An Improbable Musical

A new musical theatre show created right in front of your eyes.

A Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Improbable production.

Made with the support of Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence fund. Supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation’s Culture Fund.


A 90-minute improvised musical full of glorious live music, improbable characters, uplifting songs, and magical puppetry made from the unlikeliest of materials. This is theatre as live as it gets.

What’s the show about? No one knows till the audience provide a couple of suggestions and the music begins…

Masters of improvisation and comedy, Lee Simpson and Josie Lawrence were joined by musical impro legends Ruth Bratt and Niall Ashdown with beautiful puppetry from Aya Nakamura and Clarke Joseph-Edwards.

You had to be there to see it, and only happened once.

For our Digital Programme, click here.

For our Visual Story, click here.

For our Audio Description introduction, click here.


Hear more about making the show with Phelim and Lee:


Performers:

Niall Ashdown (original cast & tour)
Ruth Bratt (original cast & tour)
Josie Lawrence (original cast & tour)
Aya Nakamura (original cast & tour)
Lee Simpson (original cast & tour)
Clarke Joseph-Edwards (touring cast)
Janet Etuk (original cast)
Adam Courting (original cast)

Flute: Max Gittings
Percussion: Joley Cragg
Cello: Juliet Colyer

Creative Team:

Director: Lee Simpson
Musical Devisor and Director: Christopher Ash
Puppet Designer and Director: Aya Nakamura
Designer: E.M. Parry
Associate Director: Angela Clerkin
Lighting Designer: Colin Grenfell
Sound Designer: Oscar Thompson
Sound Designer: Will Thompson
Movement Director: Pauline Mayers

“Undeniable genius”
★★★★★ Beyond the Curtain

“A remarkable evening”
★★★★★ Box Office Radio

“Improv masters hit a glorious sweet spot”
★★★★ The Guardian

Fantastically funny, original and genius”
★★★★★ West End Best Friend