Improbable theatre
Encyclopedia
Improbable theatre is a UK theatre company founded in 1996 by Lee Simpson, Phelim McDermott, Julian Crouch (Artistic Directors) and producer Nick Sweeting. Improbable is funded by Arts Council England, London. The theatre company has produced twelve shows. According to their statement: "Improbable has grown out of a way of working that means being prepared to create work by the seat of your pants and the skin of your teeth, stepping onstage before you are ready and allowing the audience to have an integral part in the creation of a show."
The company "took theatre-making in new directions with a mix of puppetry, improvisation, comedy and storytelling, transforming the unlikeliest of material into striking, idiosyncratic entertainment."
As well as producing shows Improbable has been developing a more direct approach to tackling complex social and cultural issues through hosting and facilitating Open Space events which so far have occurred around the UK and in Bulgaria, Romania, Israel, Canada, USA, Serbia and Brazil.
The reviewer for thelantern.com wrote of the Improbable theatre's first production, 70 Hill Lane: "Improbable Theatre's production of 70 Hill Lane, which opens at the Wexner Center tonight...will shatter that stereotype. For once experimental theater has the potential to be something fun...Phelem McDermott is one of the masterminds behind this performance...70 Hill Lane is impromptu with the actors making up lines and using props as they go along. The audience becomes involved, and there's a lot of humor. That's the way McDermott, and other co-founders, Lee Simpson and Julian Crouch, all from London, wanted it...From London, the play has traveled to Cairo, Belgium, San Diego and New York gathering rave reviews."
Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott directed and designed the new musical The Addams Family
, which had tryouts in November 2009 in Chicago
and opened on Broadway
in April 2010.
70 Hill Lane (1996), Animo, Lifegame (1998 & 2000), Cinderella, Coma (1999), Spirit, Sticky, The Hanging Man, Theatre Of Blood, Stars Are Out Tonight, The Wolves in the Walls
, Satyagraha and Panic.
Panic
Improbable's latest show, Panic is a co-production with the Barbican Center, London, and the Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, Ohio
and the Sydney Opera House
. Its world premiere was at the Wexner Center on 4 March 2009. It then opened in the UK on 19 March 2009 at the Corn Exchange, Newbury
before fulfilling a UK Tour which ends in a 5 week run at The Barbican, London.
The company "took theatre-making in new directions with a mix of puppetry, improvisation, comedy and storytelling, transforming the unlikeliest of material into striking, idiosyncratic entertainment."
As well as producing shows Improbable has been developing a more direct approach to tackling complex social and cultural issues through hosting and facilitating Open Space events which so far have occurred around the UK and in Bulgaria, Romania, Israel, Canada, USA, Serbia and Brazil.
The reviewer for thelantern.com wrote of the Improbable theatre's first production, 70 Hill Lane: "Improbable Theatre's production of 70 Hill Lane, which opens at the Wexner Center tonight...will shatter that stereotype. For once experimental theater has the potential to be something fun...Phelem McDermott is one of the masterminds behind this performance...70 Hill Lane is impromptu with the actors making up lines and using props as they go along. The audience becomes involved, and there's a lot of humor. That's the way McDermott, and other co-founders, Lee Simpson and Julian Crouch, all from London, wanted it...From London, the play has traveled to Cairo, Belgium, San Diego and New York gathering rave reviews."
Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott directed and designed the new musical The Addams Family
The Addams Family (musical)
The Addams Family is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The show is based upon The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams in his single-panel gag cartoons, which depict a ghoulish American family with an affinity for...
, which had tryouts in November 2009 in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and opened on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in April 2010.
Productions
The theatre company has produced:70 Hill Lane (1996), Animo, Lifegame (1998 & 2000), Cinderella, Coma (1999), Spirit, Sticky, The Hanging Man, Theatre Of Blood, Stars Are Out Tonight, The Wolves in the Walls
The Wolves in the Walls
The Wolves in the Walls is a book by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, published in 2003 in the United States by HarperCollins, and in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury. The book was highly praised on release, winning three awards for that year...
, Satyagraha and Panic.
Panic
Improbable's latest show, Panic is a co-production with the Barbican Center, London, and the Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
and the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
. Its world premiere was at the Wexner Center on 4 March 2009. It then opened in the UK on 19 March 2009 at the Corn Exchange, Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
before fulfilling a UK Tour which ends in a 5 week run at The Barbican, London.