Impromptu Shakespeare back in Bristol with their unique brand of The Bard

Shakespeare may not have been writing for over 400 years, but lovers of The Bard need not fear: Impromptu Shakespeare are returning to Bristol with their irreverant brand of improv and verse, creating ‘a riotous new Shakespeare play every time’.

The company will perform at The Wardrobe Theatre for two nights, but with two very different shows – each one unmistakably Shakespearean in tone, characterisation and language, and inspired by audience suggestions.

Impromptu Shakespeare have been a smash hit at the Edinburgh Fringe, as well as Bristol Shakespeare Festival; they have appeared on BBC Shakespeare Live, and won Best Comedy Event at Buxton Fringe.

As a company, they are comprised of leading theatrical and comedic improvisers with a rich breadth of experience and education in classical texts, and numerous Shakespeare acting credits.

The cast includes some of the UK’s most experienced improvisers, including: Ailis Duff (Notflix: The Improvised Musical, Red Rose Chain), Sylvia Bishop (Screwball, Peablossom Cabaret), James Irving (Bumper Blyton, The Concept), Daniel South (Upstairs Downton, Dirty Picnic Club, Screwball), Lucy Fennell (Bumper Blyton, Dirty Picnic Club), Jules Munns (The Maydays, Ten Thousand Million Love Stories), Rebecca MacMillan (The Maydays, Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes, Steamed! The Improvised Dickens Novel).

Photo: Impromptu Shakespeare

Bristol 24/7 spoke to Tom Wilkinson from the team, ahead of their upcoming dates at The Wardrobe Theatre on March 9-10, to outline a little more about what audiences can expect:

What is the potted history of Impromptu Shakespeare?

“We’re a group of actors, writers and comedians who’ve been making up shows in the style of Shakespeare for nearly a decade.

“We were hand picked as a kind of super-group by a producer who wanted to bring this style of soulful long-form improv to the UK, and we’ve been acting up, with increasingly amazing additional players, ever since.”

For audiences who may be new to improv, or Shakespeare, can you describe how the mashup of the two works?

“If you’re new to improv, it’s all made up! There are no planned stories or characters, and all the verse is conjured before your eyes.

“If you’re new to Shakespeare, this is a funny and unpretentious way into his huge themes and his gorgeous imaginative and linguistic world. Love, war, death, everything in between: we think he’s the greatest poet and playwright that ever lived. His thoughts on us aren’t recorded.”

Image: Impromptu Shakespeare

How much interaction with the audience to the performers have, in the on-stage creation of the story?

“We have a fun and fast-paced prologue (ping-pong balls and a jig feature) in which we talk to a few audience members and gather our ingredients from the show. Then it’s all on us: we go where those suggestions take us for the next hour or so.

“It’s enough to make the show special for the audience, and totally unique to that time and place, but no-one ever gets picked on. Improv at its best is a gentle art.”

Can you give an insight into rehearsal process, given that the shows are improvised?

“Improv training is like sport practice: you perfect the moves, not the games themselves. So, we can insult or seduce each other in verse or weave amazing stories, without those exact words or scenes ever appearing in the shows.

“Plus, everything happens that you’d imagine if you put a group of Shakespeare enthusiasts in a room: literary argument, silly games, declamation and a few songs. We’re either the best or the worst group of people to go for a drink with after the show, for that reason.”

What do you most want your audiences feeling as they leave the theatre?

“Delighted, awed, wanting to go back to the plays; or even better, back to our shows! After all, every night will be different…”

Impromptu Shakespeare (age recommendation 10+) is at The Wardrobe Theatre, Old Market Assembly, 25 West St, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0DF on March 9-10 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.

Main photo: Impromptu Shakespeare

Read more: Review: Impromptu Shakespeare, Wardrobe Theatre

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