“We give a platform to the best improv and comedy shows.” Rosa Sottile on Big Fork Theatre’s dedicated comedy theatre
Chicago. New York. Vancouver. Brisbane/Meanjin.
Could our city be the next hub of improvised comedy?
Big Fork Theatre sure wants us to be, and they’ve proven time and again that they’ve got the chops to make it happen. From their humble beginnings in 2015, to running the inaugural Brisbane Improv Festival in 2021 and now opening their own dedicated comedy theatre in 2022, the Big Fork team are going places.
To mark the opening of the new space, Ads J chatted with Rosa Sottile, one of the five Big Fork Directors and co-founders, about her love of improv, Big Fork Theatre’s journey to securing their own space and what to expect from the city’s new permanent home for improv and comedy.
You may have heard about improv because it’s where many popular comedians and character performers got their start, including Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Keegan Michael Key, Amy Poehler, Kate McKinnon, Ben Schwartz to name few.
So, what draws some of the funniest people alive to this style of performance? Here’s Rosa’s take.
Image: Kris Anderson
Improvised comedy is totally made up on the spot - every show is its own opening and closing night. The joy and fun of improv comes from the pure spontaneity and surprise, and because it’s all improvised and created in that particular room at that moment, the audience is having a totally unique experience. Improv lets us tell hilarious and ridiculous stories, as well as portraying real human moments - it’s the most joyful and exciting form of comedy!
Big Fork Theatre was founded when the five directors bonded over a shared love of improvisation. When they started, the city had a pretty small improv scene, mostly focused around Theatresports, where teams compete for the love of the audience or a judging panel through performing short improvised scenes. The Big Fork Directors however were draw to long form improv where the performers make up a whole 30-50 minute show from just one word or offer. So, they decided to nurture the scene themselves.
We started with just around 10 performers and a weekly jam, and it has grown from there.
And from those humble origins, the company and the comedy community around it has grown massively.
A key part of a Big Fork’s ethos has been about growing a welcoming community and building up to what we have now - a hundred plus students a year and dozens of regular performers and a permanent improv theatre with lots of weekly shows so more people can perform and experience the fun of improv.
I am super proud of our nurturing of improvised comedy to the point where last year we had the inaugural Brisbane Improv Festival with over 20 shows many of which were independently run by our community, and all of which were fantastic!
I am also proud of our support of sketch comedy with Brisbane’s only regular sketch night for many years being run by Big Fork, and now us running the only dedicated sketch comedy writing classes in Brisbane.
We have also always aimed for a genuinely welcoming experience - no matter who you are or how experienced you are, you can find a place to perform and practice the art of comedy with Big Fork Theatre.
In February 2022, Big Fork Theatre has achieved another one of their big goals, opening their own dedicated comedy theatre.
Opening our own home was one of our primary goals in founding Big Fork Theatre in 2015.
We are a not for profit and have been saving all of our extra cash since the beginning. Getting here has been a long road - we started seriously looking for a tenancy in mid 2020, and signed the least on our current tenancy in April 2021.
When we got possession of the space it was a big open office space. Since then we have been building walls, a stage, installing lights and a bar, and gotten all of our approvals in order!
It’s been a really expensive project which we couldn’t have done without fundraising from our community - we raised over $50,000 in 2021 from a few fundraisers which has covered nearly half of the building expenses. And now Big Fork is the first ever dedicated improv and comedy theatre in Brisbane!
Their new space is more than just a theatre.
We have a bar and lobby, classroom and a black box theatre with lights and sound and a projector. The theatre capacity is flexible but we have seats for up to 96 patrons!
They’re definitely available for hire. Just send us an email at contact at bigforktheatre dot com to enquire!
With the opening, Big Fork is making sure they live up to their goal of being the city’s permanent home for improve and comedy.
Image: Kris Anderson
We are running all our classes and shows out of the theatre, with shows three to four nights a week. Every week we have totally new improv shows and also regular stand-up and variety shows!
There are so many great shows on. If you want to see improv for the first time I would recommend our classic improv format, ‘Cool Story Bro’ on Friday nights. It’s Big Fork’s flagship show. True stories inspire hilarious improv scenes!
Some other particularly exciting shows coming up are the BrisAsia Festival shows – ‘BrisAsia Stands Up’ and ‘Wer Ya From’. We also have some great Brisbane regular shows coming to the theatre like ‘Stand Up vs Improviser’ and ‘Freak Box’, and our first show making a comeback ‘Get It Inya’, an experimental comedy show!
Reflecting on the experience of opening the new space, Rosa had this advice to offer other independent artists who are thinking about doing the same thing.
It’s a hard task! Make sure you build up the people around you and have a solid community, and make sure you’re ready to manage a huge project. Raising funds is all about showing the value and explaining the need.
If you want to cut to the chase, just come join us at Big Fork and hire our sick space!
But wait, there’s more. Opening the new theatre is only the beginning of Big Fork’s plans for 2022.
We want Big Fork Theatre to be known as the place to come for a great night out, and to continue to give a platform to the best and most exciting improv and comedy shows in Brisbane. We are also excited to bring back the Brisbane Improv Festival in 2022 to highlight the excellent talent in our city and bring in interstate and other guests!
And the final word from Rosa about what’s coming up for Big Fork?
Don’t miss Brisbane’s funniest night out - bring a friend, and support local comedians and performers for a night out at Big Fork Theatre. The last few years have been tough on everyone - why not give yourself a break and come get a guaranteed laugh.
Big Fork Theatre’s new space is located at Level 2, 252 St Paul’s Terrace, Fortitude Valley, with shows scheduled every Thursday to Sunday.
