Tell  us about:

Your latest improv show:

We are Play It Again, the immortal lounge act. Our origins are shrouded in mystery. Sometimes we remember floating through the abyss of space, as the first atoms began to crystalize and form the very first chaise-lounge. Other times we remember springing fully formed from the very first grand piano, nearly shocking Bartolomeo Cristofori to death. Regardless, we are immortal beings doomed to perform improvised lounge songs for all eternity.

Your favourite suggestion you have been given?

In 44BC we were asked to perform before Caesar, who requested a lounge song about the perils of being Emperor. In a true professional manner, we did not stop singing “Rome Is Where The Heart Is” even once the stabbing started. 

More recently, Brighton has always been a site of phenomenal suggestions. When performing at Scoops, we have been tasked with singing lounge-style summaries of the films Saltburn and Shrek 2. Two films that naturally lend themselves to the sultry contours of lounge.

Your favourite venue to perform at:

The smokier the room, the better. In the 1920s we performed in this speakeasy in New York, where Emily would start a small fire backstage right before the show to capture the perfect ambience.

We’ve had a wonderful time touring various spots around the UK, but you cannot beat the impeccable energy of Hoopla in London. Emily has not started any fires there, because the atmosphere has been warm enough already.

Improv hero:

Emily would say that her improv heroes are Colin Mochrie and Josie Lawrence for not only being hilarious and trailblazers, but really lovely people to boot. They are welcome to a bourbon with her anytime. 

Sam’s are Robin Williams and Brennan Lee Mulligan, for their incredible wit and ability to be funny on absolutely any subject.

Both agree that the most memorable scene partner they’ve had has been Genghis Khan, for their bold choices.

Dream venue to play at:

The Albert Hall – the world’s roundest lounge.

Describe the feeling you get when you walk on stage to do a show:

In 1638, Emily and Sam were about to perform at the church of St Pancras in Dartmoor when it was struck by a giant ball of lightning. The moment of rising static, of oncoming electricity, and anticipation of imminent catastrophe and possibility is one that we will forever associate with the moment of stepping out on stage. Legend has it, locals still refer to thunderstorms as “lounge music.” 

The hardest improv suggestion to perform and why:

We normally do a song about a historical time period that we have lived through. As immortal beings, I’m sure you can appreciate that our memory gets a little hazy… especially when suggestions get as specific as the Byzantine Empire .

Essential items you always take with you to a show?

As a musical act, we have found a piano to be quite essential. We did previously attempt to do lounge-music with a kazoo, but we were chased out of the prison we were performing in.

Describe your fans in three words:

Darlings. Lustrous. Chandelier-esque.

What we can look forward to from you this year: 

We are delighted to be performing with Up the Antics at the Bristol Improv Theatre on the 21^st of September. We will also be at the Remix Musical Improv Festival in Edinburgh in October. Finally, we will be returning to our beloved Nottingham on the 9^th of November as part of the Nottingham Comedy Festival.

IF YOU ARE A COMEDIAN OR IMPROV ACT WANTING TO FEATURE IN THIS ARTICLE THEN EMAIL PHOENIXREMIXCOMEDY@GMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION