The year 2020 has been a very unusual one and the fact that a lot of festivals have been postponed this summer we wanted to do things a bit different. Due to the fact we cannot use this time to interview and promote acts heading to the fringe, we thought we would use this time to celebrate all forms of comedy! So over the next month we are interviewing an array of acts with some fun questions so you can get to know them a little bit more! Today we talk to an act that are all about freestyle rapping and combining it with spontaneous hip Hop – Slice of Rhyme.

Hello there tell me all about your group!

Slice of Rhyme is a collection of freestyle rappers taking on avant-garde challenges from the audience. We tell stories, conduct interviews and solve problems all through the medium of spontaneous hip hop.

What are your favourite things about being in your troupe?

Freestyle rap requires a mind in flow state. Seeing each of our different rap styles is like anime characters unleashing their ultimate forms.

Describe each member of the improv acts by describing their characters by what animal they would be?

Tai Campbell (aka Optimus Rhyme): The instant affability of a puppy. To be more specific a German Spitz.

Fran Reid: The unstoppable fire of a phoenix.

Johnny Briers: The charming calm of an easy going loris.

and myself, Lee Apsey, AKA Sick Wittington: a dilophosaurus

What has been your favourite show so far?

One show myself and Tai were giving competing life advice to an audience member that segued into 16 bars that pretty convincingly justified cannibalism.

How was your group founded?

Like two masked vigilantes, myself and Tai met at Luke Sorba’s Comedy School drop ins and realised we were both freestylers.

What is your favourite thing about performing improv?

Being surprised by everything, including myself.

What is the most important skill you have learnt and why?

To discover rather than invent: one is effortless, the other is obstructive.

 Describe your group for people who have not seen you live in 5 words beginning with the letter D?

Delicious dope dialogues delivered dynamically.

You can only watch three other improv acts for the rest of your life – who would they be and why?

Bear Pack: They’re overflowing with both silliness and soulfulness.

Showstopper: I’m a big fan of musicals and Showstopper are the pinnacle of sharp and polished improvised theatre.

TJ and Dave: Because they’re the best.

What makes a good improv scene?

All confidence and no ego.

What has been the best suggestion you have been given by an audience?

We asked for subjects that bring out your righteous rage and an audience member very earnestly stated “Nigel from my office.”

Dream location to perform a show and why?

The club from the end of 8 mile because it had great audience energy and rapper cameos.

 If people want to find out more about your group where can they go on the socials?

Finally, which improv group would you as a team love to do a collaboration with and why?