It is that time of the year where we celebrate the acts that you need to keep an eye on in 2023. It is an exciting time of the year as it means we can talk to acts to find out what they have in store for audiences and what you can look forward to in the new year. Today we speak to Lee from CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation to find out all about their UK tour and this years improv adventures.

Hello tell us all about your improv troupe?

The Chandeliers produce CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation. The improvised murder mystery where no one knows who the killer is: not even the cast!

How did your troupe come about?

A decade ago, I met the powerful Rachel Thorn at a Hoopla workshop (I think it was “Scenes, Scenes, Scenes” run by Steve Roe.) We’re both from writing backgrounds and wanted to marry truly spontaneous improv with a guaranteed, organic climax. The best genre for that? Who-dunnit, which is always really why-dunnit?

How did you get into improv?

I was living in a one room flat in Shibuya, Tokyo, trying to get a sitcom commissioned. I needed something to get me loose creatively and then I got carried away. Thanks Tokyo Comedy Store and Chris Wells!

What are your plans improv wise for 2023?

CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation are embarking on a major UK tour so if you’re a venue or just want us to come to your town, drop us a line at detective@crimesceneimpro.com!

What other improv acts are you looking forward to seeing perform online or in person to this year?

I love Chris Mead and new ideas so I’m keen to see Duologues.

What styles do you hope to see more of in improv this year?

Weird, extremely personal stuff. Partly thanks to projects like the improvathon and the ever expanding circle of festivals, there’s some really cool formats and styles being developed where I hear or see them and know “oh THAT’S Robin. This show is their soul.” I could tell you the style that brings me the most personal joy but that’s not what people need to do more of. They need to do more of their own personal joy with reckless creativity.

What improv troupe is your ones to watch in 2023 and why?

Eldklárar og eftirsóttar are an incredible all female troupe from Iceland. Every improv festival, night and non-improv festival should be fighting to book them. You can find them on instagram @eldklarar .

Do you have any new years resolutions? If so what are they?

Being creatively ambitious with tech. I’ve been working on some really cool stuff that I’m hoping to have ready by Brighton Fringe. The kind of stuff that you’d see and tell your friend about in the pub cause you hadn’t considered doing it in improv yet.

Are you on social media? If so how can people find out more about your troupe?

You can find more from The Chandeliers and CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation @crimesceneimpro and more from me specifically @leeapsey

Three words why people should come and see you this year?

 You’ll enjoy it.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

The movie or television show you are looking forward to seeing this year?

More Jujutsu Kaisen. (Shibuya arc!)

Your favourite book?

The Book of Chuang Tzu

One thing you will always remember about 2022?

All of my tour dates catching up with me. Making close friends and realising it’s only been 5 months and not 5 years since we met.

If you could paint anything what would you paint? 

An abstract work that makes you feel my gratitude for you taking the time to look at it.

What is the most delightful word you can think of?

Autotelism.

Favourite album?

Madvillainy – Madvillain

Where would you love to go on holiday this year?

Venice.

What is your favourite quote from a television show?

“Trying to find that lemon tree is as useless as that yellow, lemon shaped rock. Wait a minute: there’s a LEMON behind that rock!”

Who is your favourite film character and why?

M. Bison – The Street Fighter Movie. The “For me it was Tuesday” speech is pretty much a transcendent truth about the nature of our self-constructed narratives in an unfeeling universe… spoken in a camp classic.