As the dust settles, and the individual show reviews have now been written, it seems like a good time to take a step back and reflect on last weekend’s improvisation festival. The four-day event consisted of three days of improvised shows, and the final day was workshops aimed at fellow improvisers. The Unity Theatre offered two good sized spaces, so it was easy to move between the two theatres whilst the organisers set up the next act.
The vibe of the event was one of community, and inclusivity, and a warm welcome was given to all who came to the event. I attended one whole day on the Saturday, which offered a varied schedule, beginning with a charming family show, ‘Jungle of Emotions’ which encouraged children to join in, by making their own suggestions, and the show was uplifting and energetic. I think it is a fabulous idea to have a family show on the Saturday morning, I use improvisation with my own grandchildren, who love to help to make up their own stories. My eldest has even attempted to make up her own songs, so I can attest to the power of improvisation in challenging young minds to think, and to take time away from their devices.
Neil Curran’s ‘Café Amour’ was a very topical dating show, but I was interested to see Curran build an onstage relationship with an audience member, which helped the audience invest in these two characters, so that what came later was more significant. Curran’s quick-witted charm was a contributory factor to the success of his show and is necessary when working alone.
There were two shows that followed a narrative, ‘From Dawn to Dusk’ and ‘Allegory of the Cave’, and I was pleased to see these two very different shows be appreciated by the audience, as imaginative storytelling is an essential part of theatre. ‘From Dawn to Dusk’ took us to the mid-West to a period following the second World War, when siblings Jack and Bobbie were struggling to keep their farm going. ‘Allegory of the Cave’ combined folktale and puppetry and tackled the theme of the destructive nature of capitalism on our natural world.
‘Box of Frogs’ gave us their short-form, fast-paced multi-disciplined show which certainly showed off the ensemble’s flexibility as they moved between storytelling, to Opera, and then to game playing. This ability to switch between disciplines showed off their impressive skills.
By far the largest ensemble was ‘Taxi Tales’, and I am sure that these tales resonated with most people in the audience, especially to locals, as so many local areas were mentioned. The team took turns as taxi driver and passenger, whilst the despatcher acted as goader, calling out the scenes. This show was a joy to watch, and extremely funny, and I am definitely going to be checking that my driver has two functioning eyes in future!
Lastly, the festival was closed by ‘The School of Night’ celebrating twenty years of creating cleverness in their sheepskin slippers and tea cosies (maybe we need to have a whip round, as they only had one tea cosy between them). Their ability to create imaginative improvised theatre in the style of Shakespeare and beyond is second to none. Magical, mystical, and memorable!
Suffice it to say, the Liverpool Improvisation Festival was a roaring success, and thanks must go to the organisers, co-directors Jen Hardy and Mark Smith, and to Su Jackson for her wellbeing support to artists. I am sure there are lots of unsung heroes behind the scenes, so thanks go to you too, but let’s celebrate this wonderful festival of improvisation, and the commitment shown in the hosting of the event.
While we wait to hear news of an event next year, you can follow the festival on social media, and I am sure they will make announcements in due course.
Even though the festival is over, you will be able to find out further details of upcoming shows, previews, reviews, and about the companies involved in the festival by going to – https://www.liverpoolimprovfestival.com/
Reviewed: Caroline Worswick
Reviewed: 26th April 2025
North West End UK Rating: