Occasionally, Richard Vranch has nightmares: he is on stage in a scripted show - and has forgotten the words. A common throat-seizing fear among actors, one assumes, topped in the terror stakes only by the prospect of no script at all. Yet given the choice, Vranch will go for the latter. In fact, plonk him and his Comedy Store Players friends up there without a word in their heads, and they will work pure comedy magic. "I'm completely happy being on stage with no words and having to make them up," he says. "My fear is going on stage when I should know the words and I've forgotten them." Such is the terrifying world of improvisational comedy. Few have the knack, even among comedians themselves (case in point: the several toe-curling minutes when Ricky Gervais was confronted with some unforeseen solo time on stage during the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium in July 2007 - and bottled it). But for the next two weekends, we have a treat in store: five of the most experienced improvisational comics around conjuring jokes out of thin air at the First Group Theatre in Dubai for two three-day runs of Whose Line Is It Anyway.
Audiences may be more familiar with the small-screen version of the show, which aired on British television from 1988 to 1998. Hosted by Clive Anderson, and with regular guests including Josie Lawrence, Tony Slattery, Greg Proops, Ryan Stiles, Stephen Frost and Richard Vranch on the piano, the four guest performers would react on the spot to audience suggestions in a game show format.
"The Whose Line show was actually nicked from us," says Vranch, who will also be taking part in the live show. "We've been doing improvisational comedy together as a team since 1985," he says, "The TV version is a great advert for improvisational comedy, as they show it ad nauseam. If you just filmed a live improv show, it wouldn't look great because television is such a different medium from theatre. So for TV they pretended it was a panel game - they put in a host, points, and a buzzer. But those things have actually got nothing to do with comedy or improvisation. It's a real treat for audiences to come and see us live because they're seeing the real thing."
For the Dubai leg of their tour, the team, who play at London's Comedy Store twice a week, will consist of old friends Stephen Frost, Steve Steen, Andy Smart, Vranch and the slightly newer recruit Ian Coppinger, who has been with the group for five years. "Improv is the one form of comedy that's about cooperation," says Vranch. "That is its very essence." With 25 years' experience as a team behind them, the dynamic is a familiar one - not that they automatically slip into the same roles. "You can't be lazy," says Smart. "I'm terrible at doing accents but if someone says, 'Oh, here comes that Scottish bloke,' then I've got to come on and do a Scottish accent. We don't give each other an easy ride, but that's what creates the energy on stage. And what makes it fun for us."
By using the audience as their main source of material, not only is control taken away from the performers, but the results are unique. "At the Comedy Store," says Vranch, "we get audience members who come to every show because they're different. There can be some moments of comedy genius, but if you tried to reproduce them, it wouldn't work because it happened there and then in front of that crowd."
"The audience is very important," says Frost, "because they provide us with the suggestions for everything we do. They come up with some cracking stuff - the more weird and wonderful, the better."
Control, or lack of it, is one of the first lessons of improvisational comedy, says Vranch. "With two or three people on stage," says Vranch, "someone's going to say something you weren't expecting, so you have to surrender control."
"You've got to go where the scene takes you," says Smart. "You can't control it."
Such fluidity would terrify even the most experienced actors, but for the Comedy Store Players, it brings with it a huge bonus: no preparation. "For us it's great," says Vranch. "We don't have to write, rehearse, learn it, or carry around huge sets and costumes. It's very high-risk theatre, but the rewards are great."
With five blokes bobbing and weaving on stage with nothing other than an unpredictable audience providing ideas, one might think that the occasional gag will flop. "It never goes flat," says Frost, "because we're comedians and we've got the music, we run around, we do stuff. It's structured so that's never going to happen."
"If you say the first thing that comes into your head," says Smart, "it will be right. Even if it's wrong, it'll be right because if it's wrong, someone can react to it, and if it's right you get the laugh yourself."
In that case, can anyone do it? "I think you have to have some sort of comic awareness," says Smart. "But you can learn it up to a point. If you look at our backgrounds, we all grew up with similar sorts of programmes. Our parents liked the Goons and the Marx Brothers. And we were at school when Monty Python was on, so we used to re-enact the skits the next day."
"You can tell people how to tell jokes and teach them about timing and stage craft," says Frost, "but you've got to be naturally funny, which is virtually impossible to teach."
In fact, the cooperative spirit that improvisational theatre relies upon has given rise to a wave of corporate training schemes based on its techniques. "We've done it quite a lot for people like Coca Cola," says Smart. "It does help them because you have to learn that you can't force an idea. It has to be a joint effort, so you can create something together. In improv, if you try and force a scene to go the way you want it to go, it grinds to a halt. Whereas if you work together and let it go where it wants to go, you end up with something really nice."
The group dynamic is part of their success, says Frost, as is experience. "Improv's a lot about trust. People say to us, 'Oh, that was rehearsed - you knew what he was going to say,' but it's actually because we're very experienced. And we're very good friends. We actually like each other. It's the old showbiz thing, trying to make it look effortless, but inside it's a case of the swan with the legs paddling underneath. It is knackering."
With studies showing comedians to have above average IQs, you might presume that such ad hoc humour requires superior intelligence. The Players, however, think it's more to do with daytime TV. "People think we've got really quick brains," says Frost, "but actually, because most of us work in the evenings, we all watch daytime telly, so we know all the black and white films, we all know the rubbish soap operas and the adverts. We've got the same reference points."
"I think funny people tend to have a very eclectic mind," says Sharp. "We watch endless old movies, science programmes and documentaries. We don't tend to have one thing we're into. We watch everything and we tend to amass a lot of knowledge, so it's not necessarily intelligence but curiosity."
In fact, even though Vranch holds a PhD in radiation physics from Cambridge University and was a fellow at St John's College, Oxford, he feels that if anything, academia can hamper one's improv skills. "There's one thing that ruins you as an improviser and that's stopping even for a split second to think. Academic people do tend to think before they speak. So there is an argument that the less that's going on in your head, the better," he says. He also indulges in the daytime TV schedules. "You do need an awareness of what's happening around you, though," he adds. "It could be an awareness of what people like and what they think is a bit naff; who's in, who's out. The intelligence comes from having a kind of databank and being able to draw from it."
The tendency for people who are hilarious on stage to be utterly miserable in real life does not apply to the Comedy Store Players, according to Frost. "I have to say, I'm funny all the time," he says. "I drive people mad. There's that fallacy about comedians - that they're depressed. I do know some that are like that, but we're not. We just have a jolly good time and actually we're far funnier when we meet up afterwards than we are on stage."
In fact, having the knack for making people laugh can get you far in life, says Smart. "We tend to get upgraded on planes," he says, "because we make people laugh. And we get put on nice tables in restaurants and stuff, not because people know who we are, but because we make them laugh. And we make each other laugh as well, so it's great fun to travel together."
The Players have since taken their show to around 40 countries, and believe that their brand of comedy requires no translation. "There are so many academics writing about how comedy doesn't travel," says Vranch. "Rubbish. We don't have to adapt the show because every show is adapted by the audience. It makes little difference to us where we are."
"People say countries have a different sense of humour," says Frost, "but we're not stand-ups, and we're not doing observational humour, so it's actually very universal."
A little preparation, however, is usually required to acquire the necessary local reference points, adds Smart. "If you're in Hong Kong and you ask the audience to suggest a job and they say "captain of the Star Ferry", you've got to know what the Star Ferry is and where it goes." Previous trips to Dubai have yielded Wild Wadi, Ski Dubai and camel racing. "You can't plan anything, though," he says, "you can only go with an open mind and see what happens."
Whose Line Is It Anyway? will be at the First Group Theatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah from Thursday until Saturday, and Thursday June 11 to Saturday June 13. For tickets go to www.madinattheatre.com.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayao%20Miyazaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Soma%20Santoki%2C%20Masaki%20Suda%2C%20Ko%20Shibasaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
if you go
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
