One imagines that improvised comedy arose out of the need for stand-up comedians to have the quick wit to deal with hecklers and provide suitably funny ripostes to remarks shouted out by the audience.

This developed into the format whereby audiences were invited to shout out topics and situations for the comics to act out on stage.

After its success on television in the Channel 4 show Whose Line Is It Anyway? this art form has returned to its roots and is being performed again at live venues.

Paul Merton, a true comic genius, modestly shared the Dome stage with some of his talented colleagues and provided an evening of improvisation at its best.

Highlights of the evening included a hilarious mock Shakespearian play with the suggested title of The Merchant Named Denis and a series of one-line gags arising out of the bizarre physical positions the performers adopted.

Equally funny were the interpretations of the suggestions written and submitted by the audience during the interval.

These included Scottish sheep in a bra and, as a musical, seagulls fighting over a kebab.

The success of the evening was due to the enormous talent of all the performers.