CELEBRATING

thearts
I
SHUT THE
FRONT DOOR
IMPROV:
GROWING THE
ART FORM
t’s been a fabulous five years for
London’s favourite improv troupe,
and with the wind at their collective
back, they appear to have many more to
come.
On January 6, Shut the Front Door
(STFD) celebrated their fifth anniversary
with two sold-out ‘Birthday Spectacular’
shows (and abundant cake) at the London
Music Club.
Since their inception in January 2012
the group has earned a devoted following,
with new fans made at each show.
Word-of-mouth about the calibre of talent
demonstrated onstage - not to mention
the unique rapport they share with
their audiences - continues to spread
like wildfire.
The seven-member ensemble is in
PHOTO CREDIT: BLUE NOVEMBER PHOTOGRAPHY
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR MEMBERS (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) RYAN HOLDEN, SAM TALL,
JIM KELLY, BRANDON RUDD, KATHLEEN JACKSON, AND KEVIN ELLIOTT IN ACTION
constant demand, playing fundraisers
and other engagements in addition to
their regular shows at the Music Club.
They also work to spread awareness
about the various charities proceeds
from their shows support, such as Stevenson
Children’s Camp, SARI Therapeutic
Riding, and Sebastian’s Superheroes.
However, the impressive success the
troupe has enjoyed thus far is almost
secondary to their dedication to mentoring
others in the art of improv.
“We knew it was important to bring
the improv element back to London, and
for me personally, it was a goal of sustainability,
improvement and involvement
of community members. We really
could not do any of this without community,”
explained STFD artistic director
FEATURES
and founding member Brandon Rudd.
STFD regularly hosts popular free
drop-in classes as well as a structured
series of paid improv classes. Those
who complete the classes can graduate
to the Improv Masterclass, an intensive
eight week-long program that effectively
prepares students for the stage.
The masterclasses have already produced
a new troupe in its own right, Off
the Hinges.
“That’s quite an accomplishment in
five years - giving people the opportunity
to understand what improv really
is. Aside from being able to perform, it’s
having that skill set that comes with
improv. Learning those skills that can
be used in many other things - communication,
team building, relationships,
confidence, the ability to combat bullies,
and feeling a sense of accomplishment,”
Rudd said.
Rudd, along with fellow STFD members
Taylor Axford, Ryan Holden, Sam
Tall, Jim Kelly, Kathleen Jackson, and
Kevin Elliott, work hard at providing
improvisers-in-training with a comprehensive
roadmap that could very well
lead them one day to sharing the stage
with themselves, Off the Hinges, or another
troupe.
“I’m overwhelmed by the responses
I get - unsolicited - about how improv
has helped people. We’ve come a long
ways in five years, but there is still a lot
of work to do,” Rudd added (visit STFD’s
website for more information about improv
classes and registration).
The troupe follow up their birthday
celebrations on February 10 at London
Music Club with the Yes, No, Maybe
Show. Off the Hinges are set to perform
January 26 (same venue) - and, in a
clever promotional move, the fans have
chosen - by Facebook vote - which recent
graduate of the Improv Masterclass
will take to the stage with them!
“One cool thing about Off the Hinges is that at the
end of each show, they offer public jam sessions. So
if you’re an audience member who has never been
onstage before, you can go up and play some games,”
Rudd said.
“Truth be told, there are a lot of really good improvisers
out there that aren’t part of a troupe at this
point,” he added.
“We’re providing an opportunity to include them as
much as we can, in as many ways as we can.”
- Amie Ronald-Morgan
THE ARTS SECTION CONTINUES ON PAGE 24
JANUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 28 • 2017 CELEBRATING 27 YEARS
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