Lola-Rose Maxwell brings The Improvised Play to Arcola Theatre

Audience members take the reins in The Improvised Play,  a spontaneous comedy play that is different every night. Crafted by the audience, the direction of the play’s narrative could be anything from a two-hander in a 1980s Texan oil rig, to a multiple-role side-splitting farce in a London brothel in the 1600s. With no two shows ever the same, in this spontaneous comedy the possibilities are as varied as the imaginations of the audience. We spoke to one the creators, Lola-Rose Maxwell, about the creation of the show. 

What attracted you to the concept of performing a play where the storyline is completely unplanned?

Sheer insanity and hubris? Haha, I do a lot of different types of improv shows, a lot are more like a fast paced sketch show with lots of different characters. I wanted to challenge myself to do something a bit deeper, more patient and character fuelled.

What skills do you think are most important for an actor in a play with such spontaneous elements?

Listening. To truly improvise you have to listen to your scene partner, the audience and also yourself. If you can truly listen then all the choices you have to make will become easy. Do I sound like yoda? I feel like yoda.

How do you keep the energy and momentum going in the midst of unexpected changes in the plot?

We have been improvising for about ten years so we have an instinct for knowing when to mix up the pace and texture of the show. My worst fear is the audience would be bored, so we’ll make sure to keep surprising them throughout the 70 minutes!

How do you stay in sync with your cast mate Charlie Kemp while navigating through unplanned scenarios?

We have a great dynamic to the point where I feel we can almost read each other’s minds. That comes from performing with someone for years and also trusting them 100%. Having said that my favourite moments are when Charlie says something that completely surprises me and trusts me to deal with it. We’re not afraid of leaving each other on stage alone or letting the other one do a monologue while we silently sit and listen.

Have you ever had a scenario where you have broken character or something has gone wrong? 

Oh all the time. That’s half the fun. A lot of the comedy and character comes from mistakes we make, for example our historical knowledge is terrible but a lot of fun can be had from vaguely referencing things. I remember we did a show set in the 80s and Charlie’s character was reading the Lord of the rings, I said I’d never heard of it (because I thought it came out late 90s, who knew?) but when Charlie’s character reassured me it was definitely out I simply said ‘well I don’t read new fiction’. That then became something solid about my character, afraid of the new, a traditionalist. Mistakes are everything to us. 

What would be your favourite suggestion from an audience member? 

I like anything real, the suggestions shouldn’t be funny themselves. I personally like when someone offers up their home town or their place of work, what other show would you ever be able to see set in somewhere so personal?

The Improvised Play opens at Arcola Theatre on 5th March. More information and tickets can be found here: https://www.arcolatheatre.com/whats-on/the-improvised-play/