critics’ picks Spring Arts Preview comedy

By Stephen Smysnuik

The city has a long history of great comedy, but the closing of the two main clubs—Yuk Yuk’s and the Comedy Mix— means there’s no homebase for comics to form the kind of community necessary for a healthy, evolving scene. Fortunately, enterprising young comedians have been creating their own rooms to fill the gap.

CHILL PILL COMEDY

AT THE PORTSIDE PUB, MARCH 8 AND MARCH 22; LOFT LOUNGE, EVERY THURSDAY IN MARCH AND APRIL

> Talie Perry has launched her own brand of comedy shows, currently working out of several rooms throughout the city this spring. The highlight is the monthly Society

Saturday Comedy series, held at a secret venue, which is designed like a Speakeasy, the location of which is revealed after tickets are purchased. The Draw: A great show for die-hard comedy fans who are into the art of the craft and watching material develop.

BIG LAUGHS COMEDY PRESENTS COMEDY UNDERGROUND FRIDAYS

AT 120 WEST HASTINGS, EVERY FRIDAY AT 7:30 AND 10PM

> Mike Greenwood’s DIY room fills the comedy club void with his underground room, located in Gastown under what used to be Wildebeest. The shows feature local headliners popping by to work out new material, and offers a more consistent homebase for the local scene. The Draw: It’s a literal underground comedy club that’s not quite a comedy club, but maybe could one day be a comedy club?

BLIND TIGER COMEDY

AT CHINA CLOUD STUDIOS, WITH TWO SHOWS EACH ON WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY

> The comedy group (and school!) has returned to in-person performances, producing weekly standup, improv and sketch shows and featuring founding members of the Sunday Service and Hip. Bang! troupes, as well as BTC faculty and students. The Draw: BTC is ground zero for every kind of comedy—as well as the finest up-and-coming talent— Vancouver has to offer

THE IMPROV CENTRE

AT 1502 DURANLEAU STREET, EVERY WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND AT LEAST ONE SHOW PER WEEKEND

> The former Vancouver TheatreSports has been rebranded and features a whole new cast of uber-talented performers for some of the highest quality improvisational comedy in the country. The schedule is stacked, and you really can’t go wrong with any of the shows. The Draw: Mind-bogglingly talented improvers take the audience on a wild ride of hilarity.

THE MOTN AT 1826 TRIUMPH STREET, EVERY THURSDAY AND SATURDAY

> Perhaps the most enigmatic and weirdest of the comedy rooms in Vancouver, the MOTN is both a comedy club and a tattoo studio run by 22-yearolds Austin Jamieson and his best friend Jake LaPierre. The shows include a Hot Ones-inspired comedy show, Hot Take and Movie Madness, where comics watch a movie alongside the audience. The Draw: Truly underground and cutting-edge comedy in the depths of East Vancouver.

TIGHTROPE THEATRE

AT 2743 MAIN STREET, EVERY THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

> Formerly known as Sour Dog Theatre, Tightrope calls itself “Impro Theatre” (distinguishing itself from the related “improv”), focusing on the practices and games laid out by OG Keith Johnson. Tightrope opened its own space in 2022, offering a range of clever concepts, including an elimination-style show, improvised Shakespearean dramas—and more! The Draw: A distinct flavour of improvisational comedy, in the middle of Mount Pleasant. GS

SUNDAY, MARCH 12 3 p.m.