wade jackson Archives - Honest Liars Improv

Getting Fine Tuned

By hlimprovers | February 2, 2021

The first show of 2021 is fast approaching and what could be better than the players having a full-day workshop with one of the greats of N.Z. Improv, Wade Jackson from Covert Theatre. (Remember Covert? Check out the trip the players had HERE)

Let’s give you a little background about Wade so you get a feel for how much this guy can bring to a workshop.

He is the founder of the Covert Theatre and its current Artistic Director. Wade is also the founding member of The Improv Bandits and has performed, studied, taught, produced and directed improvisation since 1994. He’s a double world improv champion having won titles in Calgary (2000) and Chicago (2002) and is regarded internationally as a leading authority in the art of improvisation.

That’s some C.V.!

The workshop wasn’t starting until 10 am, but many of the players, forever keen as mustard, got to the café at 9 am to have their caffeine fix and get their excitement under control. Those who came closer to start-time got their coffee to go!

Then it was off to the Mako room (an excellent name for a Papamoa Beach venue), and the workshop began. The venue was perfect, large enough to hold 16 players and one teacher. The water bottles were in abundance as the day turned out to be a scorcher, but the players were happy with the air conditioner going at full speed.

Right at the beginning as the Honest Liars troupe stood in a circle Wade went round each person and remembered everyone’s name. The players were immediately impressed with this seasoned Improver.

One of the early exercises was called ‘Shapes’, and as the players separated into teams of two, Wade called out an object and, without speaking, the players had to shape themselves into that form.

The teams went from two to four to eight creating object such as salt and pepper shakers, Ferraris and the sky tower and finally all sixteen players formed into a grand piano with one person playing.

Wade seemed to get the best from the players as each exercise was conducted under his experienced tutelage.

A break for lunch gave the players sustenance and livened them up for the afternoon session. After a few more lessons it was onto some games with Wade introducing some new ones to the group. One in particular that was well received was the Soul Mate game where two people have to speak in one voice, tricky but a load of fun.

Wade certainly didn’t hesitate to step in to demonstrate which the players appreciated.

The entire day had been a resounding success, and the players gave their thanks to Wade as they filed out of the Mako room and headed to the Pap Tavern for the obligatory drink to celebrate new skills learned and old ones honed.

And just so you know, Reader, the following day was a strategy meeting to scheme and hatch and plan out 2021. Be warned; there are some great games afoot.

Thanks to all the players who attended (all but one were there). And a huge thank you to Wade Jackson for coming down from Auckland and getting beyond the Bombay hill to part with his knowledge. Remember you can see the Improv Bandits at: