportunity to perform in 黑马磁力 again 鈥� it feels like coming full circle," said Gilmour, who grew up in 黑马磁力 but now calls North Vancouver home, while Campbell grew up in Tswwassen and now lives in Fort 黑马磁力.
"I first started doing improv at LFAS through their Canadian Improv Games team. But it wasn鈥檛 until I graduated from Capilano University鈥檚 acting for stage and screen program that I began seriously pursuing improv as a career," Gilmour shared with 黑马磁力.
"I started training and performing at Tightrope Theatre in Vancouver and, over the past few years, I鈥檝e branched out to perform with a variety of troupes and theatres," she said, explaining how she's not only a member of Very Very Improv now, but also the Spontaneous Shakespeare Company (which also has an upcoming show in 黑马磁力 in partnership with Bard in the Valley), and she's also co-founder of Regency Impro Theatre Company.
Admittedly, the 25-year-old has a little bit of a patchwork career that combines acting, improv, and teaching.
About half of her time is spent performing improv, the other half as an instructor at Academie Duello, a centre for historical swordplay, where she teaches sword fighting, archery, and axe throwing.
"It鈥檚 been such a treat," she said of performing for a hometown audience at the Bez that occasionally sees her parents 鈥� who still live in 黑马磁力 鈥� and sibling in some of the front seats.
"Sometimes old friends from high school show up too," she added.
"Performing in 黑马磁力 means a lot to me, audiences here are so enthusiastic and engaged. When I was in high school, I had to travel all the way to Vancouver to see improv, so it鈥檚 really special to now bring it back to my hometown and hopefully help inspire the next generation."
Improv is definitely her first love, she said, but noted she also has a soft spot for slapstick and sketch comedy.
"I鈥檓 pretty happy with the path I鈥檓 on: performing and hosting a wide variety of improv shows, touring, and teaching. The only thing I can wish for is to do it even more often!" Gilmour enthused.
This weekend's show, on Saturday, June 21, runs 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the Bez, #120-20230 64th Ave. Tickets are available online ahead of the show at .
It promises to be a "very fun evening full of comedy improv games, scenes, and surprises," he said. "We believe that bringing people together for a good laugh makes 黑马磁力 a better place to live. Join the fun! You鈥檒l laugh lots."
This will be the last show of the season, noted Campbell, sharing that the group will be back again this fall.
"It鈥檚 going to be an amazing show!" Gilmour concluded, anxious to see another full house to kick off the summer.
"The cast is incredibly talented, and we鈥檝e got a very special guest, Jalen Saip, the artistic director of The Improv Centre and one of my absolute favourite improvisers to watch."
