list.co.uk/festival Clive Anderson | FESTIVAL COMEDY
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Racing Minds The Showstoppers
DAVID ALLISON As an ex-lawyer, you will appreciate that what appears as a witty adlib may actually be the result of anticipating the responses of ‘witnesses’ or improv participants: is this cheating? Clive If you are cross-examining a witness or interviewing a guest, it is sensible to think what they may answer so you are ready with a follow-up question if necessary. Or a joke. The same could be true to a lesser extent in improv. I wouldn’t call it cheating. ■ This Is Your Trial, Assembly George Square, 623 3030, 2–23 Aug (not 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 17 & 18), 11.20pm, £8.50–£10.50. Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6. BATTLEACTS If you could remove one thing from the world of improv what would it be? Clive The three Rs: repetition, repetition, repetition. ■ BattleActs, Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 622 6801, 2–24 Aug (not 4, 11, 18), 10pm, free.
BARON STERNLOCK In long-form improv, how important is it to be funny in comparison to creating a satisfying storyline? Clive As with everything in life, it is important to keep a balance. On a TV or radio programme you want to keep the jokes coming thick and fast, or the audience will switch off or turn over. In a longer form of improv, in the theatre say, you can take your time to develop a scenario but you hope to build to something satisfying to justify the time taken. But a joke or two along the way also helps. ■ Baron Sternlock, Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall, 220 5911, 31 Jul–25 Aug (not 18), 1.35pm, £6.50 (£5).
BLIND MIRTH What’s the least expected way improv has helped you in real life? Clive It allowed me to appear on radio and television. ■ Blind Mirth, theSpace on the Mile, 510 2382, 11–23 Aug (not 17), 10.05pm, £6. THE CLEEK What are you most looking forward to about reforming the show for Edinburgh? Clive I love the excitement of appearing in front of a live audience and working with a bunch of quick-witted performers. ■ The Cleek, Mash House, 226 0000, 6–24 Aug (not 11 & 12, 18 & 19), 2.20pm, free.
JOE, AUSTENTATIOUS How do I tell [fellow performer] Rachel about my romantic feelings for her without upsetting the dynamic of the group? Clive You are bound to upset the dynamic of the group – for good or ill – by telling Rachel about your romantic feelings for her. But the vital question is whether your possible relationship with Rachel is more important to you than the group dynamic or not. I can’t answer that for you. Good luck. ■ Austentatious, Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 2–25 Aug (not 12), 1.40pm, £9–£11 (£8–£10). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6.
JOHN HASTINGS McEwan Hall is taken over by 800 schoolchildren who want to i ght you. You have to distract them with an improv game: which one would you choose? Clive ‘Stand, Sit, Lie Down’. Starting with everybody, including the audience, lying down for i ve minutes. ■ John Hastings: Anything Can Be a Podcast! Podcast!, Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 622 6801, 31 Jul–24 Aug, 5.15pm, free THE IMPROVERTS What, for you, has been the most inventive use of an audience suggestion? Clive In an early radio recording episode of Whose Line is it Anyway?, a member of the audience suggested I should be a chat show host. I have built a career on that. ■ The Improverts, Bedlam Theatre, 629 0430, 4–23 Aug, 12.30am, £7.50 (£6.50). Previews 2 & 3 Aug, £7.50 (£6.50).
RACING MINDS Who would be in your improv dream team? Clive Greg Proops, Steve Frost, Josie Lawrence and Angela Merkel. ■ Racing Minds, Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 2–25 Aug, 11.45am, £7–£9 (£6–£8). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6. THE SHOWSTOPPERS Do you ever get the urge to join in or do you prefer sitting behind the desk? Clive Opinion is divided on this. I have occasionally joined in with improv games and I think I have been i ne. Everyone else thought I was better behind the desk. ■ The Showstoppers, Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1–24 Aug (not 21), various times, £14–£15 (£12–£14). Previews 30 & 31 Jul, 10.30pm, £10.
What Does the Title Matter Anyway?, Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 6–19 Aug, 9pm, £16–£17.50 (£14.50–£16). 31 Jul–7 Aug 2014 THE LIST FESTIVAL 35