There is an old improv game called ‘What happens next?’. It goes like this. Improviser Anna asks improviser Benny ‘What happens first?’ Benny answers the question. Maybe ‘You brush your teeth’. So Anna brushes her teeth. Then she asks, ‘What happens next?’ Benny responds ‘You floss’. So Anna does. And she asks again, ‘What happens next?’ She might brush her hair, then do her makeup. What happens next?’ is a game of slowing down and letting what has already happened determine the next step. It doesn’t sound like much, but tiny steps can lead to some very interesting (and hilarious) places.

For those following the fate of AndAlso over the last year or so, there have been some (putting it mildly) disappointments. The deal for our new headquarters (‘The Ampersand’) fell apart at the eleventh hour, costing us a lot of money in legal, design, and setup fees, none of which we will get back. 

And then, for some comic relief, our prospective landlord went bust. We are grateful we didn’t sign anything, but it’s hard to feel that all that effort, time, and money was anything but a waste. Little of the work is transferable, and we can’t just choose another building. Trapped between the sea and the downs, Brighton doesn’t have the ex-industrial and ex-commercial architecture of East London, Bristol or Birmingham. Architecturally, Brighton is a seaside town. There aren’t a lot of buildings you can turn into theatres. 

But this is not a blog about resilience. We have felt our feelings about the building that never was, but we are a company with a load of classes and a growing community. So what happens next? 

The answer is pretty simple: shows. Our own venue would have been perfect, but the perfect can be the enemy of the real. We have what we have, and the next step, for visibility, community growth, and just sheer fun, is simple: Put some improv on a stage, and put the AndAlso name on it. That, for us, is the next simple step.

So, we are delighted to announce that, starting this summer, we will be running shows at Werks Central in Middle Street, Brighton. First, a couple of pilot events, and then a season of shows every Friday in the autumn. Watch this space for more details and, of course, tickets. And in the meantime, you can book a ticket for our summer celebration right here. 

What happens next? Improv shows. What happens after that? We don’t know yet. And that’s OK. We’ll let you know when it happens. We trust that we’ll end up in some very interesting places.

Jules