This Saturday (13th June 2020) we're hosting an international all-star show of LGBTQ+ ComedySportz players to raise money for two fantastic organisations: The Proud Trust and Rainbow Noir.
Inclusivity is at the heart of what we do and we believe coming together to play and have fun is the best way to build bridges. We’re delighted to be bringing LGBTQ+ ComedySportz players together from Manchester UK to the west coast of America for this very special online show.
“CSz has always been about bringing the fun and making accessible shows for EVERYONE. That's why I'm proud that we do PRIDE,” says ComedySportz player Kate McCabe.
ComedySportz has been performing shows online since lockdown went into effect and have been relying on audience donations to support players. For this show however the team are urging audiences to donate to support The Proud Trust and Rainbow Noir, a support group for LGBTQ+ people of colour.
As Braínne, ComedySportz player and manager, explains, “We’re keeping the shows free because we believe representation matters and we don’t want people to miss out on the show if they couldn’t afford to watch, however we will be asking audience members to support our chosen charities if they can afford to do so.”
The Proud Trust is a life-saving and life enhancing organisation that helps LGBT+ young people empower themselves, to make a positive change for themselves, and their communities. Donate here.
Rainbow Noir is a volunteer lead social, peer support and community action group, which celebrates and platforms people of colour who identify as LGBTQ+. Donate here.
The stream will go live on our youtube channel on Saturday 13th June from 7pm BST. Visit our shows page for a full schedule of upcoming online events.
We'll be back in 2020 with more shows to get you laughing but in the meantime here are a few clips from some of our favourite shows of the past year!
We were joined by brilliant new players this year and Russell returned to the troupe after a 15 year absence!
Mega-Fans Anthony and Lyra had their own ComedySportz shirts made!
We were joined by friends from all over CSz Worldwide at this years Edinburgh Festival Fringe!
We were honoured to play in the final of this years ComedySportz World Championship in Philadelphia!
We celebrated our 18th Birthday in November with shows at Waterside Arts and the theatre where it all began - Chorley Little Theatre!
We had lots of fun with our Improvised Pantomimes again this year!
Thanks to everyone that has supported our shows and workshops in 2020. You've given us as much laughter as we hope you've given us and we can't wait to see you again next year! We'll be back at Waterside Arts in January with ComedySportz 4 Tots and our New Year, New Games ComedySportz Special. Until then have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We don't know if we've mentioned it much lately but we turn 18 years old this month! That means that ComedySportz UK is now legally old enough to drink alcohol, get a tattoo and buy fireworks. You'll have to come along to the show at Chorley Little Theatre to find out which of those we get up to in the bar afterwards!
Every Birthday show is also an opportunity for us to enjoy some great memories and laughter! Below, some of our players look back at moments that have stayed with us from the last 18 years...
So Many Memories!
John: A few weeks ago at Waterside Arts, a dad pointed me out to his kids and said: "It's Armitage shanks" - a character I'd played in last years panto. It's great to have so many loyal fans! Those moments are really special.
Lukas: Yeah! One of my favourite memories is watching an audience volunteer make Darryl repeatedly slap himself in the face during a game of Moving Bodies. Like John said, it's great to have so many loyal fans! Those moments are really special - especially when they happen to someone else...
Rachel: Kate and Tommo (original Chorley players) racing each other at skydiving in a game of Forward Reverse... That went on for 8 minutes. It was our first match and we didn't realise maybe games shouldn't always go on that long!
Darryl: This is from the early days at Chorley. I can’t remember the exact context but I was a sniper and I asked Steven how he knew about a certain characteristic of the person we were targeting. His response was I can see his passport! The target turned out to be a guerilla. Harambe hadn't been killed yet so you could still make jokes about that sort of thing.
Sean: I love seeing people flourish and come out of themselves during our workshops. There have been so many great moments during workshops and players practice that no audience ever gets to see. It's fun to perform with friends.
Bron: We do enjoy a good post match curry. There are quite a few of us in the troupe and once about 20 of us went for a meal. Marcus ordered a starter. No one else did, which meant we all had to wait for our main course. Some of us had had a full day of workshops before the show and no time to eat... Several players died from hunger.
...Oh Marcus.
Laura: I loved it when Erin from CSz Twin Cities came to visit and performed with us because it was my first look into the “ComedySportz extended universe” and I realised just how big the CSz Worldwide family really is! It's been great playing with improvisers from all over the world!
Marcus: It was my first show at the Comedy Store and to choose which team went first the referee got members of the audience to draw a moustache on me and Ash. It was a special show raising money for Movember. The child who was chosen to draw a red moustache on my face with a felt tip pen literally tattooed a red goatee beard to my face... I was not sure where the red ink stopped and my crimson blood began. That evening I found out why that particular brand of pen is called Sharpie.
Sean: That's what you get for ordering a starter when no one else does.
Marcus: I did actually ask for my starter to be sent out with the mains. So I could have a chicken pakora/lamb madras hybrid. It's not my fault!
Bron: We've learned a lot over the years and performed in some fantastic- and not so fantastic places. It's been great to see audiences grow especially at the Edinburgh Fringe where that audience has included Prince Edward and his family. We were told we were going to have a special visitor but not who it was going to be. We were busy preparing for the show so didn't know they'd effectively shut down Cowgate so the prince and his family could get to the venue. It was a very surreal experience.
Rob: Starting ComedySportz 4 Tots has been a real highlight for me. Lots of fun and madness every month. Grateful for the opportunity to get very little uns watching our comedy and introducing improv to really young kids who are so imaginative makes the show so much fun to perform!
Kate: It was great to see Manchester play the ComedySportz World Championship final in Philadelphia this year! Finally the UK has been recognised as a world power. It definitely made up for that time Marcus ordered a starter when no one else did.
Marcus: It was... It was six years ago.
Want To Know More?
You can read more about the last 18 years of improvised adventures on our updated History page! If you have memories of shows or workshops that you'd like to share with us you can find us on social media or drop us an email! If you would like to find out about all of the exciting things we have planned for the next 18 years then never miss an update and sign up to our monthly mailing list!
Somehow got this far and still not seen a ComedySportz show? Check our calendar for upcoming shows. Want to take an improv journey of your own? Why not sign up to one of our workshops or classes starting early 2020!
In 2001 ComedySportz UK started with just two teams, one ref, no script and some jokes! Not much has changed since then (our except our player's kits) and we're delighted to be returning to the venue where it all began - Chorley Little Theatre - to celebrate 18 years of fun and laughter on Saturday, 16th of November!
It's hard to believe since those humble beginnings that we're still here 18 years later and have performed and taught all over the world! Our journey started when Bron (centre, pic above) came back from America to run the youth theatre at Chorley Little Theatre. She had fallen in love the show in America and asked if we could do a one off show for charity. Players and audience members love it and we've been putting the world into CSz Worldwide ever since!
18 years later and the ref still can't control the players shenanigans!
Our birthday shows are always a highlight of our year and great fun for all ages. As always our birthday show will be a Chorley vs. Manchester match with players who have been with us since the beginning versus newer players. ComedySportz UK is now also legally old enough to drink so you'll be able to find us in the bar after!
We'll be playing plenty of audience favourite games including 'Object Tag!' so be prepared to bring some really imaginative objects to see if we use them in our game! In previous years people have given us everything from a spare tyre to a microwave from which to craft quick-witted jokes and gags.
Video Highlights From Previous Birthday Shows at Chorley Little Theatre!
If you can't make it to Chorley you can also catch us at Waterside Arts (also on the 16th) as well as ComedySportz 4 Tots. Be sure to follow us on social media as we share memories from the last 18 years and we hope you'll join us as we celebrate this very special birthday weekend!
These dates are also currently our last regular ComedySportz shows of 2019 as December will see the return of our our Improvised Pantomimes - book your tickets now!
ComedySportz 18th Birthday Show
Venue: Chorley Little Theatre Tickets: £8 Adults £5 Concessions – Book Here Date: 16th November 2019 Time: 19:30 (2hrs inc. interval)
We had a fantastic time at the ComedySportz World Championship this year! Every year ComedySportz teams from around the World descend on a city for a week of shows and workshops. We're very proud to say that for the first time ComedySportz Manchester were chosen to play in the Championship final against host city Philadelphia!
Photo by Brainne Edge
We didn't win but we were absolutely honoured to be nominated by our peers to play in this prestigious show to such a fantastic crowd in the city of brotherly love!
ComedySportz Manchester players also visited ComedySportz teams across the US; Maine, Buffalo, Richmond, New York and Las Vegas.
This was also a very emotional year as ComedySportz Milwaukee, the team where it all began, celebrated their 35th year and we were honoured to be joined by ComedySportz founder Dick Chudnow.
Every Championship is an opportunity to reinvigorate and remember the four core values of ComedySportz that we bring to everything we do; Collaboration, Inspiration, Gratitude and Fun.
You can find more images from our time at Championship on our social media or search the hashtag #CSzWC2019.
Photo by Katherine Raines
Championship is, above all, an opportunity for ComedySportz players to come together, develop new games and share skills that we can then bring back to our teams and workshops. So when you take a workshop with us you know we are drawing not only from our 18 years of experience but the skills and knowledge of 30 other ComedySportz teams across the globe! You can find out more about all of the ComedySportz teams across the globe by visiting our worldwide page.
We had a fantastic time at Championship but there's no time to rest as we're off to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! We hope to see you at a show soon...
