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Improbotics Presents: RoboTales

 
Victor Black Review by Victor Black 3 Published: 20 Aug 2025 Gilded Balloon Patter House Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-17 Aug 2025

I previously saw Improbotics 18 months ago at Brighton Fringe and marvelled at the creative concept, plundering AI and combining it seamlessly with improvisational comedy. Some shows come up with a novel and groundbreaking idea before the competition starts springing up but settle on it without fully exploiting the potential. Not so Improbotics, which has a wide range of technological advances for entertainment purposes that translate really well to a stage show. The main criticism I had first time around was that the improv element just didn’t carry any weight, and I hoped that with a year and a half to polish this and let the performers hone their craft, it might be pushing towards the giddy heights of ‘unmissable content’. Sadly, the improvements since then are imperceptible, and this remains a five-star format with four-star tech and two-star performances.

A five-star format with four-star tech and two-star performances

The show kicks off with our intro to the charismatic robot Alex, whose monotone delivery of AI- and human-generated concepts is endearing and promising. By contrast, the overly drawn-out intro from Piotr, the creative mind behind the show, loses all momentum. Some auteurs appreciate that their skill set doesn’t extend beyond conceptualisation, and while Piotr is perfectly able to speak on the mic, and hearing from the passionate producer briefly is atmosphere-enhancing for a period, it’s over-indulgent and might be better delivered in the hands of one of his more capable teammates.

The small stage is overpopulated with nine poor-to-average improvisers, which feels unnecessary when the USP of the show is the tech element. Some of them look like they could be brand new to improv, and I’ve seen more adept performances from entry-level improvisers. While the format pivots on the robot and other technological components, it still requires better-than-amateur improv to justify the efforts and premise. The AI is the true star, and it’s a shame that large proportions of the show use it minimally. The highlights are when Alex is put centre stage, and the long-form piece superimposing three improvisers’ faces into an audience member’s to reenact three multiverse versions of herself, had she made different life-changing decisions at various junctions.

The gimmicks are great, and despite a couple of apparent technical hiccups that didn’t really interrupt the flow of the show, Piotr and his team still have the makings of a five-star experience. In their hands, though, it can’t be long before a more able team of performers sneaks in to fill this burgeoning gap in the market. If you like the sound of the show, it’s still a proper fringe experience and will provide memories and talking points, but if you’re here for quality improv, then you’ll want to look elsewhere.

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The Blurb:

An improvised choose-your-own adventure, featuring actors, a cute robot host and AI, where the audience controls the show! By award-winning Improbotics who created Artificial Intelligence Improvisation. 'Like Whose Line Is It Anyway? mixed with I, Robot' (BrightonAndHoveNews.org). ***** (TheatreAndTonic.co.uk). **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk) 'Groundbreaking work with superb moments of comedy that poses serious philosophical questions' (FringeReview.co.uk). Most Innovative Show Award (ParisFringe.org, 2020). ****(BingeFringe.com). ***** (ThePhoenixRemix.com). **** (FringeTheatre.ca) 'I will stick with artificial stupidity' (Colin Mochrie). Featured in the New York Times, Financial Times, New Scientist, Time, Sky News and BBC.