I found myself at Alphabetti Theatre, drawn in by the promise of an improvisation night featuring acting, games, and possibly even a few musical moments. It had that slightly unpredictable energy about it, the kind that makes you curious enough to take a chance.
The evening was run by Boho Arts, a charity that offers improv training courses for everyday people, with opportunities throughout the year for students to perform. So going in, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Would it feel amateur, or would there be something more polished beneath the surface? Either way, I had that Edinburgh Fringe sense of curiosity… so I thought, let’s give it a go.
The first half consisted of a series of shorter improvisation games and scenes performed by the students. These were guided by Bev Fox and Ian McLaughlin, the co-artistic directors of Boho Arts, who acted as facilitators throughout. They stepped in when needed, gently guiding scenes or repositioning performers to ensure visibility and flow. Their presence felt supportive rather than intrusive, helping the evening maintain structure without losing its spontaneity.
I had chosen a seat further back, but sightlines were surprisingly strong. The performers were often arranged diagonally across the space, which meant I rarely missed a moment. It was a simple but effective use of staging.
The second half shifted into longer, more developed improvisations, focusing on storytelling. One scene, for example, centred around Blackpool and two lovers, allowing the performers more room to build narrative and character. This was followed by additional games, including a couple of musical elements, which brought the energy back up again.
Throughout the evening, the atmosphere remained warm, welcoming, and full of light-hearted humour. The audience played an active role, offering suggestions for locations and themes, which added to the unpredictability and fun of the night. Each scene featured different combinations of performers, ensuring variety and keeping things fresh.
As expected with a non-professional cast, some performances were stronger than others. Certain students naturally commanded the stage and delivered more engaging moments, while others were less confident. However, this felt like part of the charm rather than a drawback. The evening wasn’t about perfection, but about creativity, risk, and enjoyment.
From a theatre-goer’s perspective, I found the whole experience genuinely enjoyable. The direction, structure, and overall atmosphere made for an entertaining and worthwhile night. There was always a sense that anything could happen next, which kept the audience engaged throughout.
I did have a couple of small observations. At times, when audience suggestions were invited, there was some guidance given on what not to suggest, which is understandable, but it did feel like it slightly limited the spontaneity. It might be worth allowing all suggestions initially, then filtering as needed. Additionally, the longer scenes in the second half occasionally lost momentum, as sustaining narrative and energy in improvised storytelling is naturally more challenging. This led to a few quieter moments, although the overall pacing remained solid.
I really liked the concept behind this show, and it’s great to see that more improvisation nights are planned in the future. Unfortunately, I don’t have the names of the individual performers, otherwise I would have highlighted a few standout moments from specific students.
Overall, this comfortably sits in strong territory for me. The concept, thoughtful staging, engaging atmosphere, and moments of genuinely impressive performance all stood out.
The show achieved exactly what it set out to do. While these are not professional actors, the overall standard and enjoyment level were high, and I would happily recommend the experience to others.
The minor issues didn’t significantly impact the evening, and with that in mind, I feel comfortable awarding this show 5 stars.
5 Stars- A joyful, unpredictable night of improv at Alphabetti Theatre, where Boho Arts’ performers turned audience suggestions into lively, laughter-filled scenes with warmth, creativity, and genuine charm.
Talent | Boho Arts | Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
HOME | Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
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