Teresa in an improviser from London who enjoys performing emotionally connected scenes with physical and comedic elements. She has performed for over 20 years in a variety of productions and has taken to the stage in a wide range of fringe and improv festivals internatonally. Teresa also regularly performs in Twoprov group ‘Teresa and Folusho’ and co-runs the ‘Untold Stories’ night in London which amplifies the voices of black female identifying improvisers. Most recently, the twoprov performed at Vancouver’s The Heat festival in January and taught workshop classes.
She did an enjoyable 2025 run at Edinburgh fringe with ‘Murder She Didn’t Write’ which is a comical murder mystery show inspired by Agatha Christie with a wonderful focus on characters. Teresa has been teaching improv since 2014, running a diverse range of workshops for young people and adults, including devising summer improv programmes in New York State. And will be teaching at The Robin Hood festival in Nottingham in September.
How did you get into comedy?
I grew up doing performing arts from a young age which included dancing Ballet, Tap and Jazz; singing in the choir for ‘Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ on the West-End and doing Drama in competitions like the British Arts.
As an adult, I decided I wanted get back into the arts which is when I came across Hoopla’s taster sessions. I attended one class and fell in love with improv! I then booked a course with a show and the rest (as they say) is history.
I auditioned and joined one of the house teams (Michelle) after just under a year and from there I have had some incredible experiences performing across the world (London, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Vancouver etc.) in a variety of shows (Living Dying Dead, Murder She Didn’t Write, Lost to Life – The improvised play, Mixed Omens, Hotel Michelle etc.) well as writing short sketches for Hoopla a few years ago and more recently have been involved in directing and producing new projects.
Tell us about your comedy style?
To be honest it changes depending on the show and how I’m feeling. I really love using subtle physical comedy and my facial expressions to be comedic. So much can be said without words! I have a naturally dry sense of humour and that becomes exacerbated on stage. I’m a fan of finding the funny in the ‘ordinary’ and making things relatable and on occasion blurring the line between my character and me as the improviser. So whether that be calling out the truth or obvious in the scene or using words sparingly, I’m all about it.
What’s your show about and where can we see it?
Teresa & Folusho present ‘Untold Stories’ is a joyous comedy improv night at Hoopla on Friday 19th June starring incredible improvisers like Teresa Senyah, Folusho Falegan, Monica Gaga, Alicia Mugford, Jillian Ellis and more! Expect laughter, games, and scenes shedding light on stories and experiences of black female identifying improvisers that aren’t usually voiced on the improv stage.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
In recent years there’s been some great improv nights at Hoopla that have celebrated and promoted diversity. After receiving a positive response to our twoprov ‘Teresa and Folusho’ we wanted to start a night that elevated black women on the improv stage. Thankfully Hoopla has been extremely supportive and helped make that a reality!
For me, a lot of inspiration comes from my mum, Sharon Dixon-Senyah (who is an accomplished dance teacher, director and show producer) and the incredible black women in my family and close friends. The show is for everyone to enjoy but I definitely pull on them to inspire the stories shared in the second half of the show, the music used, how to produce a show, decorations and the general tone and experience of the night. I think the personal touch that really separates our night from others.
For the overall ‘Untold Stories’ structure we were inspired by the former incredible London improv night ‘The Playground’ by Maria Peters and Lauren Shearing celebrating women in improv, Do the Right Scene’s highly successful monthly night promoting the global majority in improv and Michelle’s birthday celebration night in 2024.
What do you think makes great comedy?
Relatability, I’m a really big fan of comedy through the funny things that we do in our normal lives. There’s nothing better than being able to laugh at yourself and feeling seen on stage.
Any advice for those starting out?
The main bit of advice to anyone starting out or going to their first Edinburgh is to go for it! Give it everything you have as you never know who’s watching, what lessons you can learn and what opportunities can come from that experience. Act like it’s a once in a lifetime moment, take the challenges as stepping stones and have loads of fun!
What’s next for you?
The next Untold Stories show coming up on 19th June as a part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Hoopla! So that will be really exciting.
I’m also going to be directing a new improv show called ‘The Staffroom’ in July at Hoopla so keep an eye out for that! It’s a show pulling back the curtain on what goes on in a teachers staffroom (creative licence will be applied).
Who are your favourite Funny Women?
There are too many to list but some funny women in improv that come to mind that I have either watched, been taught by or had the pleasure of improvising with are: Maria Peters, Lauren Shearing, Amy CookeHodgson, Ali James, Susan Harrison, Lizzy Skrzypiec, Rachael Procter-Lane and of course my fellow interviewees.
In terms of non improv comedians, I’d have to go with Judi Love.
What do you love about comedy?
I love how it gives an opportunity to showcase stories through perspectives I relate to. Some of the most well regarded plays/ shows/ stories etc. are written, produced and performed by people who do not represent my experience in the world. Whilst it’s wonderful to see things through the eyes of others and learn to understand different walks of life, as a black women I’ve found it empowering to be able to create space for media that is from a personal viewpoint I understand. This could be with Untold Stories or more broadly being involved in projects and bringing that insight with me. I also think it’s imperative to note that black women and women generally are not a monolithic, we need more women in these spaces to reflect and celebrate the diversity among us.
You can follow all of Teresa’s adventures on social media @untoldstories_tf @michelleimpro and @losttolife_theplay.
And tickets to Hoopla Improv Theatre’s 20th Anniversary programme can be found here.
