With Christmas just around the corner many improv groups are celebrating the festive season by performing special themed shows! This month we are talking to acts who are celebrating the season in style! Today we speak to Crime Scene improvisation about their Christmas Charity show.

Hello guys tell us all about your troupe?

We are CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation, 60 mins of improvised comedy murder mystery, where no one knows who the killer is, not even the cast! We started 5 1/2 years ago now and play regular gigs at the Museum of Comedy as well as most of the festivals around the UK.

What is the show that you are bringing to the stage in this Festive season?

The CSI Dickensian special in aid of Age UK. Dressed in full Victorian attire the murder mystery created by the audience travels back in time to that most Christmassy period of history, of course, made famous by the Muppets.

Will there be a bit of festivity in your show?

Oh yes!! This is a big old festive party, filled with a comedy murder mystery, just as it should be.

What are your favourite things about the festive season and why?

It’s a time of celebration! Lots of exciting things to do….and all the best foods, so much amazing food.

This time of year the venues tend to be a bit busier as well – do you find that the audience changes at all?

This is our 4th Dickensian Christmas special and we always sell out, everyone is in good party spirits and it’s lovely to do a bit for charity just before Christmas. The audience tends to be even more playful than usual, that may be to do with the mulled wine…

What advice would you give for people performing around the festive season – is it important to drop a Christmas related theme into it?

We think so, it’s a busy time of year filled with Christmas parties so it’s important that audiences can get a festive hit and celebrate with friends in a different way. We also always do it on a Sunday so we don’t clash with parties, it’s a fun thing to do, even when a little delicate from the night before. We’re also on 7pm-8pm so it’s a nice early finish.

What is the best thing about a night at your show for the audience?

We use the audience throughout a CSI show, not only do they create the set up with the victim, occupation and weapon. They also influence the show throughout, question the suspects and ultimately decide who dunnit…This creates a fun, inclusive, playful atmosphere like no other.

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

We are @crimesceneimpro on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Our website is www.crimesceneimpro.com

What is YOUR favourite show you have done this year and why?

My personal favourite show was a few weeks ago, we played at Kettering Arts Centre for a fantastic charity called Johnny’s Happy Place. The venue is a beautiful church, which worked so well for the show, it was a big packed audience and most had never seen improv before. We really won them over, got a wonderful response and it was a fantastic atmosphere.

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?

Funny Festive Unique

CHRISTMAS QUICK FIRE ROUND

For this years Christmas Quick fire I am going to give you a handful of song titles and film titles related to the season and I want you to tell me the first improv scenario that comes to your brain and what you would do with this suggestion?

Gremlins

(Suggestion inspired by this  1984 film)

Scene in which one member of the household has just been put through a blender as a practical joke and other housemates are dealing with aftermath

Holiday Affair

(Suggestion inspired by this  1949 film)

Father Christmas is having an affair with the head Elf (Elfy), he’s caught red handed by Mama Christmas who threatens to call HR

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

(Suggestion inspired by this 2000 film)

After the whole Holiday affairs scene, HR was called and Elfy is fired, she dies of a broken heart at leaving her beloved grotto. Her daughter Elfish (aka the Grinch) seeks vengeance by stealing Christmas (FYI: Christmas is Santas favourite dog a long haired schnauzer)

Perfect Christmas

(Suggestion inspired by this 2000 song)

Woman gives birth to Christ for the 2^nd time, 21^st Century equivalents of shepherds and wise men turn up, etc.

Fairytale of New York

(Suggestion inspired by this 1987 song)

Blonde is trapped in Trump Tower, lets down hair to handsome prince, evil gnome Giuliani cuts it off

 I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.

(Suggestion inspired by this 1970 song)

Call back to The Holiday Affair, Elfy’s child (Elfish) is hidden in a trunk during the whole affair reveal, she not only discovers her mum is an adulterer but simultaneously that Father Christmas is real (and a cheat). Christmas ruined on many different levels.

Scrooged
(Suggestion inspired by this 1988 film)

Sequel to Christmas Carol, tough business environment has gradually worn down Scrooge and he has no choice but to resume his miserly ways

Serendipity

(Suggestion inspired by this 2001 film)

Two dogs, one of them digs up a bone but finds a time capsule, they open it up and find a treasure map leading them to the Temple of the Lost Hound where they gain the ability to write and to make fire