PICTURE the scene, 2008: a ragtag bunch of stage performers and ne’er do wells searching for a venue to commemorate the life of recently deceased theatre legend Ken Campbell.

"And of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world….they walked into the Kazimier".

The above might be the starting point for actors taking part in a piece of improvised theatre this week, but it actually did happen like that.

I'm not sure I can find the words to say quite how much we're going to miss The Kazimier and are so proud and privileged to have been even the tiniest part of its existence in the city

The Kazimier, however, was far more than any gin joint. Gigs, parties, happenings, its own Garden, and, indeed, theatre. That ragtag bunch of performers became Impropriety, a community interest company famous for their weekend-long acting marathons involving a cast from all over the world; staged, where else, but the Kazimier. What other nightclub had its own repertory company? 

Rosie Wilkinson, Impropriety artistic director and founder member, told Liverpool Confidential: "To put it simply, were it not for the Kazimier, impropriety would not exist. Seven years ago they happily let a group of improvisers run amok in their venue for an entire weekend (the first Liverpool improvathon) with no idea who we were or what we were doing. And then they kept inviting us back."

She added: "The Kaz is such a unique space it becomes a character in its own right in each and every show we've done there. They not only just let us do these insane things in the venue but actively support and enable it from changing the entire space around to building the most beautiful sets from what they had just lying around to performing in the band.

"They made us feel not only welcome but part of this magical space that they created." 


One sage Liverpool media organ summed their relationship up: “The Kazimier isn’t part of the established stable of theatres in Liverpool and rightly so. It celebrates its vital independence with a passion and through it, has become the very epicentre of alternative theatre within which Impropriety has claimed its stake as the most life-enhancing and memorable risk-taker of them all.” 

Apparerently that was us, Liverpool Confidential. It still stands.

Now the end is near. The Kazimier closes on New Years Day 2016, a final act with no script changes permitted.

Time, then for Impropriety to say goodbye with some Bogey and Bergman: Kazablanca, an improvised film noir.

"Set in Kazablanca during the early days of World War II, a  group of Liverpool improvisers meet numerous characters, with unforeseen complications," it says here. "A night of Impropriety favourites plus new tales, never seen before and never to be seen again."

If you haven't seen Impropriety before here is your last chance at their birthplace, a highly recommended antidote to all else in Luvviepool.  

Rosie added. "I'm not sure I can find the words to say quite how much we're going to miss The Kazimier and are so proud and privileged to have been even the tiniest part of its existence in the city." 

Here's looking at you kid.

*Kazablanca, at The Kazimier, Wolstenholme Square, Thursday December 3, 7.30pm, doors, 8pm, show. Tix, £8 on the door (cash only)

Lots of articles about Impropriety here.