What do lovestruck beekeepers, menopausal mermaids, zombie prime ministers and deadly rival dentists have in common? They’ve all been the subject of a Totally Improvised Musical! Don’t miss the opening and closing night of your very own musical at The Blackburn Empire Theatre this week. Nominated for best variety show at the Leicester Comedy Festival earlier this year, the Totally Improvised Musical has been playing to sold out audiences and picking up rave reviews.
With live musical accompaniment, the team compose comedy musicals based on a title given by the audience. Scenes, songs and stories are made up on the spot and there may even be some “dancing”. This team of award-winning comedians have been delighting sold-out audiences at venues and festivals across the UK as everything is composed in the moment and on the edge of your seats! Everything comes from a title given by the audience.
“The cast have no clue about the characters, choruses, choreography or even what key we’re meant to be in until we get the title of tonight’s musical from you,” explains performer Sean Mason. The Totally Improvised Company won Best Alternative Act in 2022 for their family friendly show ComedySportz and have found even more success with their Totally Improvised musicals and pantomimes.
“Some nights you end up singing a really touching love song and sometimes you end up doing a dance about ham,” adds Bron Edge who also performs in the show and started The Totally Improvised Company in 2001. “There’s something magic about a show that only exists for one night. Audiences have come again and again knowing they’ll get a totally different but still totally great show!”
Lancashire’s liveliest venue, The Blackburn Empire Theatre has built a reputation for quality live theatre, music and comedy events. The popularity of improv comedy has grown massively in the last few years and the Totally Improvised Company has been at the forefront of Improv in the North West since 2001. “It’s the live, anything can happen nature of improv that makes it so fun and exciting,” reasons Bron. “It’s not every day that you go out to see an entire musical that was made up just for that audience. It’s not just the opening night… it’s the closing night as well!”
The group are touring venues across the North of England as the show continues to grow and find new audiences to give the group even wilder title ideas. If your title gets picked you also win a prize. “Even if you don’t like musicals, everyone likes prizes!” laughs Sean. Previous show titles have included Frankenstein Joins an Acapella Group, Lawnmowers: The Musical, My Grandma Is a Parasite, The First Primark in Space and Penguins Don’t Eat Cheese.
What will your show be about? Head down to The Blackburn Empire Theatre on Thursday 17th October to find out!
SHOW: The Totally Improvised Musical
VENUE: Blackburn Empire Theatre, Aqueduct Rd, Blackburn, BB2 4HT
DATE/TIME: 17th October 2024 / Doors 7pm / Starts 7.30pm
TICKETS: £10 LINK: https://blackburnempire.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173652228