The London 50-Hour Improvathon will be directed live over the weekend by Adam Meggido. It’s the 13th London Improvathon and back for the first time since 2019.
An extraordinarily large cast, including many of the world’s best improvisers, and comedy stars from TV, film and theatre – including Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Mischief and Austentatious, will forgo a whole weekend’s sleep in this legendary feat of improv endurance, performing continuously for a full 50 hours.
The London 50-Hour Improvathon is at Wilton’s Music Hall From 7pm Friday 8th March continuously until 9pm Sunday 10th March.
The 50-Hour Improvathon is back, what can you tell us about this event?
We are thrilled to be back after ‘that pandemic’ changed the world. Our community is very excited to be meeting up again and play for 50 hours of hilarious, moving, groundbreaking improvised comedy drama.
The setting is Everafter Manor, the UK’s number one wedding venue – a country house which may hold more secrets than first meets the eye…imagine every wedding movie rolled into one. And more! Everything is improvised. But it’s not just comedy. Dance, music, surrealism, anything you can imagine will happen over the course of those 50 hours, and nobody knows what’s going to happen.
The quality is amazing. Scenes play as if they are scripted. It is like nothing else you’ll ever see.
Audiences don’t need to commit to the full 50 hours though, what are the options available to them?
You can drop in and watch any ’stand-alone’ episode. Each episode is about 1 hour and 40 minutes long, and they start on odd numbered hours: 7pm, 9pm, 11pm. 1am, 3am etc etc – right the way through both nights! If you watch an episode and love it, you can stay on for another one at a reduced price. OR you can buy a 50-hour pass and come and go throughout the whole thing.
How does it feel to be back with the Improvathon for the first time since 2019?
We are beyond excited. Some of the best players from all over the world are coming to play, and we have lots of new players, some of whom are going through the full 50 for the very first time. Others are veterans going ’the full fifty’ for the 12th time!
What kind of performers can we expect to see over the weekend?
Fantastic actors, comedians, and improvisers from Europe, the Middle East, and North America, including members of the Olivier Award-winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (and oh yes there will be plenty of music with our live band throughout), also members of Oliver and Tony award-winning Mischief Theatre (creators of The Play That Goes Wrong and The Goes Wrong Show), Dan Starkey (from Dr Who), Rufus Hound, Alan Cox, Katie McGuiness…. One helluva line up. And a great band.
You’re a world record holder in improv, what advice will you be giving the cast?
It’s a marathon not a sprint. Graze lightly. Stay hydrated. Don’t panic. Enjoy the ride.
You’ll also be ‘live directing’ how does that work and how do you prepare?
I make sure I have a comfortable chair. Other than that, there isn’t much I can do. I call the starts of scenes and then let the players do their thing. I listen. I take notes. And together we all improvise the most amazing stories. It’s a great privilege to be the director of this show.
We hear Saturday night is dubbed the ‘gates of hell’, why’s that and how do you plan to get through it?
Ahhh yes. After 40 hours awake, you can experience hallucinations and paranoia. We have a ‘buddy’ system, so everyone has someone else looking after them. Watching performers play under sleep deprivation is fascinating. Life opens up in very unusual ways. Some people say that it is life changing. I agree.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to come and see the 50-Hour Improvathon?
Do it! If you can’t do the whole thing, then do some of Friday night and some of Saturday night, and then from 11am Sunday to the end. Or just any single episode. You’ll be hooked and you’ll want to see more. If you are out late in a pub or club and still awake, come in through the night.
Seriously, this is improv like you have never seen it before. It’s not short-form comedy like Whose Line Is It Anyway? It’s storytelling. It’s drama. It’s very funny. Community theatre at its best – a wonderful celebration of joy and talent.
