Who needs reality TV when you have The Bachelor-ish, The Improv Centre’s hilariously unpredictable take on the ultimate dating competition? As this live, unscripted show unfolds, a TIC bachelor or bachelorette embarks on a quest for love—guided (or sabotaged) by audience suggestions, over-the-top challenges, and, of course, plenty of dramatic twists.
With The Bachelor-ish making its highly anticipated debut this spring, we sat down with the cast and crew to get the inside scoop on improv dating, the most outrageous moments so far, and why Vancouver audiences will fall head over heels for this one-of-a-kind show. —Noa Nichol
- What can audiences expect from The Bachelor-ish? How does the improv format bring a fresh twist to the reality dating show genre?
“The Bachelor-ish will bring a new level of intensity and absurdity to some of the characters and archetypes we know and love from this global franchise. You will see recognizable dates and rose ceremonies throughout, but with hilarious quips and slants on plots inspired from our audience suggestions! Every show will be its own unique season in just an hour and a half!” — co-creators Alan Pavlakovic and Julia Church
- How do audience suggestions shape the show? Can you share a particularly memorable or unexpected moment that happened during a performance?
“Our shows are heavily influenced by our audience and the suggestions they provide, and this show would be no exception. We will help determine who our bachelor truly is and the various quirks, secrets, and hidden facets our spontaneous contestants will have. From limo entrances to group and one-on-one dates, to meeting the families of our prospective lovers to our final rose ceremony, each moment will be guided and decided by the audience that very evening.” — co-creators Alan Pavlakovic and Julia Church
- Improv relies heavily on quick thinking and adaptability. What’s the biggest challenge for performers when working with a reality TV-inspired format like The Bachelor-ish?
“We will be at the whim of our audience and what they throw at us, so like most shows, we always hope for great suggestions that we can explore on stage. The only thing we may run into is when people want something really specific… we can’t always make that square peg fit into a round hole, and adding the layer of improvising a reality tv show on top of that, our performers are going to have to work to justify not just their scene work, but also how that fits into the world we are building.” — co-creators Alan Pavlakovic and Julia Church
- The Improv Centre has a long history in Vancouver’s comedy scene. How do you see its role evolving under your leadership as Artistic Director?
“We are incredibly privileged to have such a long history in the Vancouver comedy scene while also recognizing how easy it can be fall into styles and forms that are comfortable and that we know to be successful. The challenge we face as a relatively new ensemble (following our re-opening post-Covid) is to bring the type of quality our audiences have come to expect over our 40 years in this city as well as explore fresh perspectives, styles, formats and voices. My goal as Artistic Director has been to uphold a standard of excellence on our stage while taking the risks that are required to do something new and different.” — Jalen Saip, Artistic Director
- Improv is often perceived as spontaneous, but there’s a lot of technique involved. What makes a great improv performer, and what do you look for when casting shows like The Bachelor-ish?
“Great improv performers are collaborative, constantly making offers, but remain open to the thoughts and ideas of their fellow performers, which means listening and accepting just as much as you offer. There is definitely spontaneity, but built on top of years of training and countless shows on stages around the city. We’ve created a cast here at TIC that brings various skills to the stage from classic acting from scripts to musicality in songs and instruments and everything in between, and I think it is with a mix of skills and abilities that we see some of our best shows and performances.” — co-creators Alan Pavlakovic and Julia Church
- The Improv Centre is welcoming a new Managing Director, Jessica Mann Gutteridge. How do you envision working together to shape the future of TIC?
“We are all very excited to have Jessica joining the TIC team and sharing her experience and fresh perspective. I feel, now more than ever, that the future of TIC is bright and Jessica and I are just part of a much larger team of staff and performers who are constantly contributing to the positive environment and collaborative community feel of our company. I envision working together to ensure a prosperous future for this organization while exploring new partnerships that allow for the joy of improv to be more widely shared.” — Jalen Saip, Artistic Director
- With so many entertainment options available, why do you think live improv comedy remains such a special and engaging experience for audiences?
“There is truly nothing like it! Improv is such a wonderful art form to see what happens when the smallest amount of details start to get spun into a rich tapestry of plot and character development that lives for just one night, never to be seen again! We’ve been performing for over 15 years and continually come back to improv for inspiration and entertainment alike. Nothing is ever the same and the thrill of finding and experiencing these stories is just too magical. It’s a 90 min experience, so the time commitment is doable for almost everyone, with an intermission and full bar. The ticket prices are great for a live theatre experience in the city, so it’s a total win, overall!” — co-creators Alan Pavlakovic and Julia Church
- You’ve been involved in improv for a long time. What first drew you to this style of comedy, and how has your perspective on it changed over the years?
“Every child that has ever been told they were funny by their parents or were made to perform little songs and dances or repeat their favourite character’s movie lines should try out improv! It’s a wildly freeing art form where anything goes and this really speaks to every creative performer out there.
This style of performing is so much more complex and varied than most realize, and much like any art, you can always be introduced to and learn something new and exciting. We just wrapped THE HEAT, our international improv comedy festival, at the end of January and that had brought with it immense talent from all over the world, each team bringing their own style and priorities to stage, and being able to learn from these performers and their cultures helps encourage our performers as well.” — co-creators Alan Pavlakovic and Julia Church
- For those new to improv, what would you say to encourage them to come out and experience The Bachelor-ish?
“This would be a great show to step into improv with as you’ll have some of the classic Bachelor tropes, but presented like no other season you’ve seen before. Quick thinking performers will use your suggestions throughout the night to create ridiculous romantic scenarios and dates that lean to the absurd or the predictable and familiar. You can choose to participate as much as you want or just come to watch the shenanigans. Either way you’re bound to leave with sore ribs and an aching face from laughing so much. This show is gonna be big; big personalities and characters, big plots, and big love!” — co-creators Alan Pavlakovic and Julia Church
- What’s next for The Improv Centre? Are there any exciting upcoming productions or initiatives that fans should keep an eye out for?
“The Bachelor-ish! I’m very excited for this show, created by Julia Church and Alan Pavlakovic as it’s sure to be a lot of fun for audiences and performers. We are also continuing to offer education opportunities for anyone interested in exploring the world of Improv Comedy. Stay tuned for more announcements coming soon!” — Jalen Saip, Artistic Director
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