Arabella Butler

Arabella was corrupted by improvisation at the tender age of 8 when her form teacher, off with gall bladder problems, was replaced for a term by a drama teacher cunningly disguised as a supply teacher. After Saturday morning lessons in improvisation and stagecraft for 10 years she continued the form throughout university while studying for a degree in Classics and Drama.

On returning to London she became a team captain with Raw Theatre and, later, RawActive Theatre an improvisation group with teams that would regularly compete against each other. On moving to Cardiff, Arabella was keen to spread the improv bug and after running a number of workshop sessions Slow Genius was finally founded at the beginning of 2007.

Alongside improvisation Arabella has attempted to pursue a career in acting which has involved plays, pantomimes, short films and many touring shows to theatres, schools and nursing homes. Her most recent performance was in The Lady of Burma at the Wales Millennium Centre as part of the Spotlight on Burma campaign. Arabella has also recently become part of the Bolshi Ballet, a walkabout act performing at Glastonbury and other festivals over the summer.

The most physical of the group she often communicates solely through the medium of mime and regularly falls off her chair with laughter at the sight of any slapstick.