Blanche is extremely proud of her amazing coaching team. The coaches at Blanche Improv all have extensive experience as performers and improvisers as well as formal training in coaching or directing… or both!!
Lelda Kapsis Artistic Director
Lelda is the founder and Artistic Director of Blanche Improv. She completed a BA in Music Theatre at WAAPA in 2003, her initial improv training was part of this course.
Lelda graduated from The Improv Conspiracy’s long form improv training program in 2015. Soon after, she was cast on various house teams including Harold teams. Lelda was member of the teaching staff at The Improv Conspiracy as a course teacher, coach and directed sketch shows.
Lelda began her acting career playing Lisa Houseman in the original cast of the stage version of Dirty Dancing. Since then, she has appeared in various theatre productions (including with Make a Scene, where she contributed to the development of Commedia dell’Arte style shows and with The Melbourne Shakespeare Company), in commercials, tv shows and a bunch of unfinished short films.
Lelda has 25 years experience as a performing arts teacher. Her first teaching job was in her teens when she taught ballet after school. Lelda has experience teaching dance, drama, movement, Strasberg Technique, scene study, screen acting & improv. Lelda also worked as a Pilates Teacher, Yoga Instructor and Personal Trainer for many years.
Lelda views coaching as an enormous privilege, she does all she can to support players so they feel proud of their work.
Blanche teams Lelda coaches: The Improvised Gameshow, Limited Edition, Stella, Your Best Life
Classes Lelda teaches: Coach The Coaches, Level Up, Improv Gym
Teams Lelda plays with: Sundae, Loo-Prov!, Get Ugly
Michael ‘OT’ Orton-Toliver Coach
Michael OT is an improv teacher with over twenty-five years of experience and is excited to work with you. Starting in Los Angeles, Michael performed with the fast paced and edgy improvisational group Comedy Sportz and also helped create an independent comedy theater Westwood called Ultimate Improv.
Michael worked, as an improviser and actor, for the world famous Second City out of Chicago. Then, in 2006, he moved to Europe to perform with the lauded Boom Chicago Theater in Amsterdam. In 2014, Michael Co-founded the London-based long form improv theatre called The Free Association.
When Michael is not performing or teaching improv, he is a Television Writer who has worked on shows like Borderline, Players, and was even nominated for a WGA award for his work on Ted Lasso. And again, he is very excited to work with you.
Blanche teams Mike coaches: Sundae
Classes Mike teaches: Improv Scene Work (January 2025) and Game of the Improv Scene (January 2025)
Jess Gilchrist Coach
Jess is an experienced improviser with a passion for exploring both the comedic and emotional depths of performance. She has over 7 years of experience in both long-form and short form improv.
Jess's improv journey took off with the Banana Hut Gang, where she co-created and performed in the sell-out Edinburgh Fringe show, Choose Your Own.... With the team, she has had the opportunity to perform regularly across the country, including at Hoopla Impro, the Soho Theatre Kid’s Club, Bristol Improv Theatre, and the Canal Café. She has also worked with Banana Hut Gang in developing new formats, such as The Show That Goes Backwards, which debuted at the Camden Fringe in 2024.
In addition to her work with the Banana Hut Gang, Jess also performs with Sundae, Blanche Improv’s house team, as well as Custard, a three-person group specializing in long-form improv centered around character exploration.
Jess has over 10-years of experience of coaching due to her career in Learning and Development. She has designed and delivered training sessions on a wide range of core subjects, including difficult conversations, presenting, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and management.
With a career rooted in both performance and education, Jess views coaching as a profound opportunity to empower others, guiding them to achieve their full potential on stage.
Josh Tyas Coach
Josh is an improviser and teacher living in London. He started improv in 2016, whilst living in China, at the Beijing improv and then Shanghai based team 'The People's Republic of Comedy'. He performed in shows, ran workshops and took part in improv festivals around Asia. In 2022 Josh moved to London becoming an active member of the scene joining teams such as 'Plinky Plonk', a piano backed team, 'Fabled', an improvised fantasy and 'Night of a thousand chairs', a dynamic, silly twoprov. Josh has been cast on house teams at the FA, Hoopla and Blanche and performs regularly across London. He has received training and coaching from the Free Association, UCB and I.O.
Josh is a primary teacher alongside the performing and has been teaching for 10 years. Josh loves teaching people of all ages and abilities, and watching them learn and develop.
Blanche teams Josh coaches: Whatevah January 2025 cohort
Classes Josh teaches: Improv Fundamentals (January 2025)
Teams Josh plays with: Sundae, Night of 1000 Chairs, Plinky Plonk, Fabled
Broni Lisle Guest Coach
Broni has been with The Improv Conspiracy since 2013.
As a performer Broni’s TIC credits are with House Harold Teams; The Wrong Shoulder, Foggy Windows, Friends at the End, Slam Trunk, Life Factory and Peter Helliar. He was in the very first ensembles that presented the Remix and the Movie at Melbourne Fringe, plus stints at Perth Fringe and multiple Melbourne International Comedy Festivals. Broni also performs at the theatre with his pal Mario in Swing Set every fortnight and his buddies in King George every month.
Broni holds degrees in Theatre and Education and has been teaching at TIC since 2014.
Beyond Improv, Broni is an accomplished actor, writer & songwriter.
Broni has taught over 1000 students. Performed over 1000 shows. Directed, performed or watched over 50,000 scenes. Its probably too much.
Beyond the theatre and education degrees, Broni’s credentials include training with The Improv Conspiracy, Second City and the Hideout Theatre in Austin, Impulse Company and much more.
You can get in contact with him at bronilisle.com
Classes Broni teaches: Plug Me In (10am- 1pm 8th February 2025), Every Line a Fork (2pm - 5pm 8th February 2025)
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