IN THE SPOTLIGHT : ROB BARTLETT

Interview by Rusa Jeremic

Bad Dog Theatre boasts some of Toronto's funniest improvisers. As Technical Director, Rob Bartlett plays a crucial role in daily life at the theatre. Rob is there almost nightly, adding technical support to shows such as The Harold and TheatreSports. Be sure to catch him as the Radio DJ in Egg Zeppelin, Saturdays in February at 10pm.

Rob Bartlett fun facts

• Rob grew up in Sudbury & studied broadcasting.
• Rob's nickname is "Bullets."
• Rob is a pet-sitter, he loves cats and dogs and has even taken care of rats!
• Rob has been the Bad Dog's Technical Director (i.e. rock) since June 2003!
• Finally, Rob is the infamous voice of Globehead, Bad Dog's improv competition held every January. As the King Maker, he does his best to be fair & give the audience what they want.

How did you get into improv?
I first discovered improv watching Whose Line is it Anyway in 1997. I was sick and looking for something to distract me and I totally fell in love with the show and improv. I started chatting online with other fans, we played games, and a year later we met, creating an annual fan convention. Together we saw Colin Mochrie live & we even went to L.A. to see tapings of the show. Fast forward a few years to when we hired Neil Muscott from Theatresports to teach improv workshops at the convention. Neil was the one who referred me to Ralph (Bad Dog's General Manager) and I immediately started taking classes! I went to all the shows and I heard they were looking for lighting improvisers. I applied and got the job.

Why improv?
I love the spontaneity, the whole process is so raw and real. You see the funny being created right before your eyes. These days, I don't perform as much as act as a lighting and sound improviser. My job is to support what's going on stage, reinforce it, contribute to it and flesh out opportunities.

Do you have a favourite improv moment?
The Frantics were doing a scene that went off the rails. They said, "we should probably just get on with the sketch," which prompted me to bring down the lights. When I brought them back up they gave me a thumbs up. Later, they said it is a rare treat to work with a tech who has a sense of comedic timing. It's a great compliment! I am one of their biggest fans!

Favourite Bad Dog moment?
Rochelle Wilson was my first teacher. You know, you never forget the first one you're with. I love the Bad Dog. There is a sense of community, belonging. It's very open and positive. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?

Do you have a favourite improv suggestion?
It's always nice to see a nice, grounded, couple scene, a scene where the characters are real.

Perspective from the booth?
It's fun to anticipate that something is going to happen on stage and then support it at just the right time. It's also fun to call people on their object work – if they pull out a gun and point it, that gun is going off! Or if people are holding a glass and forget – that glass is crashing!

If you could improvise with anybody, who would it be?
Definitely Colin Mochrie or someone like Dudley Moore or Peter Cooke. They are like Korman & Conway. It would be amazing to watch them screw around with each other. It would be so much fun!

What was the best improv advice you ever got?
The whole notion of "Yes and ..." Being positive is a great skill to learn not just for the stage but in life. It can really change your life if you are a "Yes" person. It opens doors and provides opportunities.

Catch Rob and other great people at the Bad Dog Theatre. Spotlight off!