Shellshock! puts you, the audience, in control. Sit back, relax, and watch the madness ensue! Broadway Baby has a little chat.
The best bits of the Fringe are always the ones you didn’t expect, whether it’s a brilliant and unique show you come across, or a funny encounter on the mile.
Tell us about your show
It’s an improvised comedy show in which we use the audience's suggestions as inspiration to come up with scenes and sketches on the spot. Each day there'll be a different mix of both fast-paced improv games and longer narrative comedy, keeping the show fresh and exciting.
Why did you decide to take your show to Space UK this year?
As a venue they have the best range of improv and as well as being in a central location, other troupes have always said excellent things about their support for acts.
What are you most looking forward to at this year’s festival?
The best bits of the Fringe are always the ones you didn’t expect, whether it’s a brilliant and unique show you come across, or a funny encounter on the mile. Being an improv show, we don’t know what we’ll be acting out or what’s going to be the thing that’ll get the biggest laugh until we do it. I think that’s the most exciting thing and what I’m looking forward to.
Why Edinburgh? What’s the attraction?
The fringe buzz in Edinburgh in August is amazing. Just a walk up the Mile and you are hardly surprised that you're at the world's largest arts festival. There are so many opportunities to see fantastic shows and chat with new like-minded people, so to perform in Edinburgh with everything else that is going on is a brilliant opportunity.
Can you tell us a bit about your company’s background?
We’re a student group from Durham University and we’ve brought a show to the Fringe each year since 2009. Our name, Shellshock! comes from an improv game of the same name which involves the audience throwing eggs at the performers. We don’t do that one anymore.
What’s your favourite audience suggestion to date?
Recently when asking for a fictional character, a guy shouted out “my girlfriend”. Sometimes they're oddly specific. For a profession we've had “drunk Scottish curry maker”, or for a relationship between two characters “eccentric billionaire and man he's hunting for sport”. Usually the suggestion is just a starting point for a scene, but that's brilliant in itself.
Show Name: ShellShock! Improv Live!
Production Company: Shellshock! Improvised Comedy!
Venue: theSpace@Jury's
Dates: 17th-29th (not 23rd)
Times: 17:05 (50 min duration)
Twitter Handle: @ShellShockImpro
