Comedy news: Scenes from a communal living at the Etcetera Theatre

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Set around a flat, Scenes from a communal living is the the latest in a new series of improvisation shows to hit London's theatres this year.

Like many of the new style shows, the basic premise is to use a small amount of audience suggestions to shape an hour-long series of episodes which together could be seen as the flat-share from hell.

From awkward situations involving neighbours crashing your car, to flatmates dropping - and then smashing - the oven, each scene is made up on the night and acted out with barely a minute to think through the various sketches.

In most scenes one member of the troupe holds the audiences attention out front while the rest of the plot is thought up. It is obviously a well oiled system which allows a small amount of breathing space in sketches.

At times you were left wondering where the scene was going; the spontaneity of the show is laid bare and the audience are at the mercy of the comedians imagination - but this is part and parcel of improvisation, not knowing what is going to happen on any given night.

And luckily, the group are more than capable of coming up with comical imitations of everyday life which are at times ludicrous and at others vividly realistic.

Rachel Parris conjured up an excellent deliquent rich-bitch passing time with a phonecall to her father, while Rob Broderick’s portrayal of a love-struck Pizza-delivery-man-turned-stalker made for two of the highlights of the evening.

Sure, it is true that the world doesn’t need another comedy set around a flat, but Scenes From a Communal Living does have an actual connection to real life and with the familiar surroundings you’ll spot an ex-flatmate of some type during the hour-long series of scenes

For anyone keen to see how some of London's new improv troupes are setting the trend in improv comedy it is certianly a show worth checking out.

Tim Clark