The Noise Next Door: Bring the Noise

For those who believe the whole ad-lib world is the lowest rung of the comedy ladder, it might be time to hang out with a Noise Next Door audience. They are virtually messianic in their acclaim of this quintet of very talented improv actors. There isn’t a huge amount of personality difference between the fivesome, though perhaps that will come through in time. Then again, their ethos is very much about the fate of the team and helping each other along rather than any individual grandstanding.

‘This is mental, ‘this will be mental’ and ‘mental!’ yell various members of this improv collective. While an enjoyable hour never quite hits the heights of true mania (though some audience members made a fine fist of it with a selection of barmy suggestions), you can’t help but admire their ad hoc skills. On this particular date, they weave a tale suggested by the throng about Superman landing upon a sleepy village and the pace rarely lets up with the quintet clearly having as much fun as their crowd.

Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 27 Aug, 5pm, £13--£14 (£11.50--£13).