Austentatious

Austentatious is a long-form improvised comedy show, in the style of a Jane Austen novel, where each show is improvised by a six-strong cast, based on a title suggested by a member of the audience. Begun in 2011 in London,[1] the original cast members took the show to the Edinburgh Festival Free Fringe in the summer of 2012. Following their initial success, they began performing a monthly show in London, transferring to the West End in 2017, and have since performed on BBC Radio 4, on tour, and at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Austentatious
Medium
Years active2011–
Genres
Members
Websiteaustentatiousimpro.com

Since November 2022, Austentatious has been performed weekly at the Arts Theatre in the West End. After a winter break over December 2022, the Monday evening performances resumed in February 2023 and ran until 26th June 2023.

The show is also scheduled to appear at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre on 16 July 2023, and at McEwan Hall as part of the Fringe Festival from 5th to 13th August 2023.[2][3]

Performances

At the beginning of the show, audience members are asked to suggest a title in the 'style' of Jane Austen; past titles have included Bath to the Future (referencing both the city of Bath and the Back to the Future film), Mansfield Shark (a pun on Austen's book Mansfield Park), Strictly Come Darcy (referring to the television show Strictly Come Dancing and Austen's character Mr. Darcy), and Shelves In The Closet (a reference to Elizabeth Bennet's line in Pride and Prejudice).[4][5][6]

A title is then selected from the audience submissions and plot, setting, and characters are subsequently improvised on-stage by all six cast members, accompanied by similarly improvised live music and lighting. Live musicians differ from performance to performance, but frequently include a keyboardist or violin player. The cast members perform in Regency costume using tropes associated with Austen's work, other works of the period, and modern adaptations. The chosen title is also likely to influence the story, so, for example, Strictly Come Darcy may feature ballroom dancing in the plot.

In keeping with their namesake, the cast frequently depict and set the show in the Home Counties and often use other tropes and themes from Austen works.

The Austentatious stage pre-performance in June 2023, showing the regal backdrop and wooden chairs.

As of 2023, residency performances see the stage dressed with a 19th century Manor house style backdrop and four wooden chairs. The sides of the stage are filled with costumes and props of the 'Austen' period that cast use throughout the show, including bonnets, mobcaps, and shawls.

Austentatious was performed at the Queen's Reading Room Festival at Hampton Court Palace on June 11, 2023. Queen Camilla herself chose the title of Persuasion and an Odd Occasion for the performance.[7]

History

Origin

Four of the original six members of the cast, Cooke-Hodgson, Morpurgo, Murray and Parris had been members of The Oxford Imps whilst studying in Oxford and wanted to explore long-form improvised comedy. Parris and Cooke-Hodgson originated the idea of a Jane Austen themed show, and together with fellow improvisers Lloyd and Dickson, then began performing Austentatious together.[1][8]

Early success

After initial performances in London in 2011, the original cast performed the show at the 2012 Free Fringe, receiving positive reviews and sell-out crowds.[9][10]

Following this success they continued to perform across the UK, adding Roberts and Gittins to the cast. They began a regular monthly show in London, initially at the Leicester Square Theatre and have returned to the Edinburgh Fringe annually, selling out the show every year from 2014 to 2018. In 2013 The Guardian's review gave the show four stars and described it as "one of the most enjoyable 60 minutes on the fringe".[11]

In 2014 the show won the Chortle Award for Best Character, Improv or Sketch Act.[12][8]

West End transfer

They transferred to the Piccadilly Theatre for a West End run in 2017, and have since performed in a number of West End venues, adding Shearing to the cast, including the Fortune Theatre from February 2019.[13][14] They have performed two 30-minute shows on BBC Radio 4,[15][16][17] and have performed in McEwan Hall, the largest space at the festival, during the Fringe.[18]

A further residency at the Fortune Theatre was announced for February to July 2020.[19] The residency was cut short after West End theatres shut as part of the COVID-19 lockdown. On 29 August 2020, they performed a one-off outdoor show in Streatham.[20]

From November 2022, the show has occupied a weekly residency at the Arts Theatre that was extended until the end of June 2023.

Cast

The cast currently comprises nine members, with six performing at a time.

See also


References
  1. Fane Saunders, Tristram (November 2017). "The Beatles of Comedy". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. Banana, Giant (27 April 2016). "London". Austentatious. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  3. Banana, Giant (27 April 2016). "Tour". Austentatious. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  4. Foulger, Laura (25 February 2019). "Brilliantly silly, well-executed, and frequently hilarious". Official Theatre. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  5. Hutchinson, Charles (17 July 2019). "Novel way to create a Jane Austen story booked for Fringe". York Press. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  6. "Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel: 5 star review by Gareth Williams". broadwaybaby.com. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  7. McTaggart, India (29 March 2023). "Queen commissions play in the style of Jane Austen to be performed at first reading festival". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  8. McAlister, Katherine (3 April 2014). "Losing the plot has never been so funny for the cast of Austentatious". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  9. Smith, Claire (23 August 2012). "Comedy review: Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel, Laughing Horse @ The Counting House (Venue 170), Edinburgh". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  10. Bennett, Steve (17 August 2012). "Austentatious: Fringe 2012". Chortle. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  11. Logan, Brian (14 August 2013). "Austentatious – Edinburgh festival 2013 review". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  12. "Chortle Awards 2014: Best character, improv or sketch group: Austentatious". YouTube.
  13. Longman, Will (17 December 2018). "Austentatious to move to the Fortune Theatre in 2019". London Theatre. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  14. Cearns, Liz (26 February 2019). "BWW Review: AUSTENTATIOUS, Fortune Theatre". Broadway World. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  15. "Austentatious". Comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  16. "A Cad and Bounder - Austentatious". BBC. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  17. "Austentatious". BBC.
  18. Anderson, Mica (25 August 2018). "Austentatious – Edinburgh Fringe 2018". Young Perspective. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  19. "AUSTENTATIOUS Will Launch Weekly Residency At Fortune Theatre On 24th February". Broadway World. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  20. "Saturday 29th August". Secret Garden Concerts. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
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