Vancouver’s Blind Tiger Comedy school is doing its part to help create space for marginalized voices in comedy.
This summer, that means inviting anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous and/or a person of colour to take their first digital improv or sketch comedy class for free, throughout July and August.
“We are already seeing a wonderful range of people in our classes at Blind Tiger, but there is still work to ensure our classes represent the city we’re in,” said Tom Hill, Blind Tiger Comedy’s co-director, in a release.
Since launching in December 2013, Blind Tiger Comedy has been providing performance-driven improv, sketch, and stand up classes to aspiring Vancouver comics. The comedy school is a collaboration between two renowned local improv groups, Hip.Bang! and The Sunday Service.
While Blind Tiger has previously made several efforts to support a variety of voices in comedy through diversity and financial aid scholarships, as well as its Women-Trans-Femme and POC Nights, this additional measure comes as businesses across all industries strive to do more to encourage diversity in the wake of widespread social outrage.
“Last year’s Welcome saw over 70 people who identify as women, trans and/or femme join our community, and we want to continue to reduce barriers for anyone interested in trying out comedy,” Hill added.
The release stated, “Because the Vancouver comedy scene is our focus as a company, our first priority is welcoming as many BIPOC who live in the greater Vancouver area as possible.”
However, if spots are still available by June 29, the company said it will “happily welcome students from anywhere in the world.”
Blind Tiger offers several different levels of classes suitable for a wide range of experiences. While there is room reserved in each class for new students, Blind Tiger notes that most first-time students will fit most comfortably into its “Intro to Improv” course.
In addition, Blind Tiger's summer programming also features an exclusively BIPOC Intro 1 class, led by instructor Ronald Dario, in an effort to not only hear marginalized voices, but to actively create a safe space to welcome them into the school’s classes.
Those interested in taking Blind Tiger Comedy up on its offer can visit the company’s website, select which class they’d like to join, and fill out a quick form. All spots are first come, first serve.
