Out of this world: Exploration Blank turns improv into a space mission

Alan Pavlakovic grew up reading and watching sci-fi, so the genre was a clear choice to create his first show.

The Improv Centre on Vancouver’s Granville Island will launch attendees into an intergalactic adventure with its Exploration Blank show, which takes place every Friday and Saturday until June 27. 

Pavlakovic, the centre’s artistic director, says while he worked with the previous artistic director on other shows, he designed Exploration Blank from the very beginning.

“I thought [about] what would be something that would encapsulate some of the craziness that’s in my mind [and] some of the creativity that I’m constantly digging into,” Pavlakovic says.

The live comedy will chart to new star systems and explore a different galaxy every show — making each iteration its very own. 

“We’ll get a little taste of the genre seen through a couple of different lenses. I think it’s a really great genre to explore — there’s so many possibilities and opportunities,” Pavlakovic says.

Exploration Blank begins in the middle of a mission, where the crew will wake up from cryosleep. As the show unfolds, it develops based on audience suggestions to decide what happens next.

“You’ll see the domineering captain. You might see cyborgs, medical officers, tactical guards, and bounty hunters,” he says, adding that he wanted to create something enjoyable for both the audience and ensemble. 

Pavlakovic says his experiences as a former ensemble member taught him when a performance just feels right — when every improvisational choice is the correct one and the audience is laughing and engaged.

“We’ve given the cast a lot of opportunity to pick or create different characters on stage that are inspired by all different types of science fiction,” he says.

The show also relies on a technical booth to create lighting effects and sound cues, Pavlakovic says, adding that it leans into these elements because of the genre.

Improv shows rely on synergy between the audience and performers, with the audience playing a role in each show, Pavlakovic says.

“I really hope there’s a high level of engagement and people have a really great time seeing some of their ideas come to life in the mind of other performers.”

Attendees don’t need to be sci-fi fans to see Exploration Blank. Instead, the show is an opportunity to enjoy the intersection of different styles and creative minds, he says.

“In this genre and the stories that we’re able to tell, there’s going to be all this fun urgency for chaos and possibly life-or-death situations.”

For more information and tickets, visit bit.ly/improvcentre.