“Performing in the States, despite having an ethnically diverse group of players, the humor would be pretty homogenous,” said Jonathan. “You can’t do that here. People in the audience identify with different things. After an improv show in the US, people would usually agree on what was the best scene, whereas here the scenes will swing one way or the other and appeal to different people with different backgrounds.”
On top of their regular performances, Beijing Improv also runs weekly improv skills workshops at a bar close to Peng Hao Theater, in the shadow of Beijing’s historic Drum Tower. Mostly attended by local Chinese people, the workshops are run bilingually, a mainstage player leading alongside a translator, with the aim to broaden the appeal of improv theater.
Life Skills
At one of these workshops in the tiny, crowded bar space, locals and ex-pats are instructed by the workshop leader to adopt the character of a certain animal into their walk. Effortlessly, people emulate cranes, dogs, elephants and fish, often colliding in their enthusiasm. Interestingly, when the workshop leader calls out “dragon,” Chinese participants adopt the wingless, snake-like gait of the traditional Chinese dragon, while Westerners opt for the winged, roaring, fire-breathing European archetype. It is common for different cultural concepts to be thrown into sharp relief by certain exercises, adding to the educative value of the workshops.
“The best thing is that we know people are taking the skills and using them in their daily lives,” said Lottie. “There was a woman who was a schoolteacher and began to use improv in class. I call this the ripple effect – people will attend a workshop and then bring those skills into their own social networks and use them to support others.”
“You have people from vastly different economic statuses attending workshops,” said Jonathan. “There was one guy who came and, when asked about his job, he said ‘I can’t really tell you,’ and it later turned out he worked for the CEO of a State-owned enterprise. We’ve had nuclear scientists, housewives, waiters, whatever, but they all get on stage, and once they do, everybody is equal.”
Of course, as Beijing Improv’s star has risen, so has the chance of attracting unfavorable attention from the authorities. Strictly speaking, foreigners participating in public performances in China need to be issued with a special visa in their home country before taking part in a performance on the Chinese mainland. While this policy is rarely enforced, it is of concern to members of the group who work full-time in China.
As a result, the troupe has to operate a strict media policy that avoids references to live performance in local Chinese-language media. Strict restrictions on noise pollution after hours meant the group had to call an early halt to a Brazilian drumming display during the launch party of the Interactive Arts Festival. Although government figures have sat in on performances, with some civil servants even attending the bilingual workshops, the troupe has to tread carefully in both media relations and the content of shows.
Fresh
Jonathan and Lottie are both sensitive to the fine line that Beijing Improv always hovers on the brink of crossing. However, as Jonathan explains, total compliance with official protocol would be difficult for an art form without a precedent in China. “Technically any performance has to have its script pre-approved, which isn’t possible for improv, and is also incredibly costly,” he said. Beijing Improv operates as a non-profit organization, donating all proceeds from ticket sales to the Hua Dan NGO, which uses theater and improv skills to run workshops in migrant worker areas and rural villages throughout China.
Despite the challenges presented operating in China, Beijing Improv shows no signs of slowing down. A new influx of fresh talent, including the troupe’s first Chinese-born member, has replaced players who, like most ex-pats, had to return to their home countries. Although the look of the troupe may have changed over the years, the spirit has remained the same.
“It all comes back to that sense of community,” explained Lottie. “Beijing can be a very lonely place for ex-pats, and even for Chinese people who aren’t locals. Beijing Improv creates a safe and supportive environment for meeting friends.”
Jonathan agrees, and reiterates the central tenet of Beijing Improv which has been in place since its beginnings in an ex-pat living room four years ago, “our belief is that improv makes the world a better place.” Spoken like a true performer.
October 2010
