The festive period is here and there are so many shows that are available for audiences to go and watch! Over the next few weeks, we will be talking to lots of different shows and performers about what they have in store for this time of year! Today we speak to Leo from the improv team the Descendants to find out all about the show An Improvised Story of Christmas which is happening on the 19th December at Hoopla Impro London Bridge at 19:45.

Hello tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hello! We’re the Descendants, a narrative improv company. We’ve been making up improvised comedy stories since 2018. 

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

We’re telling An Improvised Story of Christmas – think A Christmas Carol thrown in a blender with a bottle of mint Bailey’s and a pack of mince pies. Equal parts hilarity and Dickensian festivity.

On the bill we’ve also got the improv supergroup Anxiety Club, made up of performers from the Olivier winning Showstopper and Austentatious.

Tell us all about the character that you play?

We couldn’t possibly, they will all be made up on the night and will in no way infringe on copyright. Some you’ll root for and some you’ll loath.

Will there be a bit of festivity in your show?

Positively oodles. It’s the story of Christmas that Dickens WISHED he could write but chickened out.

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

The acceptability for putting Bailey’s on anything and everything.

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

I feel like audiences are prepped for joy at Christmas, whereas in the summer it feels like you’re stealing their Vitamin D. They’re also a bit p****** so the laughs come quicker.

What advice would you give for people performing around the festive season?

Don’t skimp on Christmas puns in your ho-ho-hosting.

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

We love it when we can feel the audience’s investment in the show. Each member of the Descendants brings a different skillset, whether that is improvisation, comedic or acting and we believe audiences really enjoy the eclectic performances you see at a Descendants gig. There’s also some incredibly special about an audience laughing and gasping within the space of ten seconds when we don’t have a script or a set.

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

@descendantsimpro on Instagram

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

They Will Laugh