There are not many of us who do not know the movie ‘Love Actually’, the boogying Prime Minister who falls for one of his staff; Colin who struggles to find love in Britain but finds that his ‘cute British accent’ supes up his ability to woo the ladies in the US, and the tough love of Emma Thompson’s husband paying attention to one of his staff and giving her ‘that’ necklace!  Ok, I may have watched a few times…sooo many times, but as a lover of improv, I was keen to see how the theme of this movie, would translate into an improvised experience.

So, late afternoon in the Studio at the Gala Theatre, the small but eager crowd are treated to the improvised show ‘Love Factually’.  For this show to work, there must be a couple in the audience who are willing to share the details of how their relationship began, and other details that will become apparent…or they could lie, who would know!  The volunteers, or should I say people who were volunteered by their friends in this case, were Carol and Stewart, who met in Scarborough at a nightclub, Carol was attending 6^th form and Stewart was a Policeman.  Thelma and Ian who were with them, are old friends…just for the record.  Other particulars of note were that their favourite times together were travelling and especially skiing in France.  Carol also admitted that after an argument once, she tried to climb through the window of Stewart’s room (presumably before marriage).

The idea is that team ‘Love Factually’ which is a pairing; play out the story of, in this case Carol and Stewart, adding their own additions to the loose framework of the story.  We are taken to a nightclub, where Carol is a little the worse for wear, and Stewart is buying drinks at the bar.  A little concerned with Carol’s inebriated condition, Stewart keeps one eye on her, when Carol decides to come over for a chat.  Things move forward and they agree to meet again…but Stewart gets cold feet.  Seeing this played out with the couple watching on, with what must have been trepidation, is part of the fun of this show.  The couple’s own story is no doubt, replayed very differently, with the improvisers twisting the bare facts into a funny, improvised routine which is handled skilfully.  The best moments are kept for later, when all four friends are skiing, and poor Ian is considered boring, and what do you see in him Thelma?  And the finale of Carol being stuck in the window opening, would be funny in a scripted show, but knowing that this actually happened, just adds to the laughter.  From beginning to end, the improv company remembers all of the details and creates innovative scenes staying as close to the information provided as possible.

Well done to ‘Love Factually’, it was a very funny show, and if you go along tomorrow, there will be another couple waiting to have their story improvised.

To book tickets go to – https://durhamfringe.co.uk/events/love-factually/.  The show has two more performances the 30^th & 31^st July at 4.40pm at the Studio at Gala Theatre, Durham.