Welcome to Musical Improvised Comedy
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We are Heather Urquhart and Joe Samuel and we have been teaching, performing and experimenting with musical improvisation together for over 15 years. We called ourselves ‘Open your mouth and sing’ because we love to facilitate people’s natural ability to be creative through the spontaneous creation of songs, stories and music. We have since discovered that it might have been more accurate to call ourselves ‘Open your mouth and let whatever happens, happen’ as although both of us have trained professionally we are not singing teachers in the technical sense. Our specialism is taking groups of people with no experience or ability and allowing them to sing without fear and often with a lot of joy. Creating songs in the moment truly focuses the mind on the present, the people around you and your own resourcefulness. We facilitate groups to be non-judgmental and supportive first and foremost to allow each individual to step gently outside their comfort zone. This site contains some of our podcasts, blogs and resources as well as information about our workshops. At this time of writing in 2020 we are running sessions online and can also offer tailored online workshops for your group/workplace/family/community. We have been fortunate enough to teach, train and facilitate all over the world (link to some festivals etc here?) working with every type of person you could think of (check out some testimonials here?). Please have a poke around our sight and email us at openyourmouthandsing@gmail.com if you want to find out more (or ask us to do something; especially if it’s weird - we will most likely say yes). |
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We specialise in taking groups of people with no experience or particular ability and allowing them to be spontaneous and creative. Creating songs in the moment truly focuses the mind on the present moment, the people around you and your own resourcefulness. We facilitate groups to be non-judgmental and supportive to allow each individual to step gently outside their comfort zone. If you would like us to work with a group or business, get in touch now.
Joe Samuel
I have been a Musical Director for theatre and Improvisation for over 15 years and has worked with companies and troupes all over the world. I have been fortunate enough to be the musical director of many European Improv Festivals such as Barcelona, Athens, Amsterdam and many more. I am the Musical Director of The Maydays and conceived and directed their flagship show, Happily Never After that has been performed all around the world. I have taught and played for countless Musical Improv courses in my home town of Brighton, co-written our book, "Sing It" and devised a million exercises, games and performance pieces, some of which are born in our Super Secret Musical Improv sessions that have been running for 10 years.
Heather Urquhart
Heather originally trained in Physical Theatre and then went on to specialise in improvisation at Chicago’s I.O and Annoyance theatres. She and Joe both improvise with The Maydays, whose flagship show, 'Happily Never After' is an improvised show in the style of Tim Burton. She also improvises with the Olivier award winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Blues Hammer, an improvised blues show with the legendary Joe Bill and London's premier all female improv team 'Yes Queens'. She has headlined numerous improv festivals & toured extensively around the world.
Heather is an artistic director at the Nursery Theatre and has also co-written a book with Joe on the subject of musical improvisation called ‘Sing it!’
Heather was winner of the award for best female performer in the Brighton Fringe & winner of the Argus Angel Award for artistic excellence. She is a vocalist with the mercury music prize nominated Electric Soft Parade and when there is time improvises a concept album with Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly.
Heather is an artistic director at the Nursery Theatre and has also co-written a book with Joe on the subject of musical improvisation called ‘Sing it!’
Heather was winner of the award for best female performer in the Brighton Fringe & winner of the Argus Angel Award for artistic excellence. She is a vocalist with the mercury music prize nominated Electric Soft Parade and when there is time improvises a concept album with Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly.