‘Yes, and…’ is the rule with improvisation and in last night’s performance of the company Tiny Dog, it sure delivered.

On a brisk evening in downtown Pōneke, as soon as I arrive through the small BATS entrance, I witness a sense of excitement and eager anticipation. Ushers and staff, are, for want of a better word – nice. Ok, it is more than that: a great vibe, awesome energy, thrilling.

Packing the Dome space to capacity is an eclectic mostly 20s-to-older audience of mostly women, which reflects the core group of Improv’ actors of five gender diverse thespians: Lesa Macleod-Whiting, Gabby Anderson, Stevie Hancox-Monk, Alayne Dick and Charlotte Glucina.

This lively and excited troupe urges the audience to fill in post-it notes which will provide the themes and subjects they will improvise – prompted by projected questions: What’s the last text on your phone? Who is your MVP of the week? What is your secret skill? What is the last place you visited?

Then, as the stage lights up, the troupe rummages into a scrum, post-it notes are feverishly ripped of the board and read out: “I can whistle. Talking very gently. Crab shack. You’re a great one. Secret codes you shouldn’t divulge. School drop off – we’re really early. Sun flowers.”

Before the scrum, I wrote and slapped on the board my secret skill: Jedi. I eagerly anticipate that my post-it note will be realised as part of the show – and wonder if I am the only audience member who is miffed to be left out of the ‘good vibe’. But I pull my socks up and shrug off the disappointment. The show must – and does – go on.

The games that follow bring 60 minutes of chuckles, chortles and fits of laughter. By working collectively, saying ‘yes’, and accepting what is presented, the actors fashion various scenes that carry motion and mayhem, depending on your viewpoint, while never leaving the others dangling. It is a superb way to nurture cooperative storytelling and idea expansion, to the delight of the audience.

I love the show and could endure more gags but eventually the clock runs out. You will obviously not share my personal experience but that’s the fun of improvisation: new post-it notes means new ideas and momentum each time, and given these skilful young actors, you will always have a fresh involvement and plenty of laughter.

Lastly, I feel it’s right and proper to talk of those Notes that didn’t make it as part of the show. We still all contributed messages are revealing as a snap shot of who we are and the mood of the day: Thorndon; Predicting plot twists; Last place – Fiji, Stockholm, My bestie Deb’ is my MVP, Tauranga, Unity Books, A T-Rex skeleton; Polling booth; Avocado; I can walk on my toes, Elliott, Melbourne, Whanganui, Sweet, My secret skill is Sword Fighting; A request to teach a friendly bird; Drama; MVP – Lyndon.

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