Q: For those who haven’t been yet, how would you describe Friday Night Spotlight in your own words?
A: Friday Night Spotlight is an evening of experimental theatre, where you’ll see several different performers, all testing out new ideas they have been developing.
Q: What inspired the creation of Friday Night Spotlight, and how has it evolved since it began?
A: I wanted a way to give back to the community that helps us be the theatre that we are, by giving them a space to put on their own performances and really give them that chance to express themselves outside of our usual structures.
Q: What sets this evening apart from other improv or theatre nights at the Playhouse?
A: You can expect it to be a little less polished, a bit rougher around the edges, but also more risky, more exciting, and with more variety than you might see on our other nights.
Q: How do you choose the performers who take part each week? Is it curated or spontaneous?
A: Aspiring performers submit a summary of their piece and its requirements to us. They then attend an audition evening held prior to the event, during which we give our feedback and suggestions to help improve or streamline their performance.
Occasionally we will also invite members of our community with interesting performance ideas to take part as well. Then we curate a list from our sign-ups to try and put on a varied and entertaining evening.
Q: What’s your approach to directing an improvised evening where anything can happen?
A: A part of it is learning to be adaptable and being in tune with what the audience wants to see that night. It also comes down to making sure the acts for each night have done all their necessary prep and have all their ducks in a row, so to speak, so that everything run as smoothly as possible.
Q: Can you share a moment from Friday Night Spotlight that really stayed with you – hilarious, surprising or moving?
A: There are two that come to mind, that really encapsulate the feeling I wanted to achieve with this night. Firstly, one of our community members shared a beautiful spoken word poem she’d written about her own experiences. The other is seeing a wonderful connection being formed between a trio of performers putting together a format of their own.
Q: How do you keep the night fresh and exciting for both performers and the audience?
A: To keep things fresh for everyone we are always encouraging our performers to experiment with the work they do, as well as pushing promising members we see to attend auditions.
Q: What’s the vibe like backstage before the night begins? Any pre-performance rituals?
A: There will always be at least a few butterflies in your gut before hand, but there’s definitely a buzz that you can feel. Everyone prepares in different ways; stretches, vocal exercises, exchanging stories with their performing partners.
Q: How does the audience shape the evening, and what kind of suggestions do you love—or dread—getting?
A: The audience is involved quite frequently, as they provide the inspiration for our improvised scenes. Me personally, there aren’t many suggestions I worry about getting, I prefer looking at them as exciting challenges for myself and other players
Q: What’s your favourite thing about working with the Courtyard Playhouse community?
A: The amount of creativity and the passion from everyone here. We have people from all walks of life with so many unique experiences to draw on.
Q: How has directing Friday Night Spotlight influenced your own practice as an improviser or artist?
A: It has encouraged me to experiment more in my own performance and given me the push to develop my own ideas further.
Q: Any advice for someone nervous about stepping onto the Spotlight stage for the first time?
A: My general advice for anything of this nature is just throw yourself in. The best way to learn is by trying (and failing) and nothing can fully prepare for live performance better than just taking the leap of faith.
Q: What’s next for Friday Night Spotlight—any special plans, themes or surprises on the horizon?
A: I know of a someone who is very much looking forward to Halloween, to put on a murder mystery/whodunnit themed act.
Q: Finally, in three words—how would you describe Friday Night Spotlight?
A: Risk, Imagination, Community
Kyle Herselman
Kyle Herselman is a South African actor and improvisor based in the UAE. Over the past three years, he has honed his craft, training in acting and improvisation with instructors from around the world. As an improv instructor, Kyle regularly performs for both children and adults at the Courtyard Playhouse.
His performance credits include a variety of productions and short films, including 'Tennessee Williams Improvised', 'Film Noir Improvised', 'Jane Austen Improvised', and 'Sing It! The Improvised Musical'. He is also an integral part of all the Kids’ Shows at the Courtyard Playhouse.