15 hour-long theatre improvisation for Rape Crisis

The event happens at the Little Theatre, situated on the University of Cape Town's Hiddingh Campus, and consists of 10 individual episodes of an hour and 10 minutes each, starting at 9am and ending at midnight. Audience members pay per episode and can follow the story throughout the day. Last year, the company improvised "Tackle Tales" for 12 hours, and raised over R12,000.

Improvised soap operas are an international theatre phenomenon, and Improguise is the first company to take on the challenge in South Africa. The world record is held by Canadian company Die Nasty, who performed for 53 hours.

The actors undergo rigorous training in storytelling techniques and ways to keep them on their toes with sparks of creativity constantly flowing. Without a script or plot to guide them, teamwork, inspiration and instinct take centre stage, the pressure and adrenalin higher than in a Springbok rugby game.

An audience favourite

No theatre company is better suited to taking on this challenge than Improguise, which has been entertaining South African audiences for over two decades, under the wing of its founder, Megan Furniss. The company has been recognised for innovation and as an audience favourite by the prestigious Fleur Du Cap theatre awards. It still performs comedy improv (think Whose Line is it Anyway?) weekly, at the Intimate Theatre and Kalk Bay theatre.

The plot will unfold its mystery on the day and is sure to have magic, mischief, mayhem, mirth, revenge and romance in true fantasy style. Support this innovative endeavour in aid of one of our country's most necessary charity organisations, Rape Crisis.

The show stars: Megan Furniss, Tandi Buchan, Candice D'Arcy, Leon Clingman, Carolyn Lewis, Ryan Jales, Rory Berry, Zanne Solomon, Tarryn Saunders, Anne Hirsch, Ardine Matjiesfontein, Jon Keevy and Nicholas Spagnoletti, with music by Garth Tavares, Hannelore Olivier and James Harvey.

Tickets cost R60 per episode and bookings can be made on www.webtickets.co.za.

For more, go to www.improguise.co.za or www.facebook.com/Improguisesoapathon