Happy 150th episode, Closer Each Day

Did you know that Bristol has its very own soap opera? One that has been running at The Wardrobe Theatre once a fortnight for nearly eight years? Welcome to the hilarious, heartfelt and utterly unique world of Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera.

The show is performed live in front of an audience every other Monday and there is absolutely no script – everything is made up on the spot. The formula has proven addictive for audiences – so much so that, this month, the Closer Each Day Company celebrate their 150th episode.

Over the preceding 149 episodes, the soap’s characters have experienced some epic highs and lows including (deep breaths) dramatic deaths, kidnappings, weddings, fights, affairs, mayoral races, ghosts, flashbacks and, er, referendums.

To mark episode 150, we asked some of the cast to name their favourite Closer Each Day moments to date.

A selection of images from Closer Each Day’s ever-varied 148 episodes to date. All pics: Daisy Tian Dai unless stated otherwise

Andy Kelly (plays Reg Longstick)
The One With… The Referendum
“For our 100th episode, local arch-villain Simpkins lay in a coma and the townsfolk held a referendum to decide whether he gets to ‘Remain’ in this life, or if they should make him ‘Leave’ (by pulling the plug). Any resemblance to a contemporary political event was purely coincidental.”

Rachel Lane (Gina Pitts)
The One Where… Pablo Died
“This was just the most heart-wrenching scene we’ve ever done. Dick shot Pablo in a scuffle after the news of an affair got out and I genuinely cried, both in and out of character.”

John Lomas (co-director / Big Dick Johnson)
The One Where Billy De Burgh Escaped
“Throughout several episodes Dick had been on the hunt for Billy, and he had finally caught him and was holding him up by the scruff of his jacket. But as Dick got distracted, Billy hilariously slipped out of the jacket and got away, leaving Dick completely flabbergasted.”

Lindsey Garwood (co-director / Constance Sugar)
The One Where Constance Announced She Was Pregnant
“This is a selfish one but I’ll always remembers the night my character Constance revealed she was pregnant, as me and my partner hadn’t told anyone at all before then. Because of Constance’s promiscuousness no-one knew who the father was, kicking off a great storyline. Soaptastic!”

Matthew Whittle (Arthur James Shaw)
The One With The Court Case
“After my character hit a pedestrian with his tram, a huge courtroom drama followed – with jurors, prosecuting lawyers, defendants and, of course, the Right Honourable Judge Constance Sugar casting a domineering eye over everyone.”

Jack Drewry (musical director / live pianist)
The One With The Gondola Song
“On the run, somehow Fred (played by Andrew Kingston) and Pablo ended up in their pants, leaving town on a gondola, singing an amazing duet in real/fake Italian.”

Pic: Adam Fung

Peter Baker (Pablo Jones)
The One With Black Beauty
“Has to be Pablo and Candi’s heartfelt song about channelling the spirit of Candy’s childhood idol, which featured the memorable chorus of ‘Black Beauty come inside me‘.”

Catch the 150th episode of Closer Each Day at The Wardrobe Theatre on Monday, January 28 (and the 149th on January 10) and every other Monday following. For more info, visit www.closereachday.co.uk