The Oxford Imps - intelligent, if at times immature sketch comedy

I have to hand it to the Oxford Imps, they certainly know how to think fast.

Their shows are marketed as “Whose Line Is It Anyway-style comedy”, and they live up to this description.

Everything is improvised, based on pointers given by the audience. As a punter, you choose their accents, subject matter, objects for the sketch, and the end product is often surreal.

The Imps are quick-witted, and their ability to switch from Shakespearean English to a near-perfect American twang is to be admired.

The shows are short for a reason - the format would grow tiresome after more than an hour, but I would urge any fan of improvised comedy to see this group of dynamic and talented young people perform.

Preen Back Yer Lugs by From Start to Finnish - a funny, inspiring and pleasantly disturbing insight into life in a dystopian, post-apocalypse Scotland.

Picture the scene: World War Seven has wiped out everything on the Earth...except Scotland.

Far-fetched I know, but within 15 minutes of the start of this witty and dramatic play, you can absolutely believe you’re in a world where the use of phrases like “Scotch” are banned and laws are handed down by a cloned Alex Salmond (or Alex Almond), who is now half-man and half-midgie.

As surreal as the plot is, there are some serious underlying themes, as immigrant English citizens are marginalised and driven underground, eventually rising up to (supposedly) conquer their enemies with a campaign of procreation.

The accents and acting is superb, so much so you can’t work out if the players are Scottish or English.

The use of simple sets and props adds to the dystopian theme. The whole plot, and especially its finale (Almond finally turns into a midgie, is killed by his own gigantic wind turbine and Scotland parts company with the Earth) are barking mad, but you feel a strange identification with the characters.

All in all, the play is a masterpiece. Beautifully written, laugh-out-loud witty and perfectly performed. I look forward to this company’s next outing.

Abominations by Heretical Productions - the Frankenstein story gets a sinister satirical overhaul with a bit of good ol’ fashioned mime thrown in.

Imagine Frankenstein was created by a 21st century scientist with the full backing of the Department of Health, then imagine everyone is completely mad.

Add to that basic plot some Pythonesque slapstick, robots with souls and a Health Secretary who makes Jeremy Hunt look like Albert Einstein, and you have Abominations.

This dark, humorous account of an experiment gone wrong and several scientists’ struggle with the ethics of messing around with human genes is uncontrollably witty, with a great plot and an even better ending. I know Heretical productions of old, and they have moved from chaotic sketch comedy to equally chaotic feature-length theatre with ease.

Sound effects and a wicked soundtrack played live on keyboards makes it all especially silly, and I think it’s supposed to be. Where else would you see two grown men, fists outstretched, creating the appearance of a turnstile?

A friend remarked to me it seemed a little infantile, but I assured her that was the point, and adults and children (not young children, there’s at least one F word) can enjoy this horrible delight without fear of diminishing standards. Make sure you see the Heretical lot next year before they’re out on ridiculously over-priced blu-ray disc.