Improv is one of the best, manic, and creative forms of comedy that you can think of. The idea that an audience can have, in someway, a control over what they are going to see and what is going to make them laugh seems strange. But this year improv acts have come in their boat loads and though some are good others are quite simple stand out.

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The only issue I feel is that because of the nature of the fringe the show have a very strict time frame in order to get their shows in and out. For improv you really need an hour and a half, well just longer really. So when you watch a group like the Oxford Imps you see how they slowly get warmed up, their creativeness comes through, and you get them at the hight where they hold the audiences attention and then you have to go.

There was one section where Tom asked the audience to a theme and such for a story which we got the Tale of the felty (not a word) Spoon – felty was in fact feltching but Paul had miss heard him.

The way the Imps worked was quite refreshing, Dougie I saw in Bingo! It’s Off the Cuff at C Venues, and Amy is part of Shakespeare for Breakfast, also at C Venues, yet they seemed more at ease with this group. Paul, the Imp Master, was manic from the start and his energy rubbed off not only on the Imps but on the audience as well. He had something about him, was like a younger Rick Mayall in how he would look at the audience or refuse their suggestion.

As for the sketches they where amazing to watch, creative, well crafted, and funny, the guys worked hard to make sure their show was something different and the Pineapple story that was told in Noir, Si-Fi, Romcom, and Horror was a touch of shear genius.

We are really lucky to be able to get to share with you a great interview with one of this years most seasoned Fringe teams. The Oxford Imps have managed to get two SELL OUT shows under their belt and this year sees the team heading back to the fringe for the 7th time. Improv is something that we have not really seen that much of (well once in Gateshead which was stunning) so this is a show we can not wait to see.

For more information on The Oxford Imps you can find it all at the end of their interview.

How have things been going, you all done and dusted for the summer shows or are there still some creases to iron out?

With improv there are always going to be creases that we can work on, while we feel we have a great product there is always more to do. The Oxford Imps are like a beautiful silk shirt worn by a very active chap, the creases are regularly ironed out but reappear in the natural chaos of improv.

What’s it like bringing a show to the Fringe and being part of their amazing line up?

The Fringe is such a great festival to be a part of and we are always keen be involved in anything that promotes the arts. It’s great to be part of the festival because it showcases all of the arts from cinema to street juggling and we are privileged to be a part of it. It is also wonderful to be able to see lots of comedy, especially improvised comedy which not often in abundance at any particular spot.

You’ve been at the fringe quite a bit, what’s it like coming back, do you think it gets easier or harder?

The Fringe is a different challenge every year, especially as we are a rotating company; members come and go so our experience of the festival and problems we face are very unique.

How do you to guys work together, what bad habits do you think drive one another nuts?

In past years the Fringe as been a period in which the whole company bond, however not doing the washing up can easily become a bit of a sore point!

Have there been any obstacles in producing this show?

The stairs to the flat for our visually impaired director, Tom Skelton are presenting a bit of an issue at the moment. But no, we have not had any serious obstacles so far, touch wood.

What was the best feedback you got from your audience or the press?

The best thing is when we go out and someone we meet or see has heard of the imps. Our assistant director Lucy Hamilton went out for dinner the other day, the Oxford Imps came up in conversation and one of her dinner partners was full of praise for us. This is the sort of reaction that we find encouraging inspiring.

What was the Best and Worst shows you’ve played?

We played to a packed belcourt theatre in Nashville Tennessee in 2008 in which we were in the dressing room that Bob Dylan used. It was so nice that on the other side of the world people wanted to see us perform. A couple of years ago our producer dislocated her ankle at the Fringe so she had to stay in the flat. However we ended up bringing the Fringe to her including Josie Long, Rob Broderick, Doktor Coca Cola Mcdonalds.

What can people expect?

The Oxford Imps deliver on providing a family friendly concoction of high energy japery and jaunts. Our improv is a ‘Whose Line is it Anyway Style’, a mix of improvised scenes and sketches. We have a variety of formats but the direction we take with them is dictated by audience suggestions. These formats include mini, improvised musicals and frenetic guessing games.

Any new tricks up your sleeves?

We have new games, new imps and new musical maestros, because our show is based on audience ideas new tricks are aplenty everyday.

Who has been an inspiration to you?

Among our greatest influences are our founders Jon Dick and Hannah Madsen who founded The Oxford Imps after seeing The Improverts at the Fringe; so we are always keen to see what they are doing.

What advice have you been given, and what advice would you give other student groups who might be bringing a show to the Fringe?

Tom Skelton was told by Jim Grant (a former director of the troupe) that one show during the run will always be a disaster but the key is to overcome that and keep going. In addition to this we would advice taking plenty of vitamin C and above all to have fun on stage and off.

Production Team: Jennifer Cutting – Producer Tom Skelton – Director Lucy Hamilton – Assistant Director, Amy Hellman – Director in Absentia, Tom Hodge and Mark Banks – Improvised, Music Rob Lee and Mark Brown – Improvised Lighting

Cast: Lucy Hamilton, Chris Turner, Daniel Roberts, Rebecca Gibson, Rebecca Baron, Joseph Morpurgo, Jamie Cooke, Sophie Duker, Douglas Walker, Laurie Blair, Alexander Hall, Andrew McCormack, Amy Cooke-Hodgson & Sophie Klimt

Where: Gilded Balloon Teviot – Dining Room
Dates: 4-5th Previews and 6-30th August (excluding the 25th)
Tickets: Mon-Thurs £8.50 (£7.50), Fri-Sun £9.50 (£8.50)
Times: 13.15 (14.05)
Box Office:0131 622 6552 Or Book Tickets Online at Gilded Balloon