Theatre / austentatious
Preview: Bristol Improv Theatre Festival 2015
“Watching the creative process live on stage is a rare and beautiful thing, and bringing it out in front of an audience takes you to places you might never go otherwise.” This is Andy Yeoh, programme director for the new Bristol Improv Theatre – a dedicated venue housed in Clifton’s Polish Club and an organisation about to unleash their third Bristol Improv Festival upon the unsuspecting public.
In a city punching well above its weight in the artform, BitFest 2015 is a celebration of improvised theatre and comedy, showcasing talent from local, UK and international acts, and featuring workshops from some of the country’s best-loved improv gurus. “Improv shows are like a box of chocolates,” Andy continues. “You never know what delicious confection you might get – and some of it’s nuts. Where else could give you a musical about one man’s struggle to win the Tour de France one night, and cosmic horror inspired by H.P. Lovecraft the next?”
The Festival’s opening weekend kicks off with three days of performances by improv acts from Bristol and beyond, including Jane Austen spoofers Austentatious, Music Box (purveyors of one-act comedy improv musicals) and Belgian duo Matchmakers – and closes with an endurance-testing, sanity-bending 26-hour improvathon. Time Busters will join the team behind the Wardrobe Theatre’s fortnightly improvised soap opera Closer Each Day with experienced improvisers from around the country for a non-stop improv play set around a fictional TV archaeology show.
Andy and co. have now secured The Polish Club as their base. “The Polish Club has been a community space for decades, and we’re very proud to be continuing its tradition of serving the local community. We have big plans for ongoing stand-up nights, science shows, and more to expand our packed programme of improv shows and workshops.”
The Bristol Improv Theatre Festival takes place from Friday, March 6 to Saturday, March 14 at the Bristol Improv Theatre (a.k.a. The Polish Club), 50 St Paul’s Rd, Clifton. For more info and to book tickets, visit www.bitfestival.co.uk
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