It's the '20th Theatresports(TM) Clash Of The Titans', as mayhem and madness returns to the Fringe, with one of Adelaide’s longest running shows hitting its 20th year.
Think ‘Thank God You’re Here’ and ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ – this fast-paced improv show offers a taste of some of the best artists from across the Fringe performing to their best under pressure.
Teams compete in a high-energy fusion of theatre and stand-up, creating short scenes based on audience suggestions. Along with the judges, you decide who wins!
ImproNOW Founder Anne Mayer sat down to explain how this all works.
Tell us about Theatresports, and why should we go?
You’ll be guaranteed a good laugh for a start and there’s such a variety of scenes. The format is there are teams of performers that create comic scenes based on audience suggestions. There are no scripts and it’s all made up on the run. The improvisers create hilarious scenes, on the fly, and they have no idea what they will be doing. Somehow it all works! No scene or show will ever be the same. We have people come to every show of the season because it’s always different.
What’s unique about your show?
The show has a really big feel to it. On stage there are judges, the MC, musicians, plus all the players are sitting on the side. They can jump in to another team’s scenes as well. For example, if a cow is mentioned and all that team’s players are already in the scene, someone may jump up to be the cow. Or a tumble weed to set the scene of a Western. This often creates mayhem as the performers try to out-do each other to create the funniest scenes. Often they might deliberately mess with each other to head off on an unexpected, but very funny, tangent.
How does the format work?
There are four rounds and four teams compete in each round. Each game and scene is different and even how they perform is different. For instance, they may be required to perform as puppets the entire time.
Any past players we might know?
Probably the best known are Tommy Little and Hannah Gadsby. I’ll always remember Hannah doing the scene ‘Emotional Replay’. You can imagine with her deadpan face and voice, doing the most minute changes as her teammates are going to the extreme. There have been so many well-known performers over 20 seasons that I can’t remember them all!
How does the judging work?
There are two judges who hold up score cards at the end of each scene. The Hanging Judge (think Red Symons) is always a favourite. They are always just that little bit too harsh. Don’t we all love to ‘boo’ someone, especially when they deserve it! He laps it up and so do the audience. The audience also get to have their say. It’s G-rated, so it suits everyone. If there is a blooper the horn sounds and the improviser has to immediately scramble for a more appropriate response, so it’s fast-paced, competitive fun.
The '20th Theatresports(TM) Clash Of The Titans' is on at the Arts Theatre (Adelaide Fringe) 2,12 and 15 March.
