In the lead-up to Sad Mag’s epic comedy night, Laugh/Cry, on March 16th, we are celebrating our comic line-up with a series of interviews with Vancouver’s most notable, potable comedians…

Alistair Cook, AKA “The Godfather,” is the founder of Vancouver’s Instant Theatre Company. Cook, who has twenty years of experience performing, producing, and instructing improvisation, is also the former president and National Artistic Director of the Canadian Improv Games, which holds a tournament every year in Ottawa featuring the most talented high school teams. Cook chatted with Sad Mag contributor Darren Li about changing vocations, gullibility and bringing improv into every day life.

Darren Li: In your opinion, Alistair, what makes improvisation more appealing than all the other branches of theatre?

Alistair Cook: Live theatre speaks – live experience always stands out more because it’s so much more energetic.

DL: What is the most useful skill that you can master when it comes to improvisation?

AC: Being present in the moment. Not thinking about what is going to happen two minutes later or what happened two minutes before.

DL: According to the Vancouver Sun, you had a sponsor and were planning on becoming a professional snowboarder, until you broke your leg. Explain the transition you made from snowboarding to the theatre business. What specifically made you want to pursue a different goal?

AC: The fact that I was a young man in high school. I took drama instead of physical education when I was in rehabilitation and found that acting gave me an exciting adrenaline rush equal to the rush I experienced while snowboarding.

DL: Does having so much experience in improvisation influence how you perceive events and how you interact with people in your everyday life?

AC: Yes, there are two ways. The first is that I am more comfortable in my organization skills and am better at fixing problems when they come up. The second way, which is negative, is that it has made me a more gullible person. On the stage, you have to believe everything your partner says, but in real life, that is not always the case.

DL: Improvisation puts great emphasis on comedy. Have you always been a funny person?

AC: Not really, I am funnier on the stage than when I’m off the stage.

DL: A question from all the aspiring actors, how would taking some of your classes or workshops help them in developing their acting skills?

AC: They would learn the skill of being present in the motivation of your character. It is essential in acting and improv teaches you to be present in the moment. Things don’t always go as planned on stage, scripted or not.

DL: As the former president and National Artistic Director of the Canadian Improv Games, you say that the games have been a “tremendous training ground for actors” (Vancouver Sun). How so?

AC: The alumni base is huge, there are over 2000 kids involved every year. The improv games have been a great starting base for actors who are now famous including Seth Rogen and Sandra Oh.

The Instant Theatre Company provides classes, workshops and holds monthly shows for people looking to expand their interest in improv.