Comedy: Archy funny

There have always been those in comedy who mine some of their best gold from interaction with the audience. Ross Noble live, sparking with the front row; Adam Hills when he hosted this year’s Opening Night Gala of the Brighton Comedy Festival; or, in fact, Stephen Grant most weekends at Krater Comedy corralling in the stag and hen do’s with mirth and a sharp wit. If you’ve ever seen any of those you’ll know what I mean. But what if the entire show was made up on the spot for this audience, and this audience alone? This, dear friends, is where you get improvisation.

There are many formats an improvised comedy show can take. ‘Long form’ follows the performing group through one story from start to finish. Fancy this? Then keep an eye out for local group Off The Cuff, whose May Fringe shows orbited the world of ‘The Village’, with key plot twists provided by audience suggestions. Other talented examples of this include The Showstoppers (with added West End musical stylings) and Katy & Rach Make Stuff Up (semi-regularly on at Bar Broadway).

Then there’s improvisation that’s loosely draped around various games and templates that each last at most ten minutes, usually called ‘short form’. Those who remember the popular TV series ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ will be familiar with this. For those who aren’t, if you catch five minutes of it you’ll soon get the gist.

Here in Brighton we are spoilt for good quality improv groups. From The Maydays – who recently supported New York improv legends TJ & Dave on their brief UK visit – to The Noise Next Door, whose Comedy Lock-In combines fast-moving scenes, musical interludes (but still comedic), with guest spots from respected stand-ups who are taken out of their comfort zones and into the world of ‘making it all up right now’. It’s a bit anarchic.

But then all improv is. From the Iron Clad Improv at The Iron Duke, to Paul Merton And His Impro Chums at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall.

The Noise Next Door Comedy Lock-In with guests Andrew Bird and Max & Ivan, Komedia, Thursday 13 November, 8pm, £23.50/20/10, 0845 293 8480,

www.komedia.co.uk/brighton;
www.offthecuffcomedy.co.uk (short form – at Bar Broadway);
www.themaydays.co.uk (short & long form – at Komedia);
www.theshowstoppers.org
www.facebook.com/ironcladcastiron