Sit down, shut up and shout out your suggestions, says Lizzie Skrzypiec of Murder She Didn't Write

It’s an exciting time for improv. More and more of it is popping up across the West End, Netflix specials and integrated into big performative experiences. Not to be an improviser cliché but if you’re asking if you should go and see some improv then my answer is YES, AND go and see more than just one! Get on board and see some exciting stuff that is taking improv to all the different corners of comedy and theatre. 

Here is my insight into the audiences I’ve experienced and how to watch an improv show.

As an improviser who has been touring with Murder, She Didn’t Write for 10 years, it’s interesting to see how audiences have changed or not changed in some respects. 

When I interact with audiences as my character Detective Agatha Crusty, gathering suggestions to build our fictional crimes around, there are some things that pop up again and again. Each Fringe alone my troupe performs to thousands of people and it’s interesting how often that when I ask someone to think of a random item, they say ‘cheese’ or ‘spatula’. When I ask for a detail about that item, I often hear ‘It’s gold’  or ‘It’s purple!’

 I’m sure there is some psychological reason for this. Much in the way that when people are asked to pick a random number the most popular answer is 7. But there are other insights when it comes to interacting with audiences in improv.

People frequently shout out the name of the latest and most controversial political figures. We have had more Donald Trump and Boris Johnsons than you can shake a stick at. And this is a tricky scenario to navigate, not just as a performer but also our show’s director. Did that audience member really want to see a 70-minute-long murder mystery about Donald Trump, or did they just shout that out to be funny in the moment? 

It’s rude of us to completely disregard audience suggestions, and we often incorporate them to the degree that we feel is appropriate for the comedy but not to destroy the show for others in the audience. 

Not to mention we are a show with an age rating of 14+ so if we ever get the suggestion of a dildo (which is fairly common) then I will bat it away with a comedic retort. But we might secretly incorporate a bit of cheeky word play to honour it during the show.

Some of suggestions we get the most often are:
Donald Trump
Brexit
Boris Johnson
The reading of a will
Funeral
Bake-Off
Eurovision
Seance
Hen do/ stag do

It varies from town to town the frequency with which these come up.

For any newcomers to improv shows who are thinking, 'What if I get picked on? Will I say something stupid or wrong?'

My advice is not to worry. It’s not your job to be funny, just be true to yourself and say what you’d like to see. There is no pressure on you to say anything entertaining. 

Or you can give a hilarious suggestion you were thinking up earlier. It’s our job to craft it into the show. And as long as it’s not inappropriate or alienating for others then we’ll bring it to life. We’re not here to make you look bad. 

Also, I should mention in our show, I don’t pick on people, nor do I drag them up on stage. So, if you’re really uncomfortable you can still enjoy the show, as you would any other, without shouting out anything at all.

• Murder She Didn't Write is on at Assembly George Square at 3.50pm

Published: 15 Aug 2024