Branded as an alternative to pre-ordained comedy, the Improverts spar off each other and the audience, using entirely unplanned and unscripted material to create big, fresh laughs. There is some preparation involved in all the lunacy as structured games house the improvisation. The all guy group take it in turns to perform, with the games including made up stories based on clauses thrown at them by the audience: finishing each other’s sentences, role play and other general chaos.Such innovation as this is simple and effective. Refreshing thoughts even extend to the audience; at one point punters can choose to go up on stage, and challenge the Improverts face to face which furthers an already solid audience/performer rapport.
Some sketches worked better than others and the best stuff was simplest; freeze-frames were pulled to illustrate a photographic memory and an impression of Manga characters discovering sordid family secrets went some way to displaying the diversity available on any given night, due to simple audience direction.
Less successful instances usually involved overly complex ideas, which occasionally became bogged down and in turn took a while to pay off. Other than these few weak moments the show is conceptually fresh and seriously funny, as all pitch in, taking it in turns to lose their dignity in front of a meaty, sold out audience.
