Anders likes jokes.
Solo Sketch Comedy
Anders’ work as a solo sketch comedian stems from his many successful years of creating and performing sketch comedy in collaboration with Uncalled For and other groups. His very first solo sketch show at the 2020 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival garnered him the Critic’s Pick Award for Outstanding Solo Performance from My Entertainment World, and his return to the stage after a pandemic hiatus at the 2022 Montreal Sketch Comedy Festival earned him the festival’s top prize, Best of the Fest.
Photo by Denise Grant
From L to R: Matt Goldberg, Dan Jeannotte, Mike Hughes and Anders Yates. Photo by Tristan Brand
Uncalled For
Co-founded by Anders in the year 2000 with some of his best friends, Uncalled For went on to become one of the most highly regarded sketch comedy troupes in Canada. Initially purely an improv company, after performing at multiple Fringe Festivals across Canada, Uncalled For expanded to sketch comedy, both on stage and in the form of short youtube videos. Shows that Anders co-created with Uncalled For have won numerous awards at festivals across Canada, including Best of the Fest at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, the Just For Laughs Best Comedy Award (twice) and multiple Canadian Comedy Award nominations.
Bad Dog Theatre
Ever since moving from Montreal to Toronto, Anders has been collaborating with the Bad Dog Theatre Company in creating improv comedy on stage. He has been a regular performer in a huge variety of shows, from the popular Toronto, I Love You to the arty and award-winning La Grande Jatte to the queer improv show that Anders also directs, Kinsey Fail.
Photo by Connor Low
The Second City
As a member of the Second City National Touring Company, Anders performed regularly in sketch and improv showcases featuring both archive material and original pieces developed by the cast. He helped co-create and performed in The Second City Holiday Spectacular and was a cast-member in Second City's stage adaptation of the cult classic hockey film Slapshot.
Dance Animal
Anders was a founding member of the comedy-dance troupe Dance Animal and co-writer of several of their award-winning shows. Dance Animal created jubilant comedy achieved through dance, and Anders' lanky body was the perfect comic match to choreographer Robin Henderson's ridiculous moves. During Anders' time writing and performing with the company, they won the Just For Laughs Best Comedy Award and the Cirque du Soleil Award for Best Original Creation, both at the Montreal Fringe Festival.
