The Oxford Imps

The Oxford Imps have long been a staple of the Edinburgh Fringe. Performing to pact venues they are widely thought of as some of the best improvised comedians around. With good reason as soon as they get some bizarre suggestions from the audience they are off, playing countless improvised ‘game’, slipping into musical numbers or, randomly, having to tell a small child that his toilet brush has died.
The games are a lot of fun, and these demonstrate how all performers are equally talented at improvisation as they effortlessly find comedy in lightning quick response time.
The Imps have been performing for so long (albeit with a different line-up) that the audience have come to expect a high standard. They are not disappointed, as the group find lots of laughs and impress with their inventive style.
Perhaps, though, as the imps have been on the scene for so many years, there is a nagging familiarity with some of the game choices for anyone who has seen them before, or indeed any improvised comedy show. Also some of the Imps remain underused, not getting a chance to shine as the better improvisers such as Dougie are constantly chosen for games. However that maybe isn’t a fair critique as this could only be in today’s case, and we all know how improvisation, by its own nature, changes every day.
Playful, silly and highly talented, it looks like this year, ‘The Oxford Imps’ are once again at the top of their game.

4/5

Martin Miller