I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Supreme Art of Improvisation, but Caspar Schjelbred delivered a brilliant, insightful, and surprisingly intimate experience at the Tallinn Fringe Festival.
Right from the beginning, Caspar breaks the wall between the performer and the crowd. Instead of making a dramatic entrance, he walks on stage and takes a seat directly in the audience. He invites everyone to stare into the empty space and asks a simple yet intriguing question: What is actually so scary about an empty room? From there, he sets the foundation of the show, explaining what the “supreme art of improvisation” really is—that every time an improviser steps on stage, the work isn’t about being better, it’s just completely different.
What makes this show truly fascinating is how he pulls back the curtain on the creative process. As he improvises scenes and invents characters out of nowhere, he simultaneously explains what is happening inside his head every five to ten seconds.
The show is wonderfully interactive without feeling high-pressure. Caspar plays with the crowd, guiding everyone through simple exercises right from their seats. At one point, he even hands over control, putting the audience into the director’s seat as he asks “what’s next?” Through this dynamic back-and-forth, he brilliantly illustrates the subtle difference between a good actor and a bad actor.
The Supreme Art of Improvisation is funny, clever, and it exposes real secrets of improv, that you haven’t thought of before. Its next and final show is Saturday 22 August at 1700, at Kanuti Gildi SAAL. Highly recommended!
The Tallinn Fringe Festival continues until 18 September, with improv, theatre, comedy and more – check out the full programme to see what else is on.
Author: Tatiana Akopova
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