The Suggestibles
Encyclopedia
The Suggestibles is a British improv
comedy group based in Newcastle upon Tyne
. Formed in 2003 at Live Theatre (prior to having a name and simply known as Improv Night) they went on to find a following at their home venue The Cumberland Arms in Ouseburn
, playing there the last Friday of every month ever since. The group in 2011 play mid month Saturdays at The Mixer, having had former Newcastle residencies at The Hyena and Black Swan.
The group has a core team of 5 players (in 2010/2011 made up from Bev Fox, Ian McLaughlin, Carl Kennedy, Gary Kitching, Chris Price and Rob Atkinson) and are usually accompanied by an improvising musician, and often a special guest from other UK improv companies.
Their regular show usually consists of two 45 minute sets, with improv games and short forms
in the first half, followed by Aspects - a long-form
(or narrative) improvised musical* in the second.
The Suggestibles also present the Impro Pantso*, an improvised pantomime, every Xmas at Northern Stage
and the Cumberland Arms. The Suggestibles first presented it at Live Theatre in 2004*
On 23 April 2005 The Suggestibles were the winning team at London's Globe Theatre
in Ken Campbell
's Shakespearean improv tournament: Shall We Shog? beating teams from London and Liverpool.
The Suggestibles have performed at Bristol Jam, an annual improv festival held at the Bristol Old Vic
, since its inception in 2009.
Away from the stage, the Suggestibles have an online following for their videos and live improv clips. They won a Royal Television Society
Award in 2008 for Pour Quoi (a skit on Parkour) which was a controversial overnight YouTube hit. The team also presented a live radio show on NE1FM
for six months in 2008.
Improv
Improv may refer to:* Improvisation, an act of spontaneous invention* Musical improvisation* Improvisational theatre* The Improv, a chain of U.S. comedy clubs* Lotus Improv, a spreadsheet program...
comedy group based in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. Formed in 2003 at Live Theatre (prior to having a name and simply known as Improv Night) they went on to find a following at their home venue The Cumberland Arms in Ouseburn
Ouseburn
The Ouseburn is a river which flows through Newcastle upon Tyne into the River Tyne. The river gives its name to the Ouseburn electoral ward....
, playing there the last Friday of every month ever since. The group in 2011 play mid month Saturdays at The Mixer, having had former Newcastle residencies at The Hyena and Black Swan.
The group has a core team of 5 players (in 2010/2011 made up from Bev Fox, Ian McLaughlin, Carl Kennedy, Gary Kitching, Chris Price and Rob Atkinson) and are usually accompanied by an improvising musician, and often a special guest from other UK improv companies.
Their regular show usually consists of two 45 minute sets, with improv games and short forms
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
in the first half, followed by Aspects - a long-form
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
(or narrative) improvised musical* in the second.
The Suggestibles also present the Impro Pantso*, an improvised pantomime, every Xmas at Northern Stage
Northern Stage
Northern Stage is a non-profit, regional professional company located in White River Junction, Vermont. The company began in 1992 to offer high-quality professional theater in northern New England...
and the Cumberland Arms. The Suggestibles first presented it at Live Theatre in 2004*
On 23 April 2005 The Suggestibles were the winning team at London's Globe Theatre
Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613...
in Ken Campbell
Ken Campbell
Ken Campbell was an English writer, actor, director and comedian.Ken Campbell may also refer to:* Ken Campbell , Canadian evangelist* Ken Campbell , former Scotland international goalkeeper...
's Shakespearean improv tournament: Shall We Shog? beating teams from London and Liverpool.
The Suggestibles have performed at Bristol Jam, an annual improv festival held at the Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
, since its inception in 2009.
Away from the stage, the Suggestibles have an online following for their videos and live improv clips. They won a Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
Award in 2008 for Pour Quoi (a skit on Parkour) which was a controversial overnight YouTube hit. The team also presented a live radio show on NE1FM
NE1fm
NE1fm is an FM community radio station based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. Having launched in 2007, the station broadcasts 24 hours a day on 102.5 FM, and online via its website...
for six months in 2008.
- The Impro Pantso's roots go way back to 1992 when founder members Bev Fox and Ian McLaughlin first created 'The Impro Panto' with a mini London tour (sponsored by Cadbury'sCadbury-Businesses:*Cadbury Adams, the company's North American subsidiary*Cadbury Ireland, the company's Irish subsidiary*Cadbury UK, the company's UK subsidiary*Cadbury India, the company's Indian subsidiary*Cadbury New Zealand, the company's New Zealand subsidiary...
) at the Arts Theatre, BAC, Gate and Banana.
- Founder members Bev Fox and Ian McLaughlin, were also original members of The Impro Musical Company (founded by Alan MarriottAlan MarriottAlan Marriott is an English footballer, currently playing for Mansfield Town-Early career:Marriott began his career at Tottenham Hotspur, signing a professional contract in the summer of 1997 following the completion of his two-year youth training scheme.Released by Spurs at the completion of the...
) which was the first improv group in the world to create a full length improvised musical at the Gate in London in 1989, playing at The Fortune Theatre, Battersea Arts CentreBattersea Arts CentreThe Battersea Arts Centre is a performance space near Clapham Junction in Battersea, in the London Borough of Wandsworth that specialises in music and theatre productions.-History:...
, Donmar, Arts Theatre, Gate, and touring Europe and the UK throughout the 90s. The show was adapted as the Bootleg Broadway Show for series on ITV (TyneTees) and BBC Radio 4.