THE Noise Next Door are becoming increasingly well known for their inprov comedy. As well as being part of shows, their Comedy Lock-In sees them play host as well. Jamie Walker spoke to them about the idea behind the show.

For anyone who has never seen The Noise Next Door tell us about your brand of comedy…

Simply put, The Noise Next Door are an improvised comedy troupe. We make comedy up, on the spot, based on suggestions from the audience. We make up scenes and songs and characters dependant on the whim of the crowd in front of us.

What do you think separates you from the pack in what is a busy and very talented comedy scene in the UK?

We guarantee laughs! We can provide giggles for just about anyone, no matter who you are or what your tastes.

Comedy is such a subjective business but we pride ourselves on being able to raise a smile out of everyone who comes to a show.

We’re also incredibly experienced at what we do, with no other group having sustained a career on the comedy circuit for such a prolonged period of time.

Is it difficult coming up with new routines and ideas for the show?

For longer shows, it can be incredibly tough to generate new routines.

Improv works differently to stand-up or sketch, in that, while the content of a scene or song will obviously change depending on audience suggestion, we have to come up with new structures to contain those suggestions.

New settings for songs, or new ways of taking suggestions, we try to subvert the classic improv shout outs to find new ways of engaging an audience. The difficult part is creating a structure that works infallibly regardless of suggestion.

Tell us about the comedy lock in, how did it come about?

The Comedy Lock-In was borne out of the idea of having us, a group, host a comedy night.

Traditionally of course, most comedy mixed bills are MC’ed by an individual, but we thought it would be fun if we turned our hand to it to try something a little different.

The concept morphed into us having acts come down and do their set, but then also attempt to improvise with us.

It’s a great way for audiences to see acts they might know and enjoy doing something they would never normally do. It also, hopefully, gives the acts themselves a fun thing to do to break up the monotony of repeating the same set every night!

How does it differ from your typical Noise Next Door show?

The big difference is that this show has guests. Not only do you get to see us (lucky you), but you also get to witness some of the best acts on the UK circuit doing their best stuff.

Not only that, we then put them in tailor made improv games based on their skill set, and give them a welcoming platform to get involved in our improvised world. Our shows are generally pretty anarchic, but the Lock-Ins provide that extra edge, that extra danger.

While we always give comics the chance to shine, some of them will go completely off the rails and it’s a whole heap of fun to watch the carnage ensue.

What can the crowd expect from the show?

We’re not here to push an agenda, to raise debate or court intellectualism. We are effectively clowns, at your disposal, for pure, unadulterated entertainment. The main thing you can expect, is the unexpected.

Aside from the laughter, the beauty of the Lock-In is that no one show is ever the same. You’ll genuinely experience something entirely unique that’ll give you a lasting memory.

For example, we’ve surprised Romesh Ranganathan by bringing his entire family on to stage on Father’s Day, we’ve had Craig Campbell enter the theatre on a motorbike, we’ve given the entire audience snowballs in a Christmas themed show as well as fully wrapping an audience member up like a present, two acts (who shall remain nameless) once played Marco Polo in their underwear smothered in chocolate mousse. Anything can happen. And anything will happen, we promise it will be hilarious.

You’re regulars in Brighton, what do you like so much about the city?

Two of us were raised in Brighton, and we dragged the others here because of how awesome it is.

It’s a liberal enclave, a cultural hub, a city bursting with positivity, creativity and, most importantly, contains a plethora of incredible restaurants, coffee shops and pubs.

As comedians who travel the length and breadth of the country on a daily basis, it’s beyond idiotic to base yourself in a city on the South Coast where the trains are notoriously and unrelentingly garbage, where the roads in and out are constantly clogged and where the M25 looms above, ominously. We add on hours and hours of extra journey time to each gig we do anywhere north of Sussex just by living here instead of Milton Keynes, or Northampton or Birmingham.

But we wouldn’t have it any other way because Brighton is the best place in the country. Hands down. No doubt.

And while we respect the opinions of others wholeheartedly, if you don’t agree with this sentiment, then your opinions are dumb and wrong.

What do you think makes Brighton such a great place for comedy?

Brighton is a fantastic place to perform comedy, in part because of how liberal and accepting of risk the audiences are. People here understand the need for creative play and will go along with routines on just about anything.

The city champions the arts, and champions the need for its people to consume them which makes it not only good for comedy, but any sort of performance.

It’s why the Festival in May has swelled in size and it’s why massive and tiny companies alike swarm to the seaside to perform.

Why is The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock In the show to see?

Because you will laugh. Hard. And if you don’t like laughing, then you have bigger problems than not wanting to see this show.