THEATRESPORTS at the Museum of Comedy

★★★★

“a slapdash and chaotic style which is mostly fun”

Theatresports sees two teams of improvisers battle head-to-head in a series of short form improv games to challenge and flex their creativity and wit. The audience has the power to decide the points, with applause and laughter. It’s a type of improvisation show that’s been around since the ‘70s, but when comedy troupe Kerfuffle do it, the winning team snags a 3D printed Kerfuffle trophy. High stakes.

It’s fun to watch people have fun, and the performers are clearly having as great a time as the audience. In one game a performer must repeatedly interrupt a sketch, forcing the improvisers to come up with ever more outlandish one-liners. In another every question must be met with a question. In a third, the improvisers must incorporate audience one liners into a normal conversation. The games are designed for maximum silliness, and the performers provide that in spades.

The competitive format is slightly flawed, the audience are reluctant to give anyone one point (or really any less than five) so it does mean a fairly friendly competition. But no one cares. The ineffectual scoring system is part of the charm. The night I’m there, the audience manages to gain points themselves, by shouting out particularly funny answers, and ultimately wins the game.

The hosts, Charlie and Viki Jackson, lean into a slapdash and chaotic style which is mostly fun. Sometimes it feels like it can bring down the energy a bit, but the format still races along. The games and sketches are all cut before they grow stale, but always allow enough time for the ridiculousness to run its course.

Much of improv is about sharing and communicating and throughout the night that energy felt natural and not forced. It was so nice to see the more experienced performers and people who were clearly newer to improv perform together, happily sharing the space. There was no showboating, or jostling to be the star, the group felt inclusive and kind, and that was reflected in the generous and engaged audience.

Kerfuffle is an expert troupe, and their shows lean into their joyous, messy comedy, with passion, teamwork and fun.

THEATRESPORTS at the Museum of Comedy

Reviewed on 18th August 2023

by Auriol Reddaway

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Kate-Lois Elliott: Gentrif*cked | ★★★ | Museum of Comedy | August 2023

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End Of The World Fm | ★★★ | Cockpit Theatre | August 2023

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Theatresports

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★★★★

“How are we the only eight people to know about this gem of a gig?”

No matter how funny the comedian, how well-versed and confident, playing to an audience of five (eventually bolstered by three more latecomers) is an unfair fight.

But that doesn’t appear to stop Ashley Barnhill from winning her fun-sized crowd over with her hyper-sexualism, casual antagonism and just the small fact that she was hit by a car, knocked into a coma and now has a titanium skull.

It’s a lot of pressure for a small stand-up audience- the sound of the crowd is so vital to a good time- and while Ashley is warming up, the amused, but quiet smiles threaten to set the tone. But after just a few minutes, it feels less like a weak turn-out a more like an exclusive experience. How are we the only eight people to know about this gem of a gig?

“I’m trying to be less of an arsehole”, she repeatedly tells us, only to illustrate exactly why that’s an extremely unlikely goal. Ashley is shocking, yes, but it seems so completely honest that even if I’m a little scandalised at moments, I’m also completely on side. Chuckling devilishly before delivering her most controversial punchlines- “pro-lifers are just jealous they don’t know what it’s like to kill a baby”- she’s clearly amusing herself as much as anyone else.

The set is a little US-centric, which, playing to a British audience, is always going to be a harder sell. But for the most part, America’s issues are our issues too: the Me Too movement, Karens, abortion rights, paedophilia. It might sound very political, but Ashley’s commentary is sardonic to the extreme and entirely without loyalties.

Currently part of the Camden Fringe run, you’ve got one more chance to see Ashley in London before she heads off to Edinburgh, where she will no doubt kill, even if she’s only playing to the sound engineer. For the love of comedy, give this woman an audience! She’s earned it.

THEATRESPORTS at the Museum of Comedy

★★★★

“a slapdash and chaotic style which is mostly fun”

THEATRESPORTS at the Museum of Comedy

Reviewed on 18th August 2023

by Auriol Reddaway

More Camden Fringe Reviews

Theatresports

Theatresports

ASHLEY BARNHILL: TEXAS TITANIUM at The Museum of Comedy

★★★★

“How are we the only eight people to know about this gem of a gig?”

ASHLEY BARNHILL: TEXAS TITANIUM at the Museum of Comedy

Reviewed on 9th August 2023

by Miriam Sallon

Photography by Nick Asokan

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Ashley Barnhill

Ashley Barnhill