SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL
Chelmsford Civic Theatre, Chelmsford
Thursday 16 April 2020 7.30pm
Chelmsford Civic Theatre, Chelmsford
Thursday 16 April 2020 7.30pm
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is a fully realised musical created live from audience suggestions. It includes moving storylines, amazing songs, full group harmonies, dance numbers. It’s also very funny to watch. The Showstoppers have been working on the show since 2008, figuring out how to improvise in increasingly esoteric styles, musical, dance, straight theatre, and film genres to name but a few.
In the Autumn of 2015, it became the first longform improv show to have a full run in the West End at the Apollo Theatre. Then in April 2016, the show became the first improv show ever to be nominated, and subsequently win, an Olivier Award (Best Entertainment & Family Show). It has since been at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the past 12 years, had a 12-week run at London’s Other Palace in early 2019 and continues to play monthly at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s West End.
‘Has everything you want from a blockbuster musical –it just happens to be made up on the spot.’ Metro
In the Autumn of 2015, it became the first longform improv show to have a full run in the West End at the Apollo Theatre. Then in April 2016, the show became the first improv show ever to be nominated, and subsequently win, an Olivier Award (Best Entertainment & Family Show). It has since been at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the past 12 years, had a 12-week run at London’s Other Palace in early 2019 and continues to play monthly at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s West End.
‘Has everything you want from a blockbuster musical –it just happens to be made up on the spot.’ Metro
Each Showstopper! The Improvised Musical show is created live on the spot from audience suggestions. The cast transform suggestions of setting, genre and style into a fully realised musical, with ingenious storylines and hilarious characters. The audience can even name that night’s show, which is added to the Showstoppers’ archive. From Pink Floyd to Stephen Sondheim, via a school, Ancient Egypt or a mattress shop –if the audience can name it, The Showstoppers will perform it.
The show began life in 2008 as a workshop at the Actors’ Centre in London, when Dylan Emery, Adam Meggido and Ken Campbell took a group of actors with little or no improvisation experience and within a week attempted to get them to perform an hour-long extemporised musical in front of a packed house. This was such a success that Dylan and Adam decided to gather together a group of professionals and create a fully-fledged show. After a few try-outs at The King’s Head in Islington (one of Britain’s great hothouses for the nurturing of new talent in musicals), the project immediately secured financial backing, and the show has gone from strength to strength ever since.
The show is totally different every night, so it can be seen multiple times and enjoyed just as much if not more each time:
The show is totally different every night, so it can be seen multiple times and enjoyed just as much if not more each time:
- The group are long running, well known and renowned for their improvisation work.
- Most cast members have also received acclaim.
- Olivier Award Winning, as well as a Chortle Award and numerous others.
- It has developed a reputation as a ‘Must see’ Edinburgh Fringe event. Touring audiences have an opportunity to see the show in their own local theatre, thus experiencing a quintessential element of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for themselves.
- The show now has had a critically acclaimed run West End run on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue to its name and a run at The Other Palace. Again, this is a chance for bookers to see a West End show on their doorstep.
- The cast are talented and experienced – each cast member must rehearse for a year before they can take part in front of an audience.
- It is a comedic, enjoyable event to watch.
- It is innovative, and always fresh, new and relevant.
Check out our interview with Showstopper! sensation, Ali James HERE
Tickets available at https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres/whats-on/musicals/showstopper-the-improvised-musical/