Atomic Improv

Donovan Workun is living the dream: He gets to do what he loves for a living – trying different things to make people laugh.

“I think this year is 25 years that professional improvisor has been my job," says Donovan. "It’s kind of the only job I’ve had. And because of my improv background, it’s kind of led to a bunch of other things. I do a lot of TV commercials, I’m on CBC Radio One’s The Irrelevant Show and right now I’m working on a reality TV series for CMT. Thats the excitement that’s my life, all because I lack the ability to say 'no.'"

Donovan started improv in junior high and found he had a knack for it. Like many funny people, he was using it to mask a deep personal problem. “I’m super-shy. [Improv] let me be characters so I didn’t have to be myself. I remember when I was around 18 or 19 I took a first aid course and any time the instructor would ask a question I would be, “Oh I know the answer!” But I’d never answer it. Hi, I’m Donovan in a wacky character. It was never me.”