Words: Fiona McDonald 

5 stars

“3” is an improvised comedy show made up of 3 performers, 3 acts, and 3 words that decide the topic of each act. The show features Graham Dickson, Naomi Petersen, and a special guest – on this performance it was One Day star, Ambika Mod. On the stage were also 3 wooden blocks, each a different colour, that moved in-between each section, creating a brand-new stage for each story.

The 3 words that my audience picked for the show were ‘spies’, ‘breakfast’ and ‘chicken’. From these words, the cast put on a spectacular performance of hilarious improvised comedy that made improvisation look easy. 

Dickson, Petersen and Mod worked together perfectly and switched into numerous different characters throughout – each one being as hilarious as the last. And each performer’s comedic timing was flawless. Characters and objects from previous acts also re-surfaced later on, becoming even funnier as time progressed.   

A musician whose improvised tunes provided exactly the right sounds to enhance the comedy even further. The first story on ‘spies’ was accompanied by James Bond-esque suspenseful music. The second act featured numbers made up and sung by the performers themselves. There was even a song sung in unison in the final act – pretty impressive in an improvised show.

And the really special thing about The Free Association’s “3” is that every single show is different, so you can keep going back and be just as entertained each time, if not more.  

3
Assembly George Square Studios, Studio Two
15:40
14-26 August