39 shows this month across the Midlands, covering Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester & more.
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BIRMINGHAM
WEDS 7TH – 1000 TRADES
Maestro: The exciting elimination improv game where anything can happen. Ten intrepid improvisers face a series of scenes and challenges, for a night filled with love and laughter. The scenes are scored by you, the audience, until only one player remains…the Maestro. Come along and enjoy the ride, cheer for your favourite improviser, and see who will take the crown.
https://www.facebook.com/BhamImprov/
SUN 11TH – THIMBLEMILL LIBRARY
Box Of Frogs: In the run up to the fantastic Birmingham Improv Festival 2022, Box of Frogs is offering a series of free outreach performances, generously funded by Arts Council England.
https://www.facebook.com/BoxofFrogsImpro
WEDS 14TH – 1000 TRADES
Box Of Frogs: Birmingham’s premiere Improv Group bring you a night of high-octane improvised comedy nonsense based entirely on your suggestions. Expect the unexpected as quick-witted players conjure up hilarious spontaneous songs, sketches and scenes on the spur of the moment.
https://www.facebook.com/BoxofFrogsImpro
THURS 15TH – OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE
Date Night: See hilarious scenes from history unfold in front of your very eyes with Date Night: An Improvised History of (nearly) Everything. Join Adam & Hannah as they use their “encyclopaedic” knowledge of the past to bring history to life in front of you, entirely made up on the spot.
https://www.facebook.com/DNImprov
WEDS 21ST – 1000 TRADES
Midlands Improv Night: A night of local groups taking to the stage in a smorgasbord of improvised comedy. Headlined by Breakfast Of Champions, pushing the boundaries by linking thematically across a range of scenes.
https://www.facebook.com/BhamImprov/
THURS 22ND – ACTRESS & BISHOP
Trigger Warning: 4 professional stand-up comedians will face off in a series of rounds where they have to make jokes based on audience suggestions. No prepared material, all improvised. They can’t possibly know what you are going to suggest and no topic is off limits.
https://triggerwarningshow.eventbrite.co.uk
SAT 24TH – LEGACY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
Jumprov: Join Jumprov, who identify as the UK’s first Black and Brown Improv group for a night of fun featuring live sketch comedy which is completely made up on the spot using suggestions from you, the audience. Part of Zenith Festival.
https://www.facebook.com/Jumprov
SUN 25TH – THE GLEE CLUB
The Dark Room For Kids: You and your family are stuck inside a live-action video game! How will you escape?! Will you: A) Find light switch? B) Go north? C) Explode in a shower of stinking guts? An interactive adventure featuring terrible prizes and total mayhem! Part of The Lunchtime Family Comedy Show.
https://www.glee.co.uk/birmingham/comedy/
SUN 25TH – THIMBLEMILL LIBRARY
Box Of Frogs: Special kids show as part of a series of free outreach performances, generously funded by Arts Council England.
https://www.facebook.com/BoxofFrogsImpro
SUN 25TH – THE GLEE CLUB
MC Hammersmith: The world’s leading gangsta rapper to ever emerge from the ghetto of middle class west London. He presents his sell-out Edinburgh Fringe show “1 Man 8 Mile” – an evening of improvised comedy raps based entirely on your suggestions. You’ll leave astounded at the speed of his brain, the spontaneity of his jokes, and the stability of his upbringing.
https://www.glee.co.uk/birmingham/comedy/
WEDS 28TH – MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE
Yes Queens: The West End’s first female-led improvised comedy night. Featuring top UK impro talent from such Olivier Award-winning productions as Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Austentatious and Mischief Theatre, it is interactive theatre at its best, with the audience playing a key role in a night of games, scenes, sketches and songs – all improvised from their suggestions.
https://www.facebook.com/BhamImprov/
WEDS 28TH – MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE
The Bean Spillers – The Improvised Musical: Farting at a funeral. Calling your teacher ‘Mum’. Farting at your teacher’s funeral then calling the Vicar ‘Mum’! We’ve all heard some juicy gossip, but have you ever wondered if there’s more to the story? The Stage Award-winning Gigglemug Theatre (Timpson: The Musical) present an improvised musical based on scandalous stories from the audience.
https://www.facebook.com/BhamImprov/
THURS 29TH – MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE
These Folk: A funny, beautiful and heartwarming show performed by two of the most experienced improvisers in the UK who are also core members of groups such as the Olivier Award-winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and Yes Queens, among many others. They perform regularly in the West End, throughout the UK, internationally and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Inspired by suggestions from the audience they create an entirely improvised, song-filled folk tale. Everything is made up on the spot: the characters, the folklore, the story, the harmonies, the lyrics and the music.
https://www.facebook.com/BhamImprov/
THURS 29TH – MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE
The Wunderkammer: Do Not Adjust Your Stage present a unique show where TED-style talks from expert speakers inspire improvised comedy. Previous guest speakers include an extreme snowboarder, a Greenpeace activist, the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep, a Game of Thrones superfan and a piracy expert. Sell-out shows in the UK, Europe, and the US, including a residency at the Natural History Museum. Plus the show was the winner of Stagedoor’s Most Loved Show at VaultFest.
https://www.facebook.com/BhamImprov/
FRI 30TH – MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE
Bareback Kings: Four women, dressed as lads, take the piss out of anything related to being alive in the 21st century—gender, politics, Deliveroo, to name a few. Proud members of the improv, drag and LGBTQIA communities, their raucous-comedy-shows also provoke discussion about gender and identity. They have performed across London, the UK, and New York with their unique brand of improvised drag-king comedy.
https://www.facebook.com/BhamImprov/
FRI 30TH – MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE
Baby Wants Candy: One of the world’s most popular and celebrated comedy ensembles. With open runs in NY, Chicago LA, and an international touring company, BWC has enjoyed fully sold-out runs at EdFringe from 2010-pandempolcalypse and all over the globe. The group has performed over 4,500 completely improvised musicals around the world. It’s a roller coaster ride of off the cuff choreographed dance numbers, rhyming verses, and witty jaw dropping comedy. Each performance is its own opening and closing night, and by design every show is completely unique and a once in a life time premiere. Start thinking of your title now.
https://www.facebook.com/BhamImprov/
FRI 30TH – MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE
Do The Right Scene: A fast-paced London-based improv group who are shaking up the world of improv. Comprised of Black improvisers, sketch performers, stand-ups and character comedians with credits on Radio 4, Comedy Central, BBC 3 and BBC1.
https://www.facebook.com/BhamImprov/
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NOTTINGHAM
MON 5TH – BUNKERS HILL
The Cat’s Pyjamas: Audience members can sit back and enjoy a free comedy show or take the plunge to join the performers on stage.
https://www.facebook.com/improvnottingham/
THURS 8TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Robin Hood International Improv Festival Opening Night: An opening night celebration featuring world class improv shows, a jam where the audience can get involved, and an incredible all-star show! Acts include: Dereks MoJo – A no holds barred exploration of friendship, fears and all inbetween – and Rhymes Against Humanity – a full length musical improvised entirely off a title given to us from the audience.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
THURS 8TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Sing-a-long Showtime: An evening of showtunes and shenanigans awaits in Nottingham’s very own Speakeasy. Calling all Broadway Buffs and Late-Night Luvvies! With comedy from Nikki Morgan and Jeanette Bird-Bradley, you will laugh till you cry, sing till you are hoarse and see the evening out in style.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
FRI 9TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Double bill – The Vox Pops & Somewhat Theatre: The Vox Pops create a comedy collage based on the spontaneous stories of local legends, jumping through clever concepts and surreal scenes quicker than gossip spreads. Somewhat Theatre adapt local folk tales for the stage. They are not what you would call exact adaptations, but you could argue they are faithful, in an absurdist way.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
FRI 9TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Double bill – All Falls Down & The BeGones: All Falls Down is an interactive storytelling show about a group of strangers trying to make contact with civilisation and survive in the wilderness after a plane crash. The audience guides characters through the wreckage and the surrounding forests, trying to find help whyle avoiding the mysterious dangers that may lurk in the woods they now find themselves stranded in. The BeGones is an improv murder mystery/bet game. The lights go down and a murder is committed. Between the characters there is one who killed and one that by the end of the show will be gone. All of them are suspects! Place your bets and see if you, along with the cast members, get to find the killer.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
FRI 9TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Double bill – Impromptu & The Homunculus: Impromptu are Writers Guild Award-nominees 2019 who take the culture, history and passion of the 1940s-50s, and merge them into a play rich with characters full of passion and humor, and stories that will tug your heart. The Homunculus is two-person improvised comedy from Tim Grewcock (DNAYS) and Shaun Lowthian (DNAYS, The Free Association, Uncle Glendas Menagerie). With a single word of inspiration from their audience, Tim and Shaun improvise hilarious scenes, stories and characters that, however unusual, draw you into a familiar world.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
FRI 9TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Land Of Giants: Small humans from the tallest country on earth (The Netherlands) are used to seeing things from a different perspective. In their show, they explore the world through the lens of an ordinary object and present a thematic, kaleidoscopic view to the audience. Opening act is a festival ensemble teams – a group of fantastic improvisers brought together for the festival from all over the world to create a show that will never be seen again.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
FRI 9TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Teacher Jam: A chance to watch and perform with the best around! First, see our festival teachers walk their talk and create an incredible, unforgettable show. Bringing together a cast of performers who have never worked together as an ensemble before, the very essence of Yes And will be put to the test, popped through an object work wringer and deposited out the other side in the form of beautiful, comedic scenes. After their set, members of the audience will get to take part in games and scenes with festival teachers.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
SAT 10TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Double bill – New Amsterdam & Four Far Away: Using music provided by the audience, New Amsterdam show slices of the lives of characters both human and non. They talk, dance and live life to its fullest until they disappear again. Four Far Away craft a fantastical world based on your suggestion. Adventure and intrigue, mystery and magic await as we spend an hour exploring an original sci-fi or fantasy landscape made up entirely on the spot.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
SAT 10TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Twoprov Roulette: This is YOUR chance to be the star of the show. As the audience enters, anyone can put their name in the hat… The lights go down and 4 pairs of names get drawn out, creating four brand new improv duos, who will get together on stage to delight the audience for 15 minutes. This is improv at its riskiest – whos names will be drawn? What will the duos do? An hour of hilarious improv at its most spontaneous!
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
SAT 10TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Double bill – A Well Made Play & Landry and Summers: A Well Made Play is created anew every time it is performed by a company of experienced improvisers. Sometimes funny, sometimes heart-breaking or wise or beautiful – every show is unique, never to be repeated and inspired by moments from the lives of its audience. Landry & Summers are a two-person married interracial couple doing social and political improvisation nationally and internationally since 1986. A theatrical high wire act.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
SAT 10TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Humbug: Chicago improv legends Andel Sudik and Matt Higbee craft a unique improvised world in each performance. Their delightfully impish energies converge to create a mosaic of earnest characters and ardent truths. The results are complex, honest, and hilarious. Opening Act: The Camp Improv Utopia Festival Ensemble.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
SAT 10TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Jorin’s Ourobouros: Join Chicago-based improv space-wizard, Jorin Garguilo for a free form bacchanalia of improvisation, with everything as improvised as possible. There will be a show. The show will be about something. And Jorin will be there. He hopes you will be too. And please help. He needs your help.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
SUN 11TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Double bill – Rhymes With Witches & Jazz Police: The Rhymes With Witches improv cauldron regularly brews up a unique show on Berlin’s English comedy scene. Take a couple basic witches, add improv theatre, brew over a few drinks and this magical concoction will have you under the comedy spell. Jazz Police are an American-style improv team made up of improv teachers, artistic directors, and sketch comedians, this pack of experienced no-gooders are on a mission to bring comedy to the masses. Or whoever comes to watch them.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
SUN 11TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Tiny Stories & Seven With Wine: Tiny Stories tell… well… tiny stories. Every day, hundreds of stories are happening all around us, and we like to shine a light on as many of them as possible. Seven With Wine is an improvised comedy about women, friendships and the glorious magic that happens when you combine the two.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
SUN 11TH – NONSUCH STUDIOS
Here – The Improvised Sondheim Musical: Did you ever feel deep fulfilment from sharpening your pencils, utter disgust for your office job or a wonderful sense of serendipity when you stepped off the bus and saw a squirrel? Of course you did, and so do we. Opening Act is one of the festivals ensemble teams – a group of fantastic improvisers brought together for the festival from all over the world to create a show that will never be seen again.
https://www.robinhoodimprov.co.uk/shows
TUES 20TH – THE LORD ROBERTS
Date Night: The history themed show continues its tour of An Improvised History of (nearly) Everything. No scripts, no rehearsals, just two performers and a selection of anachronistic hats. Bring your favourite date and watch with delight as history is made (up).
https://www.facebook.com/DNImprov
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LEICESTER
FRI 16TH – LCB DEPOT
Improversity: An improvised sketch show inspired by Leicester-based research. Following a five minute introduction to some exciting research from a resident scientist, the improv team is challenged to weave a hilarious story live in front of your eyes. Having never previously heard about the research, you can count on tears of laughter, and maybe pain, as they attempt to make sense (or nonsense?) of it. If by the end you’re still left scratching your head, you’ll have the chance to ask the researcher some questions.
https://britishsciencefestival.org/event/improversity/
FRI 16TH – SUE TOWNSEND THEATRE
Improbotics: Get ready for laughs and mischief in this live improv comedy performance. A troupe of actors, comedians, and technologists will perform alongside artificial intelligence (a robot called ALeX) – and if that wasn’t absurd enough, some of the improvisors will be controlled by the AI. The big question of the night: will they pass the Turing Test? Only the audience can say for sure.
https://britishsciencefestival.org/event/improbotics-live/
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EVERYWHERE ELSE
TUES 6TH – TEMPERANCE CAFE, LEAMINGTON SPA
The Elephant In The Room: Leamprov, the premier improvised comedy troupe in Leamington, are proud to bring you a comedy show that’s never been seen before, and will never be seen again. Why? The elephant in the room is that we have no idea what the show will be about! Taking inspiration from audience suggestions, we will create a series of comedy sketches and games completely off-the-cuff.
https://www.facebook.com/LeamingtonSpaImprov
FRI 9TH – 16 HALES STREET COFFEE SHOP, COVENTRY
Full Of Beans: Coventry Improv perform their fan favourite format, an all-inclusive show which is all for charity, and 100% of the donations will make it’s way to the designated charity for the quarter.
https://www.facebook.com/CoventryImprov/
FRI 23RD – POMFRET ARMS, NORTHAMPTON
Improv Comedy Show: Expect fast paced humour in the style of shows such as ‘Whose Line is it Anyway’ Quick witted players will take your suggestions and use them to create hilarious scenarios, ridiculous characters and many laugh out loud moments for your entertainment. Performed by Canny Funny plus special guests.
https://www.facebook.com/CannyFunnyImprov/
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Have I missed a show? Get in touch and let me know.
MidlandsImprov.com 