MissImps Delivers Improvised Star Wars Adventure at Nottingham Comedy Festival
MissImps Delivers Improvised Star Wars Adventure at Nottingham Comedy Festival
The Nottingham Comedy Festival continues to draw crowds with its diverse lineup, including a unique improvised performance by local troupe MissImps. At the Malt Cross basement, the company engaged a packed audience in creating a spontaneous Star Wars narrative, blending familiar franchise elements with unexpected comedic twists.
The annual Nottingham Comedy Festival is currently taking place across multiple venues in the city, featuring a wide array of performances. Among the highlights was an appearance by MissImps, a long-standing local improv group, at the Malt Cross basement.
MissImps, which has been active in Nottingham since 1998, performed their "Improvised Star Wars Show" for a tightly packed room of attendees. The collective, known for having no fixed cast, presented a lineup of performers including Marilyn Bird, Nick Tyler, Phil Cruthers, Sam Marshall, and Mitchell Masterson.
The evening began with an introduction to the show's format, followed by a test to determine the audience's knowledge of the Star Wars franchise. The reviewer noted that while fans of any era of the series were welcome, the group’s deep familiarity with the lore was evident in their references, including specific details such as Peter Cushing’s slippers.
Audience participation played a central role in shaping the narrative. Attendees provided the story premise and setting, resulting in the title "Jabbas Twin and the Faulty Light Saber" set on "Planet Aldi." The cast also solicited names for professions that might exist within the Star Wars universe but are not typically seen, with suggestions including CCTV operators.
The performance unfolded as a story about two heroes manning CCTV screens in a Lidl carpark who question their role in the rebellion. They receive a mission from Mon Mothma to shop on Planet Aldi for specific items: a metric racket set, a multi-pack of duct tape, and an inflatable kayak. The narrative followed the cast through the "confusing and surprisingly busy isles" of this retail-themed planet, where they encountered various characters including middle management of the Empire, wannabe Jedi, Hutts, rebels, and bored shelf stackers.
The five performers moved with ease across the small stage area, displaying a strong rapport. The reviewer highlighted Marilyn Bird’s wit as particularly impressive throughout the show. While the outcome of the heroes' shopping list remained ambiguous by the end, the performance left the audience to imagine further developments during their journey home.
MissImps meets weekly on Thursdays at the Malt Cross, located at 16 St James's St, Nottingham NG1 6FG. Their sessions run from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm and are open to anyone interested in attending.
R.Baker--MC-UK
