BRISTOL IMPROV THEATRE AUTUMN PROGRAMME 2019
SHOWS VENUE HIRE COURSES & WORKSHOPS
WELCOME! The Bristol Improv Theatre’s mission is to be an institution of spontaneous, collaborative and creative theatre, a resource for ambitious artists and audiences, and a home for all those whom improvised work touches. We are a self-funded, not-for-profit organisation run by theatre-makers, artists and educators with a love for improvised theatre. We like shows that crack you up, take you by surprise and leave you wondering how on earth they did it. Our shows can feel like plays, musicals, game shows or an intimate chat with your best friend – they are all united by the thrill of giving the audience a performance that has never been seen before, and will never be seen again. From our home in leafy Clifton, we make new work, host touring companies from all over the world and teach Bristolians how to make it up on the spot. Our bar serves local beer and blindingly good cocktails, and we all work here because we absolutely love it – so pop in for a show and a drink the next time you’re at the top of the hill.
VENUE HIRE Our 115 seat theatre, atmospheric bar space and spacious workshop rooms are all available for private hire for events, workshops, shows and parties. Enquire at venuehire@improvtheatre.co.uk.
VOLUNTEERING Your theatre needs you! We’re on the lookout for friendly, capable people to join our team of volunteers to help us with box office and flier distribution. Have something else in mind? Tell us about it! Meet lovely new people, build your skills and help us out in the process. Register your interest at community@improvtheatre.co.uk.
IMPROVTHEATRE.CO.UK HELLO@IMPROVTHEATRE.CO.UK 07936617158
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FIND US AT: 50 ST. PAUL’S ROAD CLIFTON, BS8 1LP
SHOWCASE EVENTS THE BISH BOSH BASH 6th Sept, 4th Oct, 1st Nov · 8pm · £10/£8 Whose Line meets Shooting Stars meets the competitive spirit of a premier league sports match. Team Bish and Team Bosh go head-to-head to win glory, honour and the audience’s love in The Bish Bosh Bash, the BIT’s newest mainstage comedy show. Scenes, songs and silliness are promised in two hours of high-octane entertainment. Who will come out on top? “Five stars!” – Bristol 24/7. Created by Imogen Palmer.
THIS IS YOUR MUSICAL 27th Sept, 18th Oct, 22nd Nov · 8pm · £10/£8 This is Your Musical is an original improvised musical theatre show from the Bristol Improv Theatre! Each night, a team of talented actors and musicians produce a brand-new, hilarious, smash-hit musical inspired by YOUR stories. The never-before-seen, never-to-be-seenagain show where every night is opening night. This all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza with a full band is not to be missed.
STEVES & WOOSTER 13th Sept · 8pm · £10/£8 Bertie Wooster may be a rich idiot, but he’s not one to let a lack of competence interfere with his good-natured enthusiasm. Thankfully he can rely on his valet Jeeves to steer him through troubled waters. Expect farcical physicality, quick-change characters, and rollicking good fun in this entirely improvised (and entirely unauthorised) tribute to the works of P.G. Wodehouse.
FOR TICKETS, VISIT IMPROVTHEATRE.CO.UK
AUTUMN 2019 DO THE RIGHT SCENE 11th Oct · 8pm · £10/£8 Do The Right Scene are a London-based troupe who are shaking up the world of improv. Formerly known as Nu Z Land, DTRS specialise in fast-paced improv, with a cast made up of black improvisers, sketch performers, stand-ups and character comedians with credits on Radio 4, Comedy Central, BBC 3 and BBC1.
MURDER, SHE DIDN’T FRIGHT 25th Oct · 8pm · £10/£8 A spooktacular special edition of the Murder Mystery improv hit. On a dark and stormy night, an original classic horror play is created based entirely on your suggestions. A cast of ghoulish, grotesque (and hilarious) characters are assembled for an evening of murder, mayhem and making it up on the spot.
PROJECT2 29th Nov · 8pm · £10/£8 Project2 are Katy Schutte, Chris Mead and Fred Deakin. They make improvised science fiction. K aty and Chris create the characters, dialogue and story. Fred makes the soundtrack. Each performance is utterly unique and could fall into any of the endless sub-genres that make up the multiverse-spanning superstructure of the science fiction genre.
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BEST OF BRISTOL UP BIG NOVEMBER SHOW 15th & 16th Nov · 8pm & 2pm (Saturday) · £10/£5 The BIT’s amateur improv company presents two new productions, created and performed by its members. The Unscripted Players produces three improvised shows per year based around original concepts devised by its members, from Greek myths and buddy cop capers to superhero origin stories and musical nature documentaries.
TALES OF ADVENTURE 26th Sept, 10th Oct, 24th Oct · 8pm · £7/£15 Join our brave band of heroes in an epic fantasy quest, improvised LIVE before your very eyes. Led by the all-powerful Gamemaster, our heroes will search for treasure, battle deadly foes, and contend with dangerous twists of fate as they struggle against evil to save the world! Anything is possible: laughter is guaranteed. £7 per individual show or £15 for a season ticket.
Holy Unauthorised Improv PARODY, Batman! 9th Oct, 6th Nov · 8pm · £7 See Batman and Robin as you haven’t seen them since the 60s! Gasp as the dynamic duo contend with spontaneous skulduggery! Laugh at a bewildering array of gadgets with ‘Bat’ in their names! Marvel at high-energy unscripted superhero shenanigans in this loving tribute to Adam West’s Batman!
BOOK NOW AT IMPROVTHEATRE.CO.UK
AUTUMN 2019 INTERNATIONAL JOKE OFF 14th Oct · 8pm · £7 Two of the South West’s finest one-liner comics take each other on to be crowned International Joke Off Winner by the audience. In one corner, there is Alf from Devon, with his sharp one liners combined with zany props. And in the other corner, Richard Lindesay from New Zealand brings observational jokes and flute-based antics.
Breaking Bread: Work in Progress 8th Nov · 8pm · £7 Kino Luna Theatre invite you around the table for a night of immersive theatre, where audience stories and experiences lead the action over a tasty, home-prepared meal. Breaking Bread is an in-development interactive exploration of storytelling, the ritual of sharing food and the changing nature of lifelong friendships.
bristol improv & revs 27th Oct · 8pm · £7 Join us for a night of frights and delights! Two comedy societies from Bristol University reunite for an evening of spooktacular entertainment, with a combination of terrifyingly funny sketches and hauntingly good improv. “The Revs are a comedy force to be reckoned with.” Comedy Clogs “Some of the sharpest young minds on the improvised comedy circuit.” AYoungerTheatre.com
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FUN & GAMES THEATRE JAM 5th Sept, 3rd Oct, 7th Nov · 8pm · PWYD The BIT’s Theatre Jam is your chance to get on stage and have a go at the make-em-ups yourself! All abilities and experience levels are welcome in this friendly, inclusive improv night. Arrive at 7pm for a group warm up and a chance to meet the other improvisers if you want to perform!
LA LA BAR 25th Sept · 8pm · PWYD Join us for the BIT’s musical theatre open-mic night, with live piano accompaniment! From performance pros to absolute beginners, this is a welcome-all night where anyone can get on stage to share their favourite songs. For the microphone shy, there are still plenty of chances to join in with barnstorming group numbers.
UTTER ROT & POPPYCOCK 12th Sept · 8pm · PWYD Bristol’s bimonthly absurdist cabaret night for eccentric and alternative acts. Hosted by the fervently bodacious Jenna Thompson and the sumptuously sadistic Xenia Randle, Utter Rot & Poppycock provides a joyful and supportive testing ground for new work: experimental theatre, improv, comedy, dance, music and more.
FIND OUT MORE AT IMPROVTHEATRE.CO.UK
AUTUMN 2019 SCRATCHPAD 18th Sept, 23rd Oct, 20th Nov · 8pm · PWYD Scratchpad is the Bristol Improv Theatre’s new scratch night – carving out stage time for fledgling ideas, emerging groups and the shooting sprouts of talent. Come and watch three local groups forge ahead with ideas that are as fresh, squeaky and full of promise as a brand new pair of trainers.
DYNAMITE Every other Sunday from 6th Oct · 8pm · PWYD University of Bristol’s Improv Society presents student comedy from some of the sharpest minds on the improv comedy circuit. Opening with stand-up from up and coming local comedians, fringe veterans Bristol Improv take the second half with a riotous mix of improvised games and scenes.
TECH FOR IMPROVISERS 22nd Sept · 6pm · £10/£7 Improv may be about performing on-stage, but acting is only the first step in constructing a whole theatre show. What comes next? Light, sound, staging – and a lot more besides. This workshop aims to give a basic overview of everything involved in designing the technical aspects of an improvised theatre show.
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COURSES & WORKSHOPS IMPROV TO STAND-UP 7th-8th Sept · 10am-5pm · £99 Ever wanted to get into stand-up? You can do it in just two days. Chris has directed, taught and coached stand-up for over ten years. Over two days, you will be guided through finding your persona, creating material and delivering it so it works, ending in a showcase for friends and family.
Commedia dell’Arte 19th Oct · 2pm-5pm · £30 Discover the roots of improvised comedy through the Italian clowning form of Commedia dell’arte, sampling commedia archetypes and releasing your inner clown. Suitable for actors, improvisers, clowns and anyone interested in being playful with other humans. No prior experience required, just an open mind and readiness to dive into some physical work. Taught by Imogen Palmer.
harold intensive 21st Sept · 10am-5pm · £60 This intensive teaches the training wheels and structure for one of the most famous improv formats in the world. It demonstrates the fundamental approach to scenework required to making an engaging 25-45min longform piece. Brought to you by John Gallagher Portero and John McInnes, formerly of Kitchen Rules Theatre who perform Harolds together as The Billy Boys.
TO BOOK, VISIT IMPROVTHEATRE.CO.UK
AUTUMN 2019 DISCOVERING IMPROV Check website for details · 7pm-- 10pm · £99 Forget class clowns and stand-up sweats – at the BIT, we don’t care who’s funny. For us, improv is about going with the flow, celebrating the screw-up and connecting with amazing new people. This gentle but challenging six week course is the perfect introduction to improvisation.
MONDAY IMPROV DROP-IN Weekly Mondays · 7:30pm-9:30pm · £10/£5 Learn new skills, explore and have fun. Open to everyone, these drop-in workshops are suitable for beginners and up, taught by local and visiting instructors. Each week brings a new workshop to stretch your improv muscles, learn new skills and meet a load of fantastic, friendly people.
WOMEN’S IMPROV DROP-IN Monthly Thursdays · 7:30pm-9:30pm · £7/£5 This workshop is for all women and non-binary people looking to explore improv. Come along for three hours of fun and exploration, playing with characters that defy stereotypes and narratives which avoid cliche. These workshops are co-ordinated and taught by the BIT’s female instructors and based on the excellent work of New Zealand-based improviser, producer and director Christine Brooks.
HELLO@IMPROVTHEATRE.CO.UK
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coming soon: the bristol improv theatre christmas show A cast of fantastic beasts, loveable monsters and downright weirdos assemble to deck the halls, ring out the bells and troll the ancient yuletide carol. What could go wrong? Join the BIT this December for nights of mayhem, hijinks and improvised adventures, told as all festive stories should be – with puppets.
THE UNSCRIPTED PLAYERS
PHOTOGRAPHY credits
Join the Bristol Improv Theatre’s amateur theatre company for just £30 per year. Take part in weekly workshops, mainstage productions and regular social events, plus receive discounted rates on shows, drop-ins and drinks. Go to unscriptedplayers.com.
With thanks to our volunteer photographers: Lee Pullen, Peter Critchley, John Thompson, James Pepper, Emma Cordeaux, Mike Cook & Caitlin Campbell.
50 ST. PAUL’S ROAD, CLIFTON, BS8 1LP TICKETS: IMPROVTHEATRE.CO.UK HELLO@IMPROVTHEATRE.CO.UK PHONE: 07936617158