A comedy theatre company that creates a completely original Shakespeare play at every performance comes to Ventnor Fringe Festival this summer.
Impromptu Shakespeare performs entirely unscripted shows, with the cast improvising story and verse on the spot, drawing on suggestions from the audience to shape each unique production.
Edinburgh Fringe success and BBC appearances
The ensemble has built a strong reputation on the touring circuit, winning Best Comedy Event at the Buxton Fringe and appearing on BBC Shakespeare Live, as well as performing at the Edinburgh Fringe and Bristol Shakespeare Festival.
BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz has described the show as “ingenious and very funny.”
Rooted in the real thing
While the performances are spontaneous, the company takes its classical foundations seriously.
Cast members bring genuine academic and theatrical credentials to the stage, including dissertations on Shakespeare’s works, classical acting training, and credits with Shakespeare’s Globe.
Each show echoes Shakespeare’s themes, characters and language, and the company bills the experience as suitable for families with children aged 12 and over.
A cast of experienced improvisers
The ensemble features some of the UK’s most experienced improvisers.
Ailis Duff’s credits include Glamazon Prime: The Improvised Musical and Red Rose Chain, while Daniel South and Tom Wilkinson both come from Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes and Screwball.
Octavia Gilmore has performed with Butterfly Theatre, MusicBox and Multiverse Improv, and Jules Munns brings experience from The Maydays and Ten Thousand Million Love Stories.
Rebecca MacMillan’s background spans The Maydays, Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes and Steamed! The Improvised Dickens Novel, James Irving brings credits from Shakespeare for Breakfast and Bumper Blyton.
Two performances at Flowersbrook
Impromptu Shakespeare performs at Ventnor Exchange Arena at Flowersbrook, Steephill Road, Ventnor on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July 2026, with both shows starting at 3.30pm.
Each performance runs for one hour, with tickets priced between £10 and £20.
Book through Ventnor Fringe Festival online Box Office, pop into Ventnor Exchange (11 Church Street) or call (01983)71 67 67.
Our thanks to the artist for sponsoring for this feature. They and other businesses and organisations taking paid promotion enables you to continue reading OnTheWight for free.
