Every Everyday – Extra Ordinary Improvised People – Effra Social, Brixton

Performers: Adi George & Matt Prestage

Reviewer: Christine Stanton

“Refreshingly Unique“

4 / 5

Improv almost always makes for a fun show, but admittedly can be a little predictable. Audiences are asked for cues to set up the scenes and the majority of the performance is based on cramming those suggestions into a show that may have lots of laughs, but can often lack substance. Every Everyday flip this improv tradition upside down with an excitingly unique breath of fresh air to the format.  

Rather than a bunch of quick-fire comedy sketches, this is instead long-form improv, featuring a single-scene dramatic play, focusing on multiple characters in everyday situations. Of course, with improv – no show is ever the same, and due to the lack of audience suggestion, it would be interesting for the audience to know if the base idea (location/subject matter etc) of each show is decided on in advance or picked at random when they step on stage. Our performance, was set at table 8 in a casino during a poker tournament. Alex and Felix are the main characters, one a high-flying business consultant, the other a lawyer committed to taking on every case that helps those less fortunate than others. Like David vs Goliath, they battle it out in the hopes of making it to the next stage, desperate not to become the ‘bubble boy’ and tap out before any prizes are allocated, but also learning more about each of their lives and motivations to gamble as the narrative and poker hands play out.

The likeable Every Everyday pair (Matt Prestage & Adi George) are a joy to watch. The duo tick the two main boxes when it comes to improv – they react quickly and remember well, ensuring that the flow of the performance remains engaging and investable throughout. The scene they create and the format they use, allows them to cultivate multiple characters, slowly expanding the scene and creating a well-layered narrative. George & Prestage both represent every character – each taking their turn as Alex, Felix, various croupiers and the bartender, jumping in adhoc, but never disrupting the overall storyline. Although every character is played by both, the signifiers of each character (e.g Pierre the croupier’s French accent or Felix’s seat at the table) remain constant, allowing the audience to always know exactly who is being portrayed at any given time.  

This is a refreshing take on a traditional show, and makes for a brilliantly enjoyable evening. Although the focus is a dramatic single scene, the pair still inject some comedy into the show, quick with quips to create some humorous interactions.   

Runs until 16^th October 2024