A POPULAR British ‘improv’ comedy troupe is set to make its debut performance in Bahrain tonight, as part of a ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’ tour to the region.
The Noise Next Door comprises West Country writer Tom Livingstone, Sussex-based half British-half Italian actor Sam Pacelli, Kent-based avid filmmaker Matt Grant and Essex-based touring theatre producer Robin Hatcher.
The troupe, who have become one of the world’s most sought-after comedy club headliners, have been performing their own distinctive brand of off-the-cuff comedy since they came together.
“We met at university and were doing improv shows as part of a big group in campus bars for a few years,” Mr Hatcher told the GDN.
“As graduation loomed, The Noise Next Door banded together as the most dedicated (and talented) members of the university group in a desperate attempt to not get real jobs.
“We formed way back in 2008 and went straight up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for what turned out to be a very successful run.
“After that we broke into the UK comedy circuit and quickly rose through the ranks to ‘headliner’ at all of the UK’s major comedy clubs.
Background
“Each of us come at comedy from a slightly different angle and background – stand-up, writing, film and slap-stick.
“It means we each have our perspective and style.”
Speaking about improv, Mr Hatcher said it was the most versatile form of comedy.
“We can give the audience exactly what they want,” he explained.
“Every audience is different and want such different things from a comedy show – with improv, we can do that”
The group, which performs various improv shows all around the UK, is currently touring two different shows; an adult show called ‘Remix’ explores different types of improvisation and a family-friendly show called ‘At Sea’ which is an improvised pirate adventure.
“We also do a regular show in a few cities called ‘The Comedy Lock-In’ which features stand-up guest stars joining in the improv with us,” added Mr Hatcher.
Speaking about their success and consistent praise, Mr Hatcher said the troupe’s versatility has had a big role to play.
“We also think that audiences find us to be a breath of fresh air in a market full of regular stand-up comedians,” he said.
“We’re something a little bit
different and we will make you laugh.”
Whose Line Is It Anyway? is a British improvisational comedy series, which ran from September 1988 to February 1999, with the final season coinciding with the first season of the American series.
The show consisted of a panel of four performers who create characters, scenes and
songs on-the-spot, in the style of short-form improvisation games, many taken from theatre sports.
Both the British and American shows ostensibly take the form of a game show with the host arbitrarily assigning points and likewise choosing a winner at the end of each episode.
However, the show lacks the true stakes and competition of a game show by design and the format is simply part of the comedy.
“We loved the original Whose Line Is It Anyway? shows. They were the reason we all started doing improv in the first place,” added Mr Hatcher.
Camaraderie
“We especially loved the camaraderie between the people on stage – that’s something we try to bring to our show.
“There are so many different sections. There are songs, sketches, one-liners, characters and epic stories.
“The show we’re bringing to you is a total ‘Best Of’.
“We cannot wait to visit your beautiful country and we hope you are ready to laugh... hard.”
Tickets for the show are priced BD18 and are available for purchase at www.thelaughterfactory.com. The comedy show will be held at the British Club in Manama from 8pm onwards.
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