It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year!

A.L.Ex and the ImproBots: How to Train Your Robot

Location:   Nip – Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24)

Dates:  Jul 30th -17th

Time: 11:40

Price: £12 Concessions £11

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-l-ex-and-the-improbots-how-to-train-your-robot

Hello! Tell us about yourself

ImproboticsKids is a spinoff of our award-winning, critically acclaimed show Improbotics, which pioneered improv comedy with robots in 2016. Developed by Boyd Branch and Piotr Mirowski, our kids’ show focuses on demystifying the new technology children are growing up with and empowering young people to be creative and critical co-creators with technology rather than passive consumers.

The origin of our company comes from both Improbotics London and Boyd’s original kids’ show, The Blue Bike Kid Show, which he started in the U.S. in 2007. That show followed three bumbling time-traveling assistants of Nikola Tesla in their attempts to find and inspire the next great science heroes of future generations.

We love mixing absurd, silly humour with deep science and creating new technology for the stage. Our mission is to show kids that science is for everyone, and that anyone can apply the scientific method to learn more about the world, even the world of comedy.

Boyd works in science communication, develops weird technology for the stage and does research on how kids are engaging with AI. Piotr is the original co-founder of Improbotics and a mad genius AI and deep learning researcher and artist.

Tell us all about your show!

This is our second time at the Fringe, with a brand-new interactive movie-making experience for the whole family. The ImproBots, the galaxy’s most self-proclaimed geniuses of science comedy, have arrived in town to show the world how they can take any science topic and make a movie right in front of the audience that will knock their socks off with laughter.

When they begin to stumble, they call on their trusty robo-sidekick A.L.Ex to save them with an AI-generated script. But like a magic genie, they quickly learn they must be careful what they wish for because they just might get it.

This silly premise gets kids (and grown-ups) on stage to act out the robot’s absurd lines while learning how large language models are trained and when they can be fun learning tools or disastrous shortcuts to creativity.

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

Foxdog Studios: Robo Bingo Kids, The Grumpy Robot, and Robot Vacuum Fight Club, of course. For more robots, we also have another show called RoboTales.

Non-robot shows: Susan Harrison, #40sandsingle by Joyce Lao.

Improbotics cast members also perform in TBC Absolute Improv, Crime Scene Improvisation, and Showstopper!.

Have you done the Fringe before? What advice would you give to new groups or performers

This is the second time for our kids’ show, and we suggest not putting so much real tech on stage. More importantly, make sure to schedule time to talk to the kids after each show in the lobby. Children have amazing questions and comments, and there usually isn’t enough time with the quick turnaround. Have someone from the cast meet and greet while others strike the set and prepare for the next act.

Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe

Boyd has coffee and two eggs. Piotr prefers an unpronounceable French pastry and two shots of espresso. A.L.Ex the robot is doing one of those trendy fasts. The ImproBots like to share two vegetarian breakfast pizzas, six freeze-dried ice cream packets, and warm orange juice. They eat like Martians.

We then group hug for five awkward minutes before Boyd rushes off to do a pre-show tech check and a séance for kind, tech-friendly ghosts to watch over the show. Then we perform, do more group hugs, eat sushi, and get ready for our other show, RoboTales. Rinse and repeat.

Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe?

We surveyed the cast. Favourites include Ting Thai Caravan, Bentoya (sushi), Sora Lella (vegan Italian), #Fish (fish and chips), Pizza Posto, Tuk Tuk Indian Street Food, and cooking meals at our accommodation.

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

The sheer number of fellow lovers of theatre, comedy, and performance. There is no vibe like Edinburgh.

What is the hardest part about performing at the Fringe?

Not being able to see everything we want to see.

Do you bring anything special from home to make it feel more special while you are away

Matching cast robot slippers.

What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe?

Make your lunch the night before.

What would be your top three items every performer must take to the fringe?

1. Chill attitude
2. Curiosity
3. Comfy shoes

What´s the secret to successful flyering?

Make it about human connection, not just handing out paper.

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

@improboticsKids on Twitter/X and Instagram

And finally, in three words, why should people come see the show

Robot Movie Mayhem

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