What's On
Upcoming Shows
Impropera at King's PlaceWednesday 3 April, 7.30pm
£12.50
King's Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG Fresh from a tour that saw them unleash some musical mayhem on the nation's greatest museums, Impropera are back at King's Place. The world's only improvising opera troupe bring their unique blend of music, agile wit and ingenious storytelling back to King's Place. With the audience as their maestros Impropera will create opera with an anarchic irreverent edge; where serious music meets surreal comedy. Come completely unprepared because anything is possible and what you say, goes! |
Impropera presents MUSO at the BloomsburyTuesday 7 May, 7.30pm
£10
Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH Using their unique blend of music, agile wit and ingenious storytelling, Impropera invite you to discover the untold stories behind some of the exciting research taking place at UCL. Impropera will take you on a journey of exploration as they create opera on the spot inspired by the stories of UCL’s researchers and curators who will be joining them onstage using inspired by the objects from UCL’s Museums and Collections. Come completely unprepared because anything is possible and with your help they’ll create a one-off show never to be repeated. |
Recent Performances
MUSO: singing hidden treasures to life
8 February 1830-2100
Grant Museum of Zoology
Night has fallen on the Grant Museum of Zoology, the doors are closed and the museum staff have gone home, but something is stirring. The bats wings are twitching and the pickled moles are uncurling because the world's only improvising opera troupe, Impropera, have snuck in at twilight to sing the specimens to life.
Immerse yourself amongst the animals, hear from an expert and then enjoy musical performances made up on the spot about your discoveries from the countless species of insect, fish, birds and beasts on display. No score, no story and no safety net. What is performed is up to you. The musicians are ready. A curator is on hand with expert perspective
8 February 1830-2100
Grant Museum of Zoology
Night has fallen on the Grant Museum of Zoology, the doors are closed and the museum staff have gone home, but something is stirring. The bats wings are twitching and the pickled moles are uncurling because the world's only improvising opera troupe, Impropera, have snuck in at twilight to sing the specimens to life.
Immerse yourself amongst the animals, hear from an expert and then enjoy musical performances made up on the spot about your discoveries from the countless species of insect, fish, birds and beasts on display. No score, no story and no safety net. What is performed is up to you. The musicians are ready. A curator is on hand with expert perspective
MUSO: Robotissimo!
3 February 1830-2130
The British Academy
10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH
Designers are producing robots that are increasingly human-like in appearance and actions. From sophisticated machines we can chat to, through to lifelike sex robots, these creations have the potential to change how humans date, have sex or fall in love. But do we really want - and need - artificial companionship?
MUSO jumps into the debate, bringing the topic - and the robots - to life at Britain's national academy for the humanities and social sciences.
Tickets are free. But pre-booking is essential. Reserve your place here.
3 February 1830-2130
The British Academy
10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH
Designers are producing robots that are increasingly human-like in appearance and actions. From sophisticated machines we can chat to, through to lifelike sex robots, these creations have the potential to change how humans date, have sex or fall in love. But do we really want - and need - artificial companionship?
MUSO jumps into the debate, bringing the topic - and the robots - to life at Britain's national academy for the humanities and social sciences.
Tickets are free. But pre-booking is essential. Reserve your place here.
Impropera Returns!
Kings Place, Thursday 13th October, 8pm.
We are back at Kings Place with no score, no story, and no safety net. What we perform is up to you.
The Impropera company dips into its collective experience and prepares to surprise and delight with a show on improvised opera. With the whole of musical and theatrical history and current practice to draw upon, we reserve the right to incorporate any, all or none of it in response to suggestions from you.
Kings Place, Thursday 13th October, 8pm.
We are back at Kings Place with no score, no story, and no safety net. What we perform is up to you.
The Impropera company dips into its collective experience and prepares to surprise and delight with a show on improvised opera. With the whole of musical and theatrical history and current practice to draw upon, we reserve the right to incorporate any, all or none of it in response to suggestions from you.
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Nonstopera
Tête à Tête, The Cubitt Sessions, 31st July - 7pm The Impropera company dips into its collective experience and prepares to surprise and delight with a show on improvised opera. With the whole of musical and theatrical history and current practice to draw upon, we reserve the right to incorporate any, all or none of it in response to suggestions from you. |
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Theatrically Re-imagining Collections: a seminar day
The Grant Museum of Zoology, Tues 26th April - 9.30am-4pm Are you a museum professional interested in understanding more about how to work with performance companies to engage audiences? Or a performer who would you like to create work inspired by amazing spaces and collections? With UCL museums, we present the Theatrically Re-imagining Collections seminar day. Both a practical and exploratory day, peppered with musical reflections and packed full of expertise from across the sector, the day will be an exciting opportunity to exchange ideas, disrupt and unpick current practice, and look to the future of performance in museums. Join us as we theatrically re-imagine the ‘conference’ and hear from the experiences of museums and performance companies who have successfully collaborated to imaginatively interpret museum collections. |
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On Saturday 5th December 2015 at Kings Place, London we hosted an evening of yuletide glamour and giggle full of festive cheer.
“Rising to the audience’s every challenge, the company quickly weave a plot of brilliant ingenuity” The Times |
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On Wed 21st October 2015 we hosted a night of improper opera at the Michael Tippett Centre, Bath preceded by a workshop with some of their very talented students. |
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On 22nd April 2015 we piloted a new show with the Grant Museum of Zoology. Night fell on the museum, the doors closed and the staff went home, but something was stirring. The bats wings were twitching and the pickled moles were uncurling because the world's only improvising opera troupe (that's us), had snuck in at twilight to sing the specimens to life.
Muso is an experimental new project that invites an audience into our museums after dark. It is a first of its kind of performance; an explosive collaboration between opera and science; and there will be more performances in 2016! |
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On 12th February 2015 opera's leading improvisers (that's us) invited the maestros of the West End musical (that's The Showstoppers) to join them on stage at the Kings Place, London for a second date.
Sparks flew, pulses raced, phone numbers were swapped. It was a second date to remember. The result? An orgy of lurve-inspired musical improv generated on the spot from the audience's suggestions. For first time audience members, we were gentle. For old hands, we put the zip back in the relationship! |
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On Thurs 9th October 2014 Impropera challenged musical maverics 'The Showstoppers' to an improvised sing-off at Kings Place, London.
It was a smashing evening bursting with surreal comedy and brilliant music making. Who knew Musical Theatre and Opera could take the same stage and it would work? Well...just! The company and audience enjoyed the show so much that the Showstoppers have been invited back for a lurrrvee-ridden rematch this Valentine. |
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On Friday 14th March at 7pm Impropera performed a mini improvised opera as part of a British Library event. Counting Sheep: The Science of Sleep Have you ever had that anxiety dream where you are standing in front of a crowd of people (perhaps wearing only a towel) and have no idea what to say? Or worse, sing? For most of us it’s a real nightmare. For Impropera it’s a creative adventure. In this edge- of-the-pants performance the company asked the audience about their dreams and then performed them on stage. No one was quite sure what would happen next (as usual). Although the company didn't send anyone to sleep, they rested easy in the knowledge that if anyone did nod off in the middle...this was one opera where it didn't matter. Take a look at the video below. We start 9 mins in. |
"In these events we aim to highlight the crosscutting nature of science and its interplay with the arts. Impropera’s performance allowed us to do just that by providing an entertaining and alternative insight into the curious world of sleep."
Katie Howe, Research and Engagement Manager - Biosciences, Science, Technology and Medicine |
