English Lovers

An ongoing campaign for the English Lovers, Vienna’s English-language improv ensemble. There is no script: the audience gives the suggestions, and the ensemble makes up scenes, songs and stories on the spot. Their Late Night Theater Jam runs every second and fourth Friday at 22:30 in the Bar&Co at Theater Drachengasse.

The campaign works from one idea: the medium becomes the stage. Type, frames and lines are small stages the performers play with. I also took the photos: a studio shoot with the whole ensemble, made to be cut out, combined and played with. In the posts the ensemble holds up boards with the line of the moment - black and white, one red word - dry, deadpan and slightly self-incriminating, like the shows: “It’s late. We’re unsupervised.”

The website carries the same world: the dates, who is on, the season and an archive of past productions. And it improvises a little, too. The cast lives in the layout as cut-outs; one player steps out of line and only gets back in when you point at them; the red dot next to the next date can’t quite be caught; words react when you come close; and someone makes room when you reach for the ticket button.

This page is still growing, like the campaign. More will be added as it unfolds.

Website: www.english-lovers.com