7th Annual London 50-Hour Improvathon to Climax in THE LONDON JAM, Jan 20-26

The London Jam is a week-long celebration of everything spontaneous - no scripts, no rehearsals and no plans. It's impulsive and entirely unpredictable.... if you thought improv was 'Whose Line is it Anyway', then think again! Following the success of this annual event in Bristol, the first ever London Jam will take residence at Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 from Monday 20 - Sunday 26 January.

Curated by award-winning Extempore Theatre, the team behind the groundbreaking and award-winning The Showstoppers!, the week will culminate in The 7th Annual London 50-hour Improvathon, the only event of its kind in Europe, which this year has a futuristic setting aboard an intergalactic cruise ship. Think The Love Boat set in deep space with bizarre and exotic crew members, out of this world characters, fabulous heroes and pure evil villains crash-landing the proceedings.

"It's a huge rambling soap opera in 25 episodes," says Adam Meggido, Artistic Director of Extempore Theatre and The London Jam. "After 30 hours without sleep, the performers become too tired to censor themselves, and this results in a wild, euphoric performance you cannot access any other way."

With some of the top improvisational performers from around the world gathering together this year, The 7th Annual London 50-hour Improvathon is sure to be a truly memorable experience... You can drop in for just one episode or stay the entire distance!

Other shows and artists performing at the The London Jam include, from the UK: Austentatious, The Factory, Phil Kay, The School of Night and The Showstoppers! and leading acts from the international circuit including: Abandoman (Ireland) Game Of Death (Austria), The Sufferettes (Canada), Dad's Garage (USA) and Harold of Galactus (Canada).

The London Jam Shows - What's On:

Monday 20 January

7.30pm
Austentatious: An Improvised Novel (UK)
One of the most talked-about shows on the improvised comedy circuit, Austentatious: An Improvised Novel is an hour-long comedy play spun in the inimitable style of Jane Austen - and based entirely on audience suggestions. Performed in period costume with live 'cello accompaniment, Austentatious is an immersive and hilarious treat for fans of Austen and improvised comedy alike.
www.austentatiousimpro.com

9.15pm
Abandoman (Ireland)
Abandoman creates hilarious freestyle songs at lightening speed based on audience suggestions. They have supported multi-platinum artist Ed SHeeran as well as opening for numerous comedy and music acts such as Micky Flanagan, Tommy Tiernan and DJ Yoda. TV and radio appearances include BBC3?s Live at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, BBC2?s The Stephen K Amos Show, and BBC Radio 1?s Fun And Filthy Cabaret. Winner of Hackney Empire New Act of the Year, the Musical Comedy Awards and the 2012 Adelaide Fringe Festival's Best Comedy Newcomer Award.
www.robbroderick.com

Tuesday 21 January

7.30pm
The Factory present - The Odyssey (UK)
No sets, no costumes, no props. Just imagination, passion and a whole lot of spontaneity. The Factory present unique re-imaginings of the stories we think we know.
www.factorytheatre.co.uk

9.15pm
Game Of Death (Austria)
The first solo show by World Champion Improviser Jacob Banigan. The show is foretold by Tarot Cards, yet the content is unpredictable. When will Death come? Does this have anything to do with Bruce Lee? Multiple characters, intriguing stories and brain-wrinkling video work all culminate into a bold, compelling improv show by a 20 year veteran of improv theatre. Banigan was Artistic Director of the legendary Rapid Fire Theatre in Edmonton for 10 years, producing Theatresports, Chimprov and Canada's largest improv festival, IMPROVAGANZA.

Wednesday 22 January

5.00pm
Phil Kay's Gimme Your Left Shoe Show (UK)
Every kid gives up their left shoe to Phil and then comes into the limelight and does a skit to win it back. All are welcome in this show of shoe-shows within a show. Come along and be foolish... Blindfold fruit peeling... water pistol art. Growns, please bring some odd object with you you don't mind swapping and leaving without... something from the garage or under the stairs. Remember the left shoe is the right one to give its right to be left with the right..
??????"Phil Kay was born to work with children" The List

7.30pm
Sufferettes (Canada)
In performance, The Sufferettes take the idea of improvisation to the very core of creation and devise a new show for every environment they are in. They employ no specific format but have used this process to create impromptu collaborations with musicians, other comedians, radio waves and make-up artists (to name a few). Dark, absurdist and relationship-based - anything can happen. Life is suffering.
www.thesufferettes.blogspot.co.uk

9.15pm
Dad's Garage presents Samurai Davis Jr. and Dim Sum's Super Mega Happy Fun Time Improv Show! (USA)
A totally outrageous spectacle of ridiculous fun. Two teams of improvisers compete for the audience's love... and to keep themselves dry. The team that loses each round gets a crazy punishment.
www.dadsgarage.com

Thursday 23 January

7.30pm
The Showstoppers! (UK)
Audience suggestions instantly become a new musical comedy at every performance for this multi award-winning improv troupe.

9.15pm
Harold Of Galactus (Canada) - UK Premiere
Harold of Galactus is an improvised superhero saga, presented by dynamic duo Chris Craddock and Mark Meer of Canada's Rapid Fire Theatre. Together, they present the entire career of a brand-new superhuman, created on the spot with the invaluable input of the audience!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaJIcEB_fJs

Friday January 24 January at 7.00pm to 9.00pm Sunday 26 January

The 7th Annual London 50 Hour Improvathon
The London Jam week culminates in The 7th Annual London 50 hour Improvathon. This theatrical marathon is the only event of its kind in Europe. With some of the top improvisational performers from around the worlds gathering together this year, it's sure to be a truly memorable experience. Drop in for just one episode or stay the whole time!

Park Theatre is located at Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP. Box office: 020 7870 6876; www.parktheatre.co.uk. The London Jam Shows, 20 - 23 January. The Running Time of shows is approx 1hour (no interval) except The Factory present 'The Odyssey', which is 2 hours plus interval. Tickets: Adults £13.00; Concessions £11.00. Age Suitability: 14+.

The 7th 50-Hour London Improvathon, 24 - 26 January. Performances: Start every 2 hours from 7.00pm on Friday 24 January - 9.00pm on Sunday 26 January. Running Time:Total 50 hours - purchase a ticket for the whole event or in 'episode' blocks of 90 minutes. Prices: Complete 50 hour Pass - £55.00 One Episode (105 minutes) - Full Price: £10.00 Concession: £7.00 Each subsequent episode: £5.00please note: £5.00 tickets can only be purchased in person during the 50 hour event. Age Suitability: 14+.