Translation: Árni Pétur Árnason

What is the difference between improv and sketch comedy? How does one write quality comedy and how does one know what is “funny”? What does the perfect sketch consist of? Journalists of Stúdentablaðið sat down with Guðmundur Felixson, Theatre and Performance Maker and improv actor, and discussed comedy, improv, and the sketch group Kanarí.

Memories of warm summers and sunshine

Kanarí is a group of comedians, actors, stage- and screenwriters that have become known in Iceland for their eponymous sketch comedy show on RÚV. Kanarí formed in 2018 and its manifesto is to create comedy programs that appeal to the younger generation while trying to find comedy in everyday life situations and the present mood of the country. We asked Guðmundur why the name Kanarí was chosen; “We chose the name after a difficult process, in our minds the word “Kanarí” has a special relation to Icelandic culture because for Icelanders the name evokes memories of sunshine and good weather. Icelanders travel to the Canary Islands to escape the snow and to drink beer on the sunny beach. It has a special vibe to it”.

Improv and Sketch Comedy Share a Common Language

The improv technique that Improv Iceland uses originally comes from the United States and was introduced to Iceland around 2015. “The improv technique is a certain ideological approach to comedy and a methodology to create comedy”, Guðmundur tells us. Numerous people who have practiced improv in the US have later gone on to write for sketch shows on television. Therefore, there is a certain connection between the two fields. “I think the reason for this connection is that both fields use the same language. When we are doing scenes with Improv Iceland we are actually composing sketches on the fly”. However, in improv anything can happen and things can go awry. Sketch comedy, on the other hand, is more true to form and usually follows a fixed structure. “Sketches usually start with a introduction to a certain environment. Importantly the environment must be as normal as possible. Then something is introduced that disturbs the environment and that presence becomes exaggerated as the sketch progresses. When we feel like the disturbing presence cannot get any bigger, we pull a twist for the ending”.

An Actor and Writer at the Same Time

When it comes to sketch writing, Guðmundur says it is useful to have experience in improv. “In the field of improv one is not just an actor but a writer as well. One is actually writing the scene while one is acting in it”. However, what works in improv does not always work in sketch comedy. “The comedy in improv is something organic that happens on the spot. Mistakes that can happen in improv are often funny mistakes, but they would not be funny in sketch comedy. For example, it is incredibly funny in improv scenes when someone cannot hold back their laughter, but it would not be kept in a sketch”.

Writing timeless comedy

The process of writing sketch comedy can be both long and rigorous. It takes a long time for comedy material to travel from the page to national television. “One learns to be patient quickly in the television and film industry. Anyone who has ever been on set knows that it is 90% waiting. This also applies to writing and producing television episodes - 90% of the process is waiting”. We wonder, isn’t it difficult to write sketches and jokes that won’t air until much later? “Yes, absolutely”, answers Guðmundur. “Fortunately, Kanarí made a policy of writing jokes and bits that are particularly timeless. We do not reference current events or specific people in the spotlight but we try to reflect the current national mood. For example, we are not afraid to make jokes about influencers and similar topics, but we try to write jokes that will be relevant in five or ten years”.

Common Humanity is the Key to the Best Comedy

Kanarí’s policy is therefore to stay away from current hot topic issues and deal rather with the commonality of the human condition. “We think it’s very important that our sketches feel relatable and revolve around something people know. Kanarí’s best ideas stem from us conversing together as a group. For example, who has not greeted someone on the street just to be ignored? Or undergone a gynecological examinationwith medical students present? The shared human experience is often the key to the best comedy”.

Wants to Surprise the Audience

But what comprises the perfect sketch in Guðmundur’s opinion? “For me, the perfect sketch is hilarious and surprising. I try to surprise the audience as often as possible. Each sketch has to be funny and surprising, as well as the episode as a whole. The ideal sketch episode reaches far and wide and touches upon all kinds of jokes and topics. So there’s one thing happening on the screen and a moment later there is something else happening. It is important to ensure that the material stays diverse to allow this kind of journey.”

The best advice is; “Write endlessly”

In conclusion, we ask Guðmundur what advice he has for young people who are taking their first steps in improv comedy and want to pursue sketch comedy. “I highly recommend going to improv classes and practising intensely, because it helps one to train one’s comedic awareness. Then there is the classic advice to write, write, and write endlessly. Write something everyday and write down funny thoughts you have. Write even though you don’t have a ending planned and do not be afraid to show your writing to others. It’s unbearable to be a writer who writes only for their drawer.

You can find Kanarí on Facebook and Instagram; @kanarigrín

Let’s Keep It Light: Interview with Guðmundur Felixson