Clare Kerrison grew up on a farm in New Zealand, gained a degree in Psychology, worked as a clown in Germany and went to drama school in a now-condemned building in Christchurch. After a hiatus in internet banking she was business manager for BATS, New Zealand’s busiest little fringe theatre, seeing over 200 new works in performance during her time there. She arrived in Cambridge in 2009, and discovered WRiTEON the following year. ‘My housemate sent me the newsletter asking me if I wanted to go to the play being advertised and my first thought was - Never mind the play! There are auditions this weekend!’

Clare quickly found out about WRiTEON’s improvisation classes which can help writers and actors unlock their creativity in a fun environment! She eventually became the tutor. ‘I really got into improvising when I was working at the bank in NZ. Then in 2005 I attended a Keith Johnstone masterclass, went to Calgary to train with Loose Moose, became the leader of our improv troupe and started working for BATS. It was a big year!’ Before she left New Zealand, Clare initiated a project to adapt Hedda Gabler into a modern day New Zealand context. ‘I played Hedda and we improvised the new text in rehearsal. The reviews were fantastic.’

Clare has developed WRiTEON’s improv classes into two levels, beginners and improvers, and provides extra classes for WRiTEON graduates. She acts and directs for WRiTEON in between performing improv comedy with the Cambridge Improv Factory and London’s Wilmington Players. ‘My next grand plan is to give WRiTEON improv graduates a regular improv comedy show they can be part of! ’