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University beginnings, pre-show rituals and and Improv heroes… we caught up with Luke Mallison of Up the Antics ahead of their special spook-tacular edition of The Antics Joke Show on 24th October.
How did Up the Antics come to be?
‘We met between 2011 and 2012 at Bath Spa Uni, where we started writing and performing comedy together. By 2012–2014 we had set up a comedy society, launched a monthly night at Komedia in Bath, and took our first show Ctrl-Alt-Sketch to the Edinburgh Fringe.
The society continued after we graduated, but some of us went on to form The VA. In 2016, we renamed ourselves Up The Antics. Before becoming an associate company at the Bristol Improv Theatre, we were performing in vegan café basements and smaller theatres like The Alma and The Room Above. Now, we’re proud to be regulars at both the BIT and The Wardrobe.’
How would you describe Improv to someone who’s never heard of it? And what does it mean to you?
‘At its core, improv is a performance where the dialogue, jokes, and themes are completely made up on the spot. Performers might have a loose idea of a style or show “structure,” but the content is always created in the moment and different every time.
Improv can be hilarious, poignant, and even heartbreaking. Because it isn’t edited, it feels raw, real, and honest to watch.
For us, friendship has always come before performance, but the years of improvising together have given us incredible bonding experiences that you might not find in another context.
Personally, I see improv as a way of being fully present. It’s about focusing on what your scene partners are offering and responding truthfully as your character. In that way, it’s almost meditative.’
What can audiences expect from The Antics Joke Show?
‘There’s something for everyone! We book a wide range of comedic styles to showcase just how broad comedy can be. Over the years, we’ve featured stand-up, improv, sketch, clowning, comedic theatre, and much more.’
At the BIT we always get asked: “How do you rehearse an improvised show?” How does Up The Antics prepare?
‘For our improv shows, we meet up to do warm-ups, make silly scenes together, and then run through the show format. Even though it’s still improvised, this “practice run” helps us sharpen our skills before creating something brand new in front of an audience.
If there’s a specific skill we want to improve, we’ll bring in an “outside eye” to give us notes—anything from starting scenes in a captivating way to embodying characters more fully.’
Do you have any pre-show traditions?
‘Yes—we all pat each other on the back and say “got your back,” a tradition we picked up from the film Don’t Think Twice.
We also like to warm up with a heap of “crusty mustard” scenes, which help us get into a playful headspace and stay present with each other.’
Any onstage highlights or most memorable moments?
‘Too many to count! A recent favourite was a ridiculous slow chase scene set on an ice rink—I loved the physicality of that one.
Another memorable show was when we performed as castle guards who stayed completely stationary and never made eye contact.
And I always enjoy it when Vic and Beth do a scene together with accents—Australian meerkats being a classic example!’
Who are your improv heroes?
‘Aside from all the brilliant people we work with regularly, we have to mention the cast of Whose Line Is It Anyway? (who we were lucky enough to meet during our first Fringe in 2014) and, of course, Robin Williams—who was truly one of a kind.’
The Antics Joke Show returns to our stage on 24th October with a special Halloween twist!
