Back again with another digital fringe review!

This time I'm watching 'The Workplace: An Improvised Mockumentary Sitcom'!

I was very kindly sent two show recordings by The Workplace, and I watched both to give a better idea of how they improvised.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: You are always running a risk when going to an improv show. Whether that's because of the audience suggestions, the abilities of the performers, or even worse... when it's both.

The Workplace are in their element with improv. From watching two shows, I can tell that they each have a stock character, but that's just playing to your strenghts! Too often I've seen improv where the audience is twisting in embarrassment because the fall guy decides on a whim that, tonight, he is the mastermind.

With only fifty minutes to get suggestions for the show and to perfom the whole thing, The Workplace get straight to work. It's so funny at an improv show when the audience are asked for a suggestion and everyone's minds just go blank. (Imagine having to come up with things on the spot for a whole show with people watching!)

From the two shows I saw, there was a chip shop that 'grew their own fish' and had a mystery surrounding a potentially fraudulent potato inspector, whilst the other concerned crime scene investigators who were leaving headquarters for the first time in their lives and were in no way connected to the actual police! All of this and more hilarious hijinks.

It's a fun night out and The Workplace are really at the top of their game, but you do run the risk of YOUR show maybe not being as great as others. Out of the two shows I saw, the first was really only about two and half stars but the second one was a solid 5 stars. In my opinion I feel the weaker performance was due to the audience suggestions leaving the actors with a weak story line to build on and not to do with their skills as improv actors.

So if The Workplace comes to your town or back to fringe next year I'd thoroughly recommend it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What's your opinion on improv? Worth the risk, or have you been burned too many times?

Looking forward to releasing more digital fringe reviews!

Love,

Tony x