Sold Out in Shibuya: Pirates of Tokyo Bay Rock the Tokyo International Comedy Festival

Did you hear the news? The Pirates of Tokyo Bay recently set sail for a sold-out show at the second annual Tokyo International Comedy Festival! Swapping our usual British pub in Ebisu for a night at the Tokyo Comedy Bar in Shibuya, we were thrilled to be part of the city's vibrant comedy scene.

The energy was electric. Our performance, part of the 11-day, 75-show festival sponsored by Baird Beer, was a true highlight. It was a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with fellow improvisers from the Tokyo Comedy Bar's own group, strengthening the bonds within our community. The audience, a diverse mix of locals and visitors, packed the house, proving that laughter truly is a universal language.

Our English and Japanese shows are designed to break down barriers, making improv comedy accessible to everyone. We believe comedy shouldn't be limited by language, and that's why we weave both languages seamlessly into our games. This approach offers several key benefits:

• For English Speakers: It's a fun, low-pressure way to be exposed to the Japanese language and culture in a natural setting.

• For Japanese Speakers: You can enjoy a show in your native language while also getting a taste of English-language comedy. It's a great opportunity to listen and learn new words in a relaxed environment.

• For Everyone: Our shows rely heavily on physical comedy, gestures, and universal themes. Whether you speak English, Japanese, or a mix of both, you can enjoy the spontaneity of improv with everyone else. We use physical cues, sound effects, and simple gestures to ensure that the jokes land, regardless of your native language.

The success of our show at the Tokyo International Comedy Festival has us energized and ready for more. It reminded us that while traveling to new venues is exciting, there's no place like home.

So, if you missed our sold-out night in Shibuya, don't worry! You can catch us at our regular monthly show at What the Dickens in Ebisu. Come join the fun and see for yourself why the Pirates of Tokyo Bay are the best night out in town!

Martians climbing palm trees and other things to expect at a Pirates of Tokyo Bay improv show

The Pirates of Tokyo Bay’s last show of 2024 ended with Mike, the swashbuckling mind behind Pirates of Tokyo Bay, and Hiromi - the Jap-anglo-francophone Pirate newbie, warming up the crowd. Mike asked, "Tea or coffee?" Hiromi jumped in to translate into Japanese: "If you like tea or coffee, please raise your hand," which does seem to be the culturally appropriate instructions.  Then Mike reiterated urging everyone to shout their preference at once. "Tea lovers say 'tea,' coffee lovers say 'coffee!'" Hiromi, without missing a beat, instantly reworked the rules to encourage Japanese speakers to join in…

On the count of three, the crowd erupted. It was clear: everyone was ready for a good time - and maybe it was extra loud due to the high caffeine intake as coffee seemed to overwhelmingly be the beverage of choice.

Hiromi and Mike were warming up the crowd because improv is a form of theater that relies on spontaneous collaboration, where performers create scenes, characters, and stories in real time without a script, using audience suggestions as a starting point.

This inspiration helps make each show one-of-kind and comes in many forms, from your one-word suggestions such as ‘a place where you’d take a first date’ to an interview of an audience member.  

In this show, when MC Trey asked for a volunteer, a hand shot up right away. Once situated in the center of the stage, Trey asked the volunteer, “Should we do this interview in English or Japanese?" The answer? "English, please!" 

Knowing the way forward, Trey asked, “Okay, what’s your name?” “Yui desu,” the audience member replied. And In true improv form, Trey took the answer and ran with it, “Okay this is ‘Yuides’...” Yui paused and laughed, saying, "No, my name is Yui. I said 'Yuidesu' like how you introduce yourself in Japanese." The stage and audience all giggled at this delightful bilingual miscommunication.

The Pirates of Tokyo Bay improv group works hard to be inclusive. The performers play games and host the whole show in both English and Japanese, allowing the audience to enjoy a truly bilingual experience. They also play some games in made up languages, called gibberish, and everyone can understand those.   

In that night’s gibberish game, jack-of-all-trades Rodger worked tirelessly to convey the phrase 'palm tree' without using real language. Speaking a language and in a manner that I can only ascribe to an exceptionally helpful and fervently caffeinated martian, Rodger did a small hula dance and patted a tree, which he climbed up and down.  

Mike, whose job it was to guess the word, gestured to a bra to convey that he was guessing the word “coconut”. The martian, extra determined to convey “palm tree,” doubled down and climbed up that tree again, reached the top, and caressed the palm fronds. And then he caressed those fronds again.  And again.

At this point - the game was won - Rodger successfully communicated “palm tree” to Mike who signaled, thumbs up, got it!  As backstory, in this game, Mike had to do his household chores of cleaning the litter box, but with a twist.  His teammates had to explain the new chore to him without words.  Instead of cleaning the litter with a scooper for his cat, he was cleaning a palm tree with a cowboy hat for his pet bulldozer, of course! 

Pirates of Tokyo Bay shows are downright hilarious.  But as someone who has taken improv classes, I also see all the real-life lessons that the improv show puts on display that I hope to carry into my everyday life.  What if I engaged in my work meetings as enthusiastically as the audience members yelling out “coffee.”  What if I embraced language, cultural and other misunderstandings in a fun and lighthearted way, as Trey and Yui did, turning a mistake into a joyful inside joke.  What if I reimagined my chores in a whimsical, magical way?

I hope for these things for myself in the new year!  

It’s the start of the new year— make it your new year's resolution this year to come to your first, second, or 47th pirates’ show.  It’s a roaring good time filled with surprises, laughter, and a lot of creativity and spontaneity that can inspire your everyday life - whether that be participating fully, embracing mistakes, or looking for fun.  

Say “yes, and” to 2025!  Looking forward to seeing you at our next show!

Audience Member to Pirate: My Improv Journey, That Could Be Yours

I’d always admired the spontaneity and quick wit of improv comedians, but I never thought I would have the opportunity try it myself on stage. Two year ago I heard about the Pirates of Tokyo Bay Improv group auditions at Tokyo Comedy Bar. The name alone was enough to pique my interest.

The audition was a whirlwind of games, challenges, and unexpected twists. We stumbled made a fools of ourselves and laughed as we did it. As the audition progressed, I began to relax and enjoy the chaos. The other auditionees were so supportive and encouraging, and the Pirates were patient and very funnyl.

Later that week I got the email. I was accepted into the Pirates of Tokyo Bay Bilingual  Improv Group. It was like joining a secret society of comedic misfits. We practiced together every week, honing our skills and building a strong bond. The group is a diverse mix of people from all walks of life, united by a shared love of laughter and improvisation.

One of my most memorable experiences was performing at the Manila Improv Festival where we had to create an entire improv scenes based on suggestion for an audience that was unklike those we see each month in Tokyo. It was a wild ride, and the audience loved it.

Being a member of the Pirates of Tokyo Bay has been a transformative experience. It has helped me to become more confident, creative, and spontaneous. It has also given me the opportunity to meet amazing people and make lifelong friends.

Now it’s your turn. If you're thinking about auditioning for the Pirates of Tokyo Bay Bilingual Improv Group, I encourage you to do it. It's a fun, challenging, and rewarding experience. You'll learn new skills, meet like-minded people, and discover hidden talents you never knew you had. So don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and join the crew.

Sign up for the October 6th auditions here: www.piratesoftokyobay.com/auditions

Pirates of Tokyo Bay return to the Manila Improv Festival

Every two years, improv groups from around the world travel to Manila to perform in the Manila Improv Festival. The Pirates of Tokyo Bay have been lucky enough to attend the festival every time since 2013.

The festival is produced by Third World Improv (TWI). Set up in 2015 by Gabe Mercado and the members of the pioneering improv group SPIT, Third World Improv is the first school in the Philippines dedicated to teaching the art and craft of improvisational theater.. Third World Improv aims to produce improv practitioners who are authentic, innovative, culturally and socially relevant and a lot of fun.

The Ayala Malls Circuit Makati is hosting the 2023 Manila Improv Festival. The festival promises you the best of improvisational comedy with improv groups from all over the Philippines and the globe. Now on its 19th year, the audience can expect unscripted fun and laughter. Don’t miss these four days of improv performances, workshops, and exhibits at Asia’s biggest improv festival on September 7 to 10, 2023!

Our performance will be on Saturday, September 9th at 7:30pm on Stage A. Get your tickets at Ticket2Me and search for Show #9 (which is the show we will close out).

Below is a video from our 2019 performance in Manila to get you excited for our 2023 shows. See you in the Philippines!

❤️ Pirates