Improguise presents the first live improvised soapie

Improguise, South Africa's longest running, award-winning and hilarious improvisation company turns 20 this year. To celebrate they invite the public to the Soap-a-thon - South Africa's first ever live, improvised soap opera marathon, performed in aid of Rape Crisis.

All Improguise shows are totally improvised - the actors make up the action and lines as they go along. But the Soap-a-thon will be an extreme feat of improvised comedy. The actors will improvise eight soapie episodes, starting from 10:00am. Each episode is 1 hour and 10 minutes long, except for the final episode, which is 1 hour 30 minutes, and ends at 10:00pm. There will also be food and drinks, celebrity appearances and other surprises.

Special cast of characters

Just for this show, the actors have created a cast of characters set against the backdrop of a small fictional harbour town. Like any good soapie, it will explore threads like love, revenge, divorce, medical issues and family life. "The 12 hour event will make South African theatre history whilst supporting a really worthy organisation. We challenge as many of our audience members to 'do' the whole thing with us," says Tandi Buchan, artistic director of Improguise.

Rape Crisis provides essential services to women through counselling and court support services. Their 24 hour helpline reaches 4 500 to 5 000 survivors each year. But Rape Crisis is facing a crisis of its own - a shortfall of R1.3 million this year, which is threatening to force the organisation to close. All proceeds will contribute to alleviating their deficit and help them to continue with the daily running of the organisation.

To book for the Soap-a-thon, go to www.webtickets.co.za.