DANA Andersen, ex-comedy partner of Austin Powers star Mike Myers, comes to Liverpool this weekend to take part in a gruelling, non-stop, 33-hour soap opera – and nobody has got a clue what it’s about yet.
Winging it was always more fun than reading from a script. Large chunks of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Outnumbered are filmed with utterances coming entirely naturally and uncensored from the performers’ lips: a sort of sophisticated going-with-the-flow; lines without lines, words ebbing as the situation demands.
Liverpool’s Impropriety started out three years ago, specialising in this very kind of improvisational comedy and drama, with its founders inspired by the likes of the late, great, theatre director Ken Campbell (more news of him later on Liverpool Confidential).
Impropriety has already embarked on two weekend-long acting marathons and now, billing itself as Liverpool’s premier improvisation theatre company, it has decided to make the leap from stage to screen itself.
It presents something called Back To The Studio, its Third Annual Liverpool Improvathon. Beginning on Saturday, this is an entirely improvised comedy epic that will run continuously for 2012 minutes (33 hours and 32 minutes). The venue is the Kazimier and the cameras will be rolling throughout.
The Improvathon format was created and made popular by Canadian company DIE-Nasty, who have held an annual 50-hour “Soap-a-thon” for nearly 20 years. This year, Impropriety is getting all excited by the inclusion of three of its main protagonists: comedy stalwart Andersen, a veteran of The Second City and May Contain Nuts, plus World Improv Champion Donovan Workun, and Kory Matthewson of Rapid Fire Improv.
Mike Myers: 'I owe everything to Dana Anderson' (pictured left)
In 2005, Andersen exported the Die-Nasty company's annual Soap-A-Thon to England, working with ex Everyman director Campbell to produce a 36-hour-long soap opera in London. One thing led to another and the Liverpool bond was forged.
Described as a guru of comedy by his followers, Myers, himself a lineage scouser, says: “I owe everything to Dana Anderson”
This weekend, the cast will forego scripts, planning and, most of all, sleep to continually perform a soap opera consisting of 17 two-hour episodes.
The finale, beginning at 9pm on Sunday, promised to bring the narrative to an interesting climax.
Artistic Director Rosie Wilkinson, explains: “When performers are deprived of sleep, they lose the ability to censor themselves which leads to some truly remarkable theatre being created.
"The performers discover the story at the same time as the audience, something which can never be achieved in other theatrical formats.”
Timing is everything - and other essential info
The first episode of Back To The Studio will begin on Saturday 3rd March at 1pm with doors opening every two hours until the final episode at 9pm on Sunday 4th March. Audiences are free to join the story at any point and to stay for as little or as long as they wish. Each episode begins with the ‘story so far’, so you won’t miss anything. Parental Guidance is strongly suggested, however a Family Episode taking place 11am - 1pm on Sunday will be suitable for audiences of any age.
Last timeBack To The Studio, Impropriety’s third annual Liverpool Improvathon, The Kazimier, Wolstenholme Square, Liverpool. Starts 1pm Saturday 3rdMarch. Finishes 10.32pm Sunday 4th March. Episodes begin on odd numbered hours: 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, etc (yes, all through the night!)
TICKETS: £5 per episode - on the door only.
£25 weekend pass, come and go throughout the event. On the door or online.
£5 for ‘Children’s Hour’ (11am-1pm Sunday). Children get in free. All children MUST be accompanied by an adult.
£10 for 'Sleepover'' (11pm Sat – 9am Sun). Audiences encouraged to bring pyjamas and sleeping bags.
