By John Perry
Fans of improvisational comedy rejoice as Leicester’s Comedy Festival has a special treat coming your way this month in the form of Sex, Lies & Improvisation, a dark comedic play created by award-winning comedians Rachel E. Thorn and Alex Keen.
The award-nominated creators behind CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation and Sturike Comedy, comes a new show following the story of a girl, a guy, and a great big lie!
Each instalment of Sex, Lies & Improvisation is inspired by true lies – not the TV series – but real-life lies. Each improv show begins with the performers asking the audience to choose a real-life lie to inspire that night’s performance.
The show itself was inspired by the comedy-improv TV series ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’ and the 1989 independent film ‘Sex, Lies & Videotape.’ Thorn and Keen then mixed the two concepts together and added their own flare.
Due to the nature of their act as a live improvised play, every night is a completely unique and varied performance.
“The great thing about improvisation is comedy is guaranteed,” Keen describes, but they also add drama into the mix as it’s all about the relationship they share during the show.
“Sex, Lies & Improvisation is extremely compelling because the audience has no idea what’s coming next – and nor do we! Rachel and I have to trust each other completely.”
Audience participation is a key factor, as each night Rachel and Alex pick someone’s lie for them to base that night’s show around. This, in turn, guarantees a fresh experience for every audience.
Thorn believes it’s important to use “real” lies, which are obtained online to keep their performances genuine. “We wanted to work with real lies because the truth is stranger than fiction.”
This works incredibly well for the duo as audiences all over the country have adored the fresh, fun, and involved nature of the comedic play.
The pair have been evolving the comedy play for many years now and were nominated for ‘Best Improvised Show’ at Leicester comedy show back in 2017. They were also awarded ‘Act of the Year’ in 2019 by The Phoenix Remix, who also gave their performance a 5-star rating. You have no excuse not to give them a chance!
Head down to The Western in Leicester on the 21st of February to see these spectacular comedians go to work with new lies, a new audience, and new laughs! It’s dark yet enthralling improv comedy at its finest!
“Full of inventive wit. Completely engaging. This is live theatre taken to a whole new level” ★★★★★ (Sheffield Review)
“Act Of The Year 2019. Oozes creativity. See it. It will not disappoint” ★★★★★ (The Phoenix Remix)
Catch the best new thing in improv comedy before their lies get out!
Book your tickets at https://comedy-festival.co.uk/ or call the Box Office on 01164566812.
