Cult hit ‘Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera’ reaches its 200th episode

As it approached its landmark 100th episode back in 2016, Closer Each Day was already the longest improvised narrative running anywhere in the world.

And they will soon have doubled that number, reaching an astonishing 200 episode tally of the “unscripted, uncoventional and uplifting” soap on June 6 at The Wardrobe Theatre.

In their 11 year history, the show has featured over 50 characters, three weddings, five births, two murders, affairs, elections, prison-breaks, flashbacks, ghosts, cults, brain-transplants, countless romances and a referendum.

Closer Each Day, The Improvised Soap Opera – photo: Daisy Tian Dai

As ever, for their upcoming milestone episode the performers will have no script, and the unfolding drama will be as much of a revelation to themselves as it is to the captive audience.

This bicentenary show will be double-length, featuring some extra surprises, fan memorabilia and special guests along the way.

Fans old and new will be treated to further celebrations in fortnightly helpings of Closer Each Day right through until August 1.

Looking back on how far the story has progressed, Bristol24/7 spoke to two cast members of the Closer Each Day company; John Lomas, also artistic director, and Lindsey Garwood, also company manager.

Closer Each Day, The Improvised Soap Opera – photo: Daisy Tian Dai

Can you sum up what Closer Each Day is?

“Closer Each Day is an entirely improvised, on-stage, soap opera. And it’s a comedy! Think Eastenders, without the misery or a script.”

How did the idea first take root, and who were the key personnel driving it?

“Closer Each Day started in May 2011 at the same time as the Wardrobe Theatre. It was the brain-child of Tom Brennan who had seen the 24 hour improvised show at the Bristol Old Vic and wanted to try out an extended improvised show.

“Five people stepped on the stage in 2011 with around five people in the audience and, amazingly, it worked!  The only surviving original cast member is current Artistic Director John Lomas. However, founder Tom Brennan will return for the 200th episode.”

In those early days, where did you think the show might end up? Did you ever envisage the cult success it has earned?

“We never had a plan for the show. We just really enjoyed doing it and knew the audience really enjoyed coming to see it. As soon as we worked out how to make it work we just knew that we wanted to keep on doing it and doing it and doing it…”

200th Episode Season – image: Closer Each Day, The Improvised Soap Opera

To what extent is the show improvised and unplanned? Is there a rough story arc mapped out in advance?

“Closer Each Day is entirely improvised. We use no fixed structure and we don’t map out any story arcs. What we have are the story elements that came from previous episodes and the need to fulfill those for the audience. For example, if a character says “I’m pregnant” at the end of Episode 1, we need to make sure the pregnancy is a story in Episode 2.

“The fact is, having no structure or script means we are free to really perform and go for it on stage and it creates, we hope, a better show. When anyone says “you must have planned that” or “it can’t be totally improvised”, we take that as a real compliment.

“We work very hard to ensure that the show fulfills the expectations of the returning audience but also can be enjoyed and understood by first timers.”

Which of the countless storylines and characters stand out to you as favourites, and why?

“We’ve had so many story lines – from the very funny to the very silly to the really quite sad. One that stands out was a long running secret affair between Fred, the local DJ, and Gina, the brassy barmaid, all behind the back of Dick, the cockney villain.

“We managed to make the story build and build over the course of nearly a year. When the climax came and Pablo, the loveable hairdresser, was caught in the cross-fire and shot dead, we drew genuine gasps of disbelief from the audience.”

What do you think the 200th episode might bring? How are you feeling about it? Will it be emotional?

“We hope the 200th episode will feel like a real celebration of what we do in Closer Each Day, whilst still telling the long story we’ve been telling for the last 11 years. It is a double act special, with an interval – so it is double the length of our usual show, we are going to enjoy that a lot!

“We are very excited, as we are for all our shows, but this is going to be the first time we have ever sold commemorative tea towels at a show (you heard it here first!).

“I think we are probably going to get a bit sentimental and hug each other a lot that night – we love Closer Each Day and are so happy audiences love it too.”

Closer Each Day: The 200th episode is at The Wardrobe Theatre on June 6 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.

Main photo: Daisy Tian Dai

Read more: 100th episode for Closer Each Day

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