Improperly: Improperly

With theatre you usually know what you are getting. With Improperly, the brainchild of Sam Morgan (The Comic Strip), you, the audience, get to choose what this motley crew of performers do and watch them create your entertainment on the spot.

Yes, you can see the story that you have always wanted to see evolve before your very eyes. Or probably something you never dreamed of, depending on the interpretation of the actors! To add to the actors challenge, they will be adding to scenes and stories with song , supported by the able musical improvisation of Sarah Madisson.

Several of the improvisers starred in Exe Ensemble's production of Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party in 2023 - they are serious actors as well - so while you can expect plenty of fun and laughter, there will be tender moments too. If you have never seen improv before (Think “Who's Line Is It Anyway”), this is your chance to witness it, brought smack dab up-to-date. “Pure joy” “Hysterical” “Wild and wacky”.

Reviews:

‘Improperly’ – absurdity, quick wit and chaos

‘Improperly’ promises absurdity, quick wit and chaos and it delivers on all three. The Exeter-based improvisation group conjures scenes and songs from audience suggestions in an hour of fast- moving entertainment.

The performers were on lively form before the show even began, encouraging us to write down phrases for later use in an improvised scene. This kind of pre-show     warm-up pays dividends later on when requests for the audience to come up with relationships between characters, different scenarios, and even the emotions the characters are going to feel, come thick and fast.

The show takes the form of a series of ‘games’ involving different combinations of performers and is energetically compèred by Sam Morgan and supported by the impressive musical skills of Sarah Madisson on piano. And because they are based on the suggestions of the audience, the results are unpredictable. No two shows will ever be the same and much of the humour comes not from what is performed, but from watching the performers trying to come up with whatever it is.

A song made up on the spot in operatic style. A conversation between a teacher and a reluctant pupil where every sentence they said had to start with the next letter of the alphabet. A Shakespearean scene set in McDonalds. A taxi ride where everybody seemed to be called Justin. These were just a few of the delights we enjoyed – never to be seen again.

Some of the success of this type of performance is undoubtedly down to the creativity of the audience and I have to say, I don’t think we were too bad. There was the odd time that a challenging suggestion was passed over for something a little more mundane, but the skill of the group at making something out of nothing is undeniable.

‘Improperly’ is engaging, quick and laugh-out-loud funny. A good way to spend an hour.

Full list of all Fringe Extra, Barnstaple, performances here.