V4 Improv Connect: Empowering Cross-Border Collaboration And Growth (Project And Network) [Part II]

To read PART I of this interview, go to this link.

Collective Interview with V4 Improv Connect Team (Hon Chong (actor, director – Slovakia), Zdravko Stojmirov (actor-Macedonia), Paulina Prokopiuk (actress, director – Poland), Lukasz Wojtowicz (manager – Poland), Chrissy Galambos (actress-Slovakia), Láďa Karda (actor-Czech Republic), Nándor Varju (actor-Hungary), Gabor Szoke (actor-Hungary), Ábel Farkas (actor, manager – Hungary) – improve and drama actors/actresses, directors, stand up comedians, educators, producers, theatre founders (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and R. Macedonia, Europe)

Ivanka Apostolova Baskar: From the formation of ISAC to Funnylicious Theater in Bratislava, from repertoire to connecting with the Asian network for improvisational theatre – how are such concrete realizations and connections generated? And what insights do you come to through practice and action?

HC: These connections are built on shared values of creativity, inclusivity, and curiosity. Some of these connections happen by chance, and others through personal connections, either at festivals or performances. Through consistent collaboration, trust, and a willingness to explore new territories, ISAC and Funnylicious Theater have fostered meaningful partnerships. Many insights started through practice and action, such as knowing that there is always room for improvement, growth, and efficiency. But the biggest joy is always about the people I have met through such projects.

GS: My experience is that although the size of the task might look overwhelming for the first sight, dedication and splitting the tasks into smaller chunks is the key to realization. There must be at least one person who is as dedicated to the vision as Hon is. You need to take actions one by one, piece by piece, step by step, and not give up whatever happens.

IAB:  The project represents several stages – preparations and public performance in Bratislava? Then a tour in Prague, Lublin, Budapest and Skopje? What happened in the neat and clean, cobblestone Bratislava, first?

HC: Bratislava set the tone for the entire project. It was in Bratislava that we kicked off with the week-long retreat. It was intensive. We had Keith Farquhar, an external coach and a scripted-world director, train us in Meisner acting. Then we started workshopping the formats we would like to perform, and all this happened alongside nightly public shows in Bratislava. That’s right – a show every single night, culminating in a big public performance at a beautiful 100-seat theatre in the Old Town of Bratislava. The intimate setting allowed us to test ideas and connect deeply with our first audience. It was a learning ground where the team honed their chemistry, and the city’s charm became an integral part of the experience. It was a perfect launchpad.

ZS: For me it was very exciting and revealing. I’ve never had the chance to improvise in theatre before Bratislava, not mentioning instances in scripted theatre, when I or a partner on stage forgets a line, or skips a page from the script, so you kind of need to. And the minimum of my improvisational experience was limited to a musical improvisation, consisting of inventing lyrics on the spot to a new melody, played by a friend in the past. Surprisingly although not effortlessly, I managed to easily enjoy improvising as much as everyone else.

PP: Well, the part in Bratislava was significant – we formed a new format! We had shows every evening, it was 4 in total. I like that tempo! The aim of a first meeting was also to get to know each other, play on the stage with everybody, learn how to cooperate. It was the longest meeting, so we could actually feel the vibe of the city itself.

CG: Well first after the excitement of getting a grant keep hours upon hours of planning from the hotels, restaurants, planning the daily workshops/activities that started at 10.00 every morning ending about 21.00 every night, with a lunch break followed by another workshop and then dinner and back at the theatre each night for a show! We were busy from morning until night for 5 nights and 6 days and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Most of us were meeting for the first time and put in this pot where we had to cooperate, play, respect, learn every day for 6 days and I must say for me it was a great experience to accept offers on stage, listen to others ideas and come up with 2 long forms that we made together.

LK: In Bratislava, we were getting to know each other, thrown into a new environment, and I was thinking, “What the hell is this?” But it turned into a great group that I think will stay active even after this project ends.

GS: The retreat was a lifetime experience. Professionally organized, passionately realized. It created connections that are constantly built on since then, both on professional and personal level. I would have eternally regretted if I would not have been part of it.

AF: We got to know each other, created our formats and had the opportunity to practice together daily. I think that was a hotbed for the collaboration. I feel that probably the group was at the peak at the end of the Bratislava meeting. At later visits we hardly had time to practice and get back into working together and trusting each other.

IAB: How was the performance in the splendid and vibrant Prague? Between you, the team, the audience, the stage, the beauty of the city? How did all of this affect your Improv performance? International tours, is it challenging or draining?

HC: Prague’s vibrant energy and cultural richness were infectious. During this part of the tour, we ran into our first issue. The weekend of our performance coincided with the international ice hockey championship. Prague was a host city, and hotel/accommodation prices were through the roof. We were shocked at hotel prices exceeding 300 Euros per night. To manage costs, we decided to book only two hotel rooms while some of us, traveling from nearby Bratislava, ended up driving back the same night after the show. It was a pity, as we would have loved to stay in Prague longer. We have to thank Láďa Karda and the Czech team for their hospitality. They took the time to show us around the city and ensured we felt welcomed. The audience’s enthusiasm elevated our performance and inspired us to take creative risks. Touring can be challenging, but the joy of sharing stories across borders outweighs the fatigue. Prague definitely added a wonderful layer to the narrative.

ZS: Honestly it was a little bit tiring with all the travel, but all exhaustion and sleep deprivation evaporates while sightseeing and especially while performing. Prague was our first tour after the retreat in Bratislava and there was a little bit of pressure or anxiety I’d say, as to how things will unfold. But we exceeded our expectations in audience presence and support, and quality of performance.

PP: I liked the space where we performed. In Prague, local team joined us which I found very exciting. We felt more confident together already.

CG: For me finally meeting again was both exciting and uncertain because it was the first time getting together after a month and everyone it turns out was happy to see each other and also we had some great workshops to get us warmed up and also talked about what changes we could do to make the show even better… and it’s exactly what we did. It was a pretty full house and we had a great time together and finished with a nice dinner and goodbyes until the next city.

LK: In Prague, it was a special experience for me because we were one of the first countries where the project took place. I tried to make sure everyone was happy and felt good; that was important to me. In the end, the show turned out really well, and I’m still very glad and fond of that memory.

GS: The size of the community and the way Improv is treated in Czechia struck me as a surprise. It really is a prime example of what teaching and realizing Improv acting can be in a country in the middle of Europe. Hats off!

IAB: And in the beautiful ambitious Lublin – European City of Culture in 2029?

HC: I’ll let my colleagues who joined the Lublin tour speak about this as I was in Singapore during the same weekend, where we simultaneously performed the Tabloids format in Lublin, Poland, and Singapore. It was definitely an incredible moment – the same format performed on two different continents with two sets of very different audiences and actors.

ZS: It reminded me a little bit of my home town. Although it is a little bit bigger and a lot prettier. I guess it was the radiating feeling of the city that gave me that familiarity in feeling at home, being welcome and appreciated. Our hosts were splendid and it was great to see some parts of their work and to get a glimpse of the different projects that they work on in Eastern theatre. And as to their unreserved devotion to the arts I can only hope that they’ll have the chance and support to continue in that spirit.

PP: It was a pleasure to be a host. And to chose the titles for The Tabloid I remember that The Therapy we finished as animals, that was magical, very theatrical moment.

V4 Improv Connect. Photo credit Vesna A Briskoska.

CG: Another surprise because the Lublin theatre is just a fabulous community with a great team working together with some residents in study and they were super supportive and participated and led the warm ups! Again as improvisers we learn to accept others’ ideas and just work with it and that’s the magic. We again performed and perfected some things we could do better and we did, and for me at the end of the Improv therapy show Paulina left the stage making an animal sound and without a hesitation everyone else did the same and it was so organic and made sense and it was so cool to witness this.

GS: Lukasz himself is a concept. His dedication and experience in building international relationships is inspiring beyond words. One can learn a lot from him on how to present improvisational theatre as an attractive form of performance art for various subjects.

AF: It was quite a small group there. We had very little time to prepare, however, it was nice that we had live improvised music as an atmosphere for the performance.

IAB: And in the magnificent dramatic Budapest?

HC: The Budapest tour was very nice and strengthened by being part of the RUSZT – Ráday Utcai Színházi Találkozó festival organized by our Hungarian partner. They created such a wonderful line-up of events complete with shows, workshops, and social events. It absolutely raised the bar for all of us in this project. We want to thank the Hungarian team for this.

ZS: Budapest was very fulfilling. Not more so than anywhere else, but I guess the festival gave it a higher note. Many people appreciating improv were present and it was great to see a community that not only supports from the side, by watching but also contributing directly by performing. It is very hard and challenging to organize an event like that, especially for a non-state sponsored organization of the arts. And I sincerely praise their commitment and bravery.

PP: Great part of this project was to visit other theatres and how they work. I am impressed by Itt Est Most theatre, the visit there was very inspiring. I also found the workshops very developing.

CG: Again another theatre that I hadn’t been to and was blown away by its size, and again another great team of improvers working together in this beautiful space. Also, they had many volunteers and they were so nice and supportive to their new guests. It was also their festival week so it was nice to have the V4 part of the festival. We again had great workshops and made some tweaks to the formats before the show. I was very happy and had a lot of fun with the Budapest crew.

GS: The two shows of the V4 Improv Connect project in Budapest have been built into the program of the 5th RUSZT Festival (Theater Assembly of the Raday Street). This has given a unique opportunity to make the event a bit bigger than usual, as it was surrounded by performances of other improvisation groups and multiple workshops. We loved it so much, and was really heartwarming to welcome the V4 group in our hometown in our own theater.

AF: It was very nicely organized by Itt es Most that we could perform at a theatrical festival with other international collaborations.

IAB: And in the Balkan`s deep south in the eclectic Skopje?

HC: Skopje was the final tour stop as part of the V4 Improv Connect project. It was a highlight for many reasons. I had the opportunity to teach a workshop for the students at the FDU Skopje, while Láďa taught an improv workshop for the public. We also performed at the center of Skopje, followed by a generous reception at the Slovak Embassy. What a nice way to wrap up the tour.

ZS: I was a little sceptic for some time before the Skopje tour, since improvisational theatre is underdeveloped in my home country. Those thoughts aside, when the moment was nigh, all that disappeared and the show blossomed. It was the last tour and it is safe to say that every tour was better than the last, so this one was if not better, than definitely equally fulfilling. It was the official end of the Improv Connect project and everyone was a little emotional, rightly so. And even though it was an end of this project, it is just a beginning for future collaborations and further evolving friendships. Or so we hope and strive to.

PP: Unforgettable experience, because of hospitality and kindness of the hosts. I liked that we had opportunity to be in different spaces (cultural institutions). I appreciate possibility of being in Macedonia, getting to know Balkan culture was new for me.

CG: Yes, the long-awaited Skopje is finally here and my initial impression was all the statues and big things around the city! I finally got to meet Ivana and I found an extremely hard-working passionate person who put so much time and effort into the last city tour and it was much appreciated for everything she made possible for the actors. It was nice to see everyone made it and we had a lot of fun together and happy to see each other… for me… this was priceless! Thanks everyone for that warm hug and welcome and chocolate from Ivana! It was nice that Zdravko lead the workshop with his idea and it was very fun! I was happy to be able to perform in Macedonia because it is not in the EU and feel it doesn’t get the respect it deserves… but I hope that changes and maybe thru some future collaboration would be nice because they also have a group of improvisers that should not be forgotten, it would be a shame.

LK: In Skopje, I really enjoyed it. It was an interesting experience to be in a country I’d never been to before, performing for an audience whose reactions I couldn’t predict. But I trusted that Zdravko wouldn’t let us down and would support us with his magnificent acting skills, both as a host and an actor.

GS: Skopje is a vibrant and exotic mixture of cultures from surrounding countries. I will never forget the helpfulness of our local guide Zdravko, who faithfully led us through the streets of the old bazaar in the pouring rain, and I managed to find and buy a hopbell for our theatre in one of the antique shops.

AF: Ivana organized things for us very well. It is so good to work in an environment when we can focus on the theatrical parts because we are backed by the perfect plan. It was a nice last stop for our tour. Not to mention the visit at the Slovakian Embassy in Skopje.

V4 Improv Connect. Photo credit Vesna A Briskoska.

IAB: After the completion of the V4 Improv Connect project, what will the follow-up be – a follow-up nourished by all these rich impressions, expressions, introspections – inspirations in you?

HC: The follow-up will focus on deepening these connections and putting together ideas and resources to make it possible for us to continue our work. Workshops, joint performances, and cultural exchanges will continue to nurture the relationships forged during the project. The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable platform for collaboration and growth in improvisational theatre.

ZS: I’m not sure as to what next. But it was definitely an experience that opens many perspectives in life and work. I guess when the cooling down period is over, it will come a time to start working on, or make an effort to contribute towards improvisational theatre and its many blessings.

PP: I want to collect photos from all the performances and published them in my social media and to update my portfolio as well. What I consider as the biggest advantage of the project is building a network. Having new ideas for the project I would like to cooperate with V4 Improv Connect partners.

LK: What’s the follow-up? I’m open, and the Czech Republic is open to further collaboration. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a month or five years, but I know it will happen.

GS: This has to continue. As simple as that.

AF: I do hope that I will have the opportunity to collaborate with all the partners one way or another.

IAB: Thank you very much!

Skopje/Prague/Bratislava/Bitola/Budapest/Lublin – 2024

More details about the Project – Links.

V4 Improv Connect: Empowering Cross-Border Collaboration and Growth
V4 Improv Connect Skopje: