{{Short description|British comedy group}} '''The Suggestibles''' is a British improv comedy group, based in Newcastle upon Tyne.<ref name="TG">{{cite news |last1=Hickling |first1=Alfred |title=G2: Arts: Mind games: Should comedy be on the curriculum? Alfred Hickling meets two performers taking the art of improvisation into the classroom |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/246586310 |access-date=9 April 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=8 May 2007|id={{ProQuest|246586310}} }}</ref><ref name="SG">{{cite news |last1=Newman |first1=Vicki |title=Review: The Suggestibles, The Stand, Newcastle |url=https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/review-the-suggestibles-the-stand-newcastle-1-4231508 |work=Shields Gazette |date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114010824/https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/review-the-suggestibles-the-stand-newcastle-1-4231508 |archive-date=14 November 2018}}</ref>
==History== The group's roots can be traced to the 1990s, when its founder members Bev Fox and Ian McLaughlin helped create, with Alan Marriott, ''The Improv Musical'', which ran for {{circa|10 years}} playing at venues such as the Donmar and Fortune Theatre.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Hannah |title=Lives lived in the spotlight: From amazing highs to the deepest of lows. |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/lives-lived-spotlight/docview/905293016/se-2 |work=Journal |date=22 November 2011}}</ref> They formed The Suggestibles in 2003 at the Live Theatre.
As of 2011, the group has a core team of players comprising Bev Fox, Ian McLaughlin, Rob Atkinson, Carl Kennedy and Gary Kitching.<ref name= "badge"/> They are usually accompanied by musician Alex Ross on piano, and often a special guest from other improv companies.<ref>{{cite news |title=48 hours Your next North EastHot List |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/48-hours-your-next-north-easthot-list/docview/1830225635/se-2 |work=Evening Chronicle |date=20 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Suggestibles COMEDY |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/suggestibles-comedy/docview/1712693094/se-2 |work=Evening Chronicle |date=17 September 2015}}</ref> Their shows typically comprise two hours of improv games, short forms, and music, all at the suggestion of the audience.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sunderland 2015: Best gigs, shows and restaurants of the year |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/sunderland-2015-best-gigs-shows-restaurants-year/docview/1752796752/se-2 |work=Sunderland Echo |date=30 December 2015}}</ref>
The group present annually their "Impro Pantso", an improvised Christmas Pantomime led by audience suggestion, that was in its 9th year as of 2016. The adults-only show, which is different every night, performed at venues including the Northern Stage and the Cumberland Arms, is known as one of the "most popular" attractions in Newcastle.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hodgson |first1=Barbara |title=It's panto - but not as we know it |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A349536486/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=e90ac577 |work=The Journal |date=19 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Suggestibles go panto |url=http://www.thecrackmagazine.com/view-editorial/1149 |work=The Crack |accessdate=16 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jeffery |first1=Sarah |title=What's On panto round-up |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/whats-on-panto-round-up/docview/1819270810/se-2 |access-date=27 April 2025 |work=Evening Chronicle |date=15 September 2016}}</ref>
The Suggestibles also tour additional venues including Gala Theatre in Durham, Seaton Deleval Arts Centre, Hexham Queens Hall, Washington Arts Centre and Alnwick Playhouse.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} and have performed monthly at The Cumberland Arms in the Ouseburn Valley since 2011 and monthly at The Stand Comedy Club.<ref name="SG"/> The group also played regular residencies at The Hyena, Black Swan and The Mixer in Jesmond.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Charalambous |first1=Sophia |title=Laughter in Mixer makes your sides ache: The Suggestibles, British Legion Club, Jesmond, Newcastle. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/757363830 |work=The Journal |date=12 October 2010|id={{ProQuest|757363830}} }}</ref> They have also performed at Bristol Jam, an annual improv festival held at the Bristol Old Vic, since its inception in 2009.<ref name= "badge">{{cite news |title=Do you want to see badgers swimming at the Olympics? |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/do-you-want-see-badgers-swimming-at-olympics/docview/889953737/se-2 |access-date=26 April 2025 |work=Evening Post |date=15 September 2011}}</ref>
Writing in The Guardian in 2007, Alfred Hickling called the group one of the "hottest comedy tickets in the north-east".<ref name="TG"/> The Suggestibles won a Royal Television Society Award for ''Pour Quoi'' (a skit on Parkour), which had {{circa|1 million}} internet views.<ref name= "badge"/><ref>{{cite news |title=The Many Tribes of YouTube |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/many-tribes-youtube/docview/433581861/se-2 |access-date=26 April 2025 |work=New York Times |date=27 May 2007}}</ref>
Fox and McLaughlin also teach improv skills for personal and business development, as Suggestibles' School of Improv.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Errington |first1=Wendy |title=Signing up for the School of Improv |url=https://www.only-in-newcastle.co.uk/words/signing-up-for-the-school-of-improv-with-the-suggestibles/ |website=Only in Newcastle |access-date=27 April 2025 |date=2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Six Of The Best: Hendrika Seguro-Bigg |url=https://narcmagazine.com/six-of-the-best-hendrika-seguro-bigg/ |website=NARC Magazine |access-date=27 April 2025 |date=12 October 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.thesuggestibles.co.uk The Suggestibles] *[https://www.livingnorth.com/northeast/arts-whats/theatre-review-suggestibles’-impro-pantso Living North- Impro Pantso review] *{{YouTube|K-2yH0priLo|"The Suggestibles - Pour Quoi"}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suggestibles}} {{Authority control}} Category:Improvisational troupes Category:British comedy troupes Category:2003 establishments in England