Review: NOTFLIX THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL, Luna Park, Caravanserai, Brighton Fringe

Touting themselves as 'The Spice Girls of improv', the team behind Notflix the Improvised Musical certainly knew how to inject some zig-a-zig-ah into the Brighton Fringe as they took the stage in Luna Park at the Caravanserai site this week.

An energetic and impressive addition to this year's Brighton Fringe, the all-female cast of Notflix take an audience suggestion of a favourite film and their favourite scene, turning it into a musical on the fly, complete with live band.

For 60 minutes, there isn't a moment that isn't imbued with high-octane movement, seemingly effortless comedy...and delightfully, some really impressive vocal talents. For this show, the movie in question was Top Gun: Maverick, which happily proved to be comedy gold, although I think this cast could make make anything funny.

The ability to be able to spontaneously create a compelling storyline that nods to the original movie concept is one thing, but being able to create some genuniely catchy songs at the same time requires a very unique talent, and I couldnt stop tapping along to all of these bangers.

As one would expect from the Fringe show, there is no set or props, and the only thing resembling costumes are the Notflix branded tees (where can I get one for myself?!) And this is the wonderful thing about exploring theatre in its more abstract from - the biggest theatrical gems often sit on the fringes, stripped of all distractions, glittering in their simplicity.

Director Sarah Spencer has created a concept that's charming in its simplicity, yet undoubtedly complex to pull off convincingly, and these women knock it out of the (Luna) park. It's a masterclass in active listening. And frankly, anyone that can weave a Budgie the Little Helicopter reference into a show will always have my vote. 

Notflix the Improvised Musical is now touring.