The Improverts

What do sweltering rooms, PBH, taking free samples from the Fudge Kitchen and being overwhelmed with flyers have in common? Answer: they are all Fringe institutions. After beginning their 19th successive run at the Festival playing to sell-out crowds most nights, add The Improverts to that list.

The group of young and versatile comedians are keen to ensure that their audience, who are essentially in charge of what takes place on stage. A youthful looking crowd are treated to a fresh and enticing performance, which represents great value for money at just a fiver a time.

The games played are fun and well thought out, with ‘Guest of Honour’, ‘American Musical’ and ‘Space Jump’ delighting a raucous audience. Other games can slightly annoy more than they enthral, but this is not through any fault of the performers but the inevitable result of a handful of audience members that take ‘audience participation’ to the extreme and proceed to shout out unintelligible drivel at ten second intervals. Unsurprisingly, when the Improverts announce that during the final game, “Freeze”, anyone in the crowd can take the place of performers and do a cameo on stage, these said same people shrink silently into their seats – providing a humorous but unfortunate distraction throughout from the efforts of the performers.

Like other improvised shows, some performers respond quicker than others; some games work better than others. Don’t expect sophistication, remarkably quick-witted brains or wide variation, that’s what Paul Merton’s chums are in Edinburgh for. What is promised is a warm welcome, a unique and spontaneous show, and a tried and trusted formula that never fails to make you laugh out loud.