Unidentified Flying Improv

- Old leicester venue, Leicester

UFI are Leicester's foremost (and as far as we know, only) improvised comedy group.

Its members consist of people from various professions, arts, and backgrounds, including artists, storytellers, actors, comedians and musicians.

If you haven't seen us before (then why not?!), we perform short-form improvisation, playing both classic and new games, many of which were made famous byWhose Line Is It Anyway?on Channel 4. Of course, being live, we don’t have the luxury of retakes!

We have also become a regular feature of the Leicester Comedy Festival, where we were nominated for BEST DEBUT SHOW in 2009.

Our roster of members rotates at each gig*. It includes (but is certainly not limited to):

Lindsey Warnes Carroll

As one of the group’s original members, Lindsey has become the very face of Leicester’s improvised comedy scene. Well, the face, and just occasionally the shoulders. Oooh, saucy!

Lindsey was also one of the performers to take part in What Have You Done With Denise’s 30p? at Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival in 2012. She played the unlikely comedy roles of a sock that dances to Duck Sauce’s Barbra Streisand, and Most Haunted’s Yvette Fielding.

Tom Young

Tom is widely regarded as a comedy giant, though this is meant literally, as he’s a 6’7” semi-posh boy who does stand up. A lifelong resident of Market Harborough, Tom has been with UFI since late 2009, and has performed in three consecutive Leicester Comedy Festivals, including two solo shows and has a third in the works for 2013.

Jim Shields

Jim performs with UFI whenever he’s in the country, which is, at best, sporadic. We’ve considered the idea of getting him to perform with us via skype, but we’re worried it would lead to too many “buffering” jokes.

Jim is also a stand up comedian, and the owner/manager of Twist & Shout – a viral marketing company over at the LCB Depot.

Joel Mitchelson

Since late 2011, Joel has been UFI’s resident pianist. A delightful addition to the group, his sunny disposition and improvised musical styling has brought something to the group that we’ve never had before: a getaway driver – oh no, sorry, that’s for the other group he joined.

Matt Hollins

Matt (usually, affectionately known as Hollins) is something of a Leicester legend. A former biscuit packer, he won The Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year in 2004, the first local boy to do so. Hollins can often be relied upon to deliver a killer line out of the blue, in his penetrating dead-pan style. He also owns one of the finest dartboards in Countesthorpe.

Suzanne Rowland

Suzanne (commonly known as Sooz) is another UFI regular, having been with the group for many years. In the 2012 Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival, she was one of the co-creators of the show What Have You Done With Denise’s 30p?, which received an honourable mention from the awards panel for its comic originality. It is not uncommon to see her dressed as a walking Vienetta (you had to be there).

Ian Hall

Ian has been tearing up the comedy circuit in the last year with his array of characters including Blake Incarcerated, Ramon Le Tigre, and Ian. He’s been performing with Unidentified Flying Improv for almost a year, and took part in Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival 2012 in audience favourite What Have You Done With Denise’s 30p?.

*The names given here are not necessarily those who will be performing at this specific gig.

“Consistently boasting the most interesting line ups in the country”

The Times

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