The 2015 Cranston Cup Grand Final is here, and it’s the 30th anniversary year of Theatresports in Australia – for those who aren’t familiar, what should audiences expect?
Audiences should expect the unexpected! Theatresports is entirely made up on the spot based on audience suggestions, so audiences are in for a night of uproarious improvised songs and dances, scenes and characters. The nature of improvisation means that things can go brilliantly… or disastrously! In fact, usually the best scenes have equal measures of brilliance and disaster. Either way, it will be a side-splittingly hilarious evening.
Where did the Cranston Cup get its name?
The competition is named after Lamont Cranston, which was the alter ego of the founder of Australian Theatresports, Dennis Watkins. Watkins was an integral part of the Sydney comedy scene and uni revues, and has gone on to be a celebrated director, writer and producer.
How strong has Australia’s Theatresports scene become over those three decades?
Many of Australia’s most loved performers credit their success to the skills learnt in their Theatresports days, whether onstage at the Belvoir St Theatre in the early days of the Cranston Cup, or at Sydney University’s grungy Manning Bar at the weekly lunchtime improv shows. At once terrifying and exhilarating, learning and performing Theatresports instils creativity, joy and fearlessness in actors, and it’s these qualities that have made performers like Julia Zemiro, Adam Spencer, Andrew O’Keefe, The Axis Of Awesome, The Chaser, Ed Kavalee, Steen Raskopoulos (and so many more) so unforgettable onstage. The scene continues to thrive, and the emerging crop of young improvisers is overflowing with talent. And with Impro Australia now running Theatresports in high schools all over New South Wales, Theatresports is reaching new performers and audiences all the time.
Can you give us a brief intro to the teams competing?
This year’s Cranston final has an exciting lineup. There are some seasoned performers returning to the Cranston final for the gazillionth time, with Cranston and National titles under their belts, and a whole lot of new performers making their Cranston debuts. Every team is so strong – Morpheme Addiction has the sharpest wits; Sesame Streetwise can practically read each other’s minds; Simple Simon and The PaddyKates are risk-takers par excellence; Sure, Whatever, I Don’t Care, Shut Up Already has a wealth of experience on the Enmore stage; and Ridgey-Didge (who are my pick to take out the title) are recent WAAPA grads – all amazing actors who bring so much joy to the stage! I’m a member of the Old Spice Girls, and obviously my team has the best looks, not to mention dance moves.
Theatresports Cranston Cup 2015 Grand Final is onSaturday November 28 at the Enmore Theatre.
