LOST WITHOUT WORDS show diary from Assistant Director, Caroline Williams. Part 2

At our new home in the Jerwood Space, the company settled in to going more deeply into the world of improvisation. We were able to feed back on the previous performances and discuss how it felt to have an audience. Lynn Farleigh admitted how difficult it was not to beat oneself up when you find yourself saying no or you realise the scene is unclear. Phelim repeated a phrase that has continued to be a point of comfort for everyone: improvisation is impossible.

…And perhaps in that phrase was another clue as to why it is so exciting.

You never crack it.

It’s ongoing research.

With this in mind we defined what it is Improbable are doing in this theatrical experiment: they are experimenting. The cast were encouraged to enjoy it when it doesn’t go right. Lee described the analogy of a warrior who has already been shot so many times that it’s impossible for the audience to kill him. Audience and players are complicit in creating an event in which there is nothing to lose, or everything, and that’s absolutely fine.

Lee reminded us of the Lord Chamberlain and the recent illegality of improvising. This is why Keith Johnstone (Improbable’s patron, pioneer of improvisation) called his work at the Royal Court, ‘experiments’, rather than plays. Tim Preece remembered having censorship edits given to him in a play in the early 60s. Joan Littlewood regularly got into trouble with police for making shows that had an element of improvising.