hello yes my name is Adam Megiddo I am the co-creator and director of show stop
the co-creator and director of show stop
the co-creator and director of show stop at the improvised musical now show
at the improvised musical now show
at the improvised musical now show stopper has everything that you could
stopper has everything that you could
stopper has everything that you could possibly want from a musical
possibly want from a musical
possibly want from a musical it has song and dance routines it’s got
it has song and dance routines it’s got
it has song and dance routines it’s got big sweeping storylines it’s got
big sweeping storylines it’s got
big sweeping storylines it’s got characters that you can care about it’s
characters that you can care about it’s
characters that you can care about it’s got plenty of pizazz the only difference
got plenty of pizazz the only difference
got plenty of pizazz the only difference is that what we’re doing is entirely
is that what we’re doing is entirely
is that what we’re doing is entirely made up on the spot it is forged fresh
made up on the spot it is forged fresh
made up on the spot it is forged fresh in the moment and it is 100% improvised
in the moment and it is 100% improvised
in the moment and it is 100% improvised and we’re going to improvise a bit of a
and we’re going to improvise a bit of a
and we’re going to improvise a bit of a musical for you right now now Lamy zurab
musical for you right now now Lamy zurab
musical for you right now now Lamy zurab is set on the streets of
is set on the streets of
is set on the streets of nineteenth-century Paris
nineteenth-century Paris
nineteenth-century Paris Little Shop of Horrors is set in a
Little Shop of Horrors is set in a
Little Shop of Horrors is set in a rundown flower shop in New York City so
rundown flower shop in New York City so
rundown flower shop in New York City so could one of you suggest a setting for a
could one of you suggest a setting for a
could one of you suggest a setting for a new musical somewhere where you would
new musical somewhere where you would
new musical somewhere where you would genuinely love to see a brand-new
genuinely love to see a brand-new
genuinely love to see a brand-new musical a setting a location or
musical a setting a location or
musical a setting a location or something like that what was that one
something like that what was that one
something like that what was that one Budapest
Budapest
Budapest now can you be even more specific where
now can you be even more specific where
now can you be even more specific where in Budapest like what kind of place
in Budapest like what kind of place
in Budapest like what kind of place would do they meet in Budapest in a bar
would do they meet in Budapest in a bar
would do they meet in Budapest in a bar fantastic ladies and gentlemen for one
fantastic ladies and gentlemen for one
fantastic ladies and gentlemen for one night only your musical entitled a bar
night only your musical entitled a bar
night only your musical entitled a bar in Budapest
in Budapest
in Budapest [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I like to drink in the Budapest I like
I like to drink in the Budapest I like
I like to drink in the Budapest I like to drink something that’s fine back to
to drink something that’s fine back to
to drink something that’s fine back to drinking Budapest
drinking Budapest
drinking Budapest the only place for very good wine but a
the only place for very good wine but a
the only place for very good wine but a grain does the grape and all in between
grain does the grape and all in between
grain does the grape and all in between everything you could desire but take
everything you could desire but take
everything you could desire but take yourself your passion and even
this little bar in Budapest
this little bar in Budapest [Music]
[Music]
[Music] we know the place that is
this little bar in maybe you want to
this little bar in maybe you want to love us someone to hold you close
love us someone to hold you close
love us someone to hold you close someone who is about nothing in your ear
someone who is about nothing in your ear
someone who is about nothing in your ear maybe want to be all we saw the baba
maybe want to be all we saw the baba
maybe want to be all we saw the baba ghanoush and a little snack on the side
ghanoush and a little snack on the side
ghanoush and a little snack on the side so if you long for Eastern Europe your
so if you long for Eastern Europe your
so if you long for Eastern Europe your wishes cannot be denied we know the
wishes cannot be denied we know the
wishes cannot be denied we know the place that is the best body
place that is the best body
place that is the best body [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] okay so what just happened and how did
okay so what just happened and how did
okay so what just happened and how did they do that
they do that
they do that if you imagine a flock of birds or a
if you imagine a flock of birds or a
if you imagine a flock of birds or a shoal of fish it looks like they are all
shoal of fish it looks like they are all
shoal of fish it looks like they are all moving on mass as one it looks like they
moving on mass as one it looks like they
moving on mass as one it looks like they have almost telepathic communication
have almost telepathic communication
have almost telepathic communication with each other and they just move as
with each other and they just move as
with each other and they just move as one unit but if you look more closely
one unit but if you look more closely
one unit but if you look more closely the fish at the front or the bird at the
the fish at the front or the bird at the
the fish at the front or the bird at the front moves and the very next fish or
front moves and the very next fish or
front moves and the very next fish or bird makes a decision to immediately
bird makes a decision to immediately
bird makes a decision to immediately copy that and embrace the change and so
copy that and embrace the change and so
copy that and embrace the change and so on down through all the fish in the flow
on down through all the fish in the flow
on down through all the fish in the flow in the show or all the birds in the
in the show or all the birds in the
in the show or all the birds in the flock and it looks like they’re all
flock and it looks like they’re all
flock and it looks like they’re all moving with a hive mind but actually
moving with a hive mind but actually
moving with a hive mind but actually what they’re doing is responding to a
what they’re doing is responding to a
what they’re doing is responding to a number of tiny little changes in the
number of tiny little changes in the
number of tiny little changes in the moment and this willingness to embrace
moment and this willingness to embrace
moment and this willingness to embrace change in the moment lies at the heart
change in the moment lies at the heart
change in the moment lies at the heart of everything we do we’re going to try
of everything we do we’re going to try
of everything we do we’re going to try and make it a little bit more apparent
and make it a little bit more apparent
and make it a little bit more apparent so showstoppers could you come back up
so showstoppers could you come back up
so showstoppers could you come back up and give us the chorus again if you can
and give us the chorus again if you can
and give us the chorus again if you can remember it if you can’t remember it
remember it if you can’t remember it
remember it if you can’t remember it just come up with something else
just come up with something else
just come up with something else and this time could you make some
and this time could you make some
and this time could you make some changes to the dynamic and the tempo and
changes to the dynamic and the tempo and
changes to the dynamic and the tempo and the mood so that you can see how they
the mood so that you can see how they
the mood so that you can see how they instigate change from within
we know the bar that is the best this
we know the bar that is the best this little place in the past we know the
little place in the past we know the
little place in the past we know the best
best
best [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] great laughs stay here for a moment
great laughs stay here for a moment
great laughs stay here for a moment because that’s obviously an example of
because that’s obviously an example of
because that’s obviously an example of them instigating change from within but
them instigating change from within but
them instigating change from within but we can also instigate change from
we can also instigate change from
we can also instigate change from without so could somebody suggest their
without so could somebody suggest their
without so could somebody suggest their favorite musical preferably something
favorite musical preferably something
favorite musical preferably something that most of the people in this room
that most of the people in this room
that most of the people in this room might know because it would be more
might know because it would be more
might know because it would be more entertaining that way a musical a
entertaining that way a musical a
entertaining that way a musical a musical that you’re aware of Chicago
musical that you’re aware of Chicago
musical that you’re aware of Chicago Chicago I heard here
Chicago I heard here
Chicago I heard here Chicago’s great so they’re gonna do it
Chicago’s great so they’re gonna do it
Chicago’s great so they’re gonna do it now in the style of Chicago
now in the style of Chicago
now in the style of Chicago [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
thank you very much now okay that is
thank you very much now okay that is just one song an example of one song so
just one song an example of one song so
just one song an example of one song so how do we put together something which
how do we put together something which
how do we put together something which is more than a song a scene or a story
is more than a song a scene or a story
is more than a song a scene or a story an entire narrative that goes on for 90
an entire narrative that goes on for 90
an entire narrative that goes on for 90 minutes or two hours or even more well
minutes or two hours or even more well
minutes or two hours or even more well to do this we need to observe some basic
to do this we need to observe some basic
to do this we need to observe some basic principles firstly we need to accept we
principles firstly we need to accept we
principles firstly we need to accept we need to accept each other’s ideas
need to accept each other’s ideas
need to accept each other’s ideas suggestions and offers and we need to
suggestions and offers and we need to
suggestions and offers and we need to accept them immediately because if we’re
accept them immediately because if we’re
accept them immediately because if we’re creating a brand new reality forged
creating a brand new reality forged
creating a brand new reality forged fresh in the moment all we have is the
fresh in the moment all we have is the
fresh in the moment all we have is the acceptance of each other’s ideas and we
acceptance of each other’s ideas and we
acceptance of each other’s ideas and we do that as quickly as we can ideally
do that as quickly as we can ideally
do that as quickly as we can ideally immediately also in order to do that we
immediately also in order to do that we
immediately also in order to do that we need to listen to each other and we
need to listen to each other and we
need to listen to each other and we don’t just mean listening without ears
don’t just mean listening without ears
don’t just mean listening without ears we mean observing each other paying
we mean observing each other paying
we mean observing each other paying attention and being in attendance being
attention and being in attendance being
attention and being in attendance being present to in fact the best definition
present to in fact the best definition
present to in fact the best definition of listening I know comes from
of listening I know comes from
of listening I know comes from improvisers and it is listening is the
improvisers and it is listening is the
improvisers and it is listening is the willingness to be changed listening is
willingness to be changed listening is
willingness to be changed listening is the willingness to be changed and this
the willingness to be changed and this
the willingness to be changed and this willingness to be changed this
willingness to be changed this
willingness to be changed this willingness to embrace change
willingness to embrace change
willingness to embrace change immediately and in the moment lies
immediately and in the moment lies
immediately and in the moment lies absolutely at the heart of everything
absolutely at the heart of everything
absolutely at the heart of everything that we do so we’re gonna play another
that we do so we’re gonna play another
that we do so we’re gonna play another little game to demonstrate that and this
little game to demonstrate that and this
little game to demonstrate that and this one if Ruth and PIPA could come and play
one if Ruth and PIPA could come and play
one if Ruth and PIPA could come and play this game this is a game called new
this game this is a game called new
this game this is a game called new choice it’s a very popular improv games
choice it’s a very popular improv games
choice it’s a very popular improv games quite common and basically what happens
quite common and basically what happens
quite common and basically what happens is they’re going to play a scene and
is they’re going to play a scene and
is they’re going to play a scene and whenever I hit the bell during the scene
whenever I hit the bell during the scene
whenever I hit the bell during the scene they’ve got two arrays what they just
they’ve got two arrays what they just
they’ve got two arrays what they just said or did and come up with something
said or did and come up with something
said or did and come up with something else instead I’m going to hit the bell a
else instead I’m going to hit the bell a
else instead I’m going to hit the bell a lot so this is going to force them into
lot so this is going to force them into
lot so this is going to force them into some very unexpected change and you’re
some very unexpected change and you’re
some very unexpected change and you’re going to see that the scene will open up
going to see that the scene will open up
going to see that the scene will open up into some very unexpected areas so to
into some very unexpected areas so to
into some very unexpected areas so to begin with just to give them a bit of a
begin with just to give them a bit of a
begin with just to give them a bit of a launch into the scene could someone
launch into the scene could someone
launch into the scene could someone suggest a place where two people might
suggest a place where two people might
suggest a place where two people might work the government yeah the government
work the government yeah the government
work the government yeah the government to government workers in a new choice
to government workers in a new choice
to government workers in a new choice game another lovely dead the government
game another lovely dead the government
game another lovely dead the government isn’t it I do love working at the
isn’t it I do love working at the
isn’t it I do love working at the government g2 I put some laws here
government g2 I put some laws here
government g2 I put some laws here take them off put them into action
take them off put them into action
take them off put them into action team.o okay you need a cup of tea when
team.o okay you need a cup of tea when
team.o okay you need a cup of tea when you work at the government don’t you
you work at the government don’t you
you work at the government don’t you oh yes because government
oh yes because government
oh yes because government oh I can’t tell you how tiring sometimes
oh I can’t tell you how tiring sometimes
oh I can’t tell you how tiring sometimes it is to work for the government now I
it is to work for the government now I
it is to work for the government now I know all those people need guidance and
know all those people need guidance and
know all those people need guidance and we give it to them they need governing
we give it to them they need governing
we give it to them they need governing they do need governing I’m sorry right
they do need governing I’m sorry right
they do need governing I’m sorry right Marian Thank You Claudette
Marian Thank You Claudette
Marian Thank You Claudette Lady Grey always lovely how are the
Lady Grey always lovely how are the
Lady Grey always lovely how are the children
children
children oh they’re delightful I don’t have any I
oh they’re delightful I don’t have any I
oh they’re delightful I don’t have any I forgot I like them I’m very happy in my
forgot I like them I’m very happy in my
forgot I like them I’m very happy in my life with the children and my husband I
I had no idea why don’t you ever talk
I had no idea why don’t you ever talk about these things because I’m so busy
about these things because I’m so busy
about these things because I’m so busy governing I forget about me it’s true
governing I forget about me it’s true
governing I forget about me it’s true that’s the problem with working in the
that’s the problem with working in the
that’s the problem with working in the government you’re always thinking about
government you’re always thinking about
government you’re always thinking about other people in Livia you’re obviously
other people in Livia you’re obviously
other people in Livia you’re obviously you about yourself now you’re always
you about yourself now you’re always
you about yourself now you’re always putting in laws that really benefit
putting in laws that really benefit
putting in laws that really benefit yourself you’re always looking out of
yourself you’re always looking out of
yourself you’re always looking out of the window going why did I choose this
the window going why did I choose this
the window going why did I choose this you’re always asking to yellow lines and
you’re always asking to yellow lines and
you’re always asking to yellow lines and a red root what’s that all about I broke
a red root what’s that all about I broke
a red root what’s that all about I broke my heart in San Francisco you broke your
my heart in San Francisco you broke your
my heart in San Francisco you broke your own heart yes going on one of those
own heart yes going on one of those
own heart yes going on one of those sabbaticals you know what you find
sabbaticals you know what you find
sabbaticals you know what you find yourself and I found myself and I broke
yourself and I found myself and I broke
yourself and I found myself and I broke up with myself and that’s why you’re
up with myself and that’s why you’re
up with myself and that’s why you’re back governing again that’s right that’s
back governing again that’s right that’s
back governing again that’s right that’s why I’m back here in Westminster looking
why I’m back here in Westminster looking
why I’m back here in Westminster looking at the people and thinking one day I
at the people and thinking one day I
at the people and thinking one day I will be Prime Minister one day I will be
will be Prime Minister one day I will be
will be Prime Minister one day I will be Lord Bentley one day I will clean up
Lord Bentley one day I will clean up
Lord Bentley one day I will clean up England yes thank you
so change can open up things and all
so change can open up things and all sorts of unexpected ways and by
sorts of unexpected ways and by
sorts of unexpected ways and by embracing it actually it can be
embracing it actually it can be
embracing it actually it can be extremely joyous so why don’t we do it
extremely joyous so why don’t we do it
extremely joyous so why don’t we do it more
more
more well change can often take us into the
well change can often take us into the
well change can often take us into the unknown and the unknown can be a scary
unknown and the unknown can be a scary
unknown and the unknown can be a scary and a frightening place and a lot of
and a frightening place and a lot of
and a frightening place and a lot of people always say well I’m frightened of
people always say well I’m frightened of
people always say well I’m frightened of making a mistake and particularly in
making a mistake and particularly in
making a mistake and particularly in this kind of work we encounter that a
this kind of work we encounter that a
this kind of work we encounter that a lot with people who are learning to
lot with people who are learning to
lot with people who are learning to improvise for the first time they are
improvise for the first time they are
improvise for the first time they are frightened of making a mistake but
frightened of making a mistake but
frightened of making a mistake but really in improvisation we say that
really in improvisation we say that
really in improvisation we say that there is no such thing as a mistake a
there is no such thing as a mistake a
there is no such thing as a mistake a mistake in fact is an opportunity we’ve
mistake in fact is an opportunity we’ve
mistake in fact is an opportunity we’ve often heard it said that a mistake is a
often heard it said that a mistake is a
often heard it said that a mistake is a gift from the impro gods if you look at
gift from the impro gods if you look at
gift from the impro gods if you look at jazz musicians when they play together
jazz musicians when they play together
jazz musicians when they play together jazz musicians might hit what we call a
jazz musicians might hit what we call a
jazz musicians might hit what we call a bum note and if they leave it at that
bum note and if they leave it at that
bum note and if they leave it at that it will feel very much like a mistake
it will feel very much like a mistake
it will feel very much like a mistake but if they play it three more times
but if they play it three more times
but if they play it three more times it becomes an angular new tune for those
it becomes an angular new tune for those
it becomes an angular new tune for those of you who might been watching the
of you who might been watching the
of you who might been watching the documentary series chefs table I’d like
documentary series chefs table I’d like
documentary series chefs table I’d like to talk a little bit about a chef called
to talk a little bit about a chef called
to talk a little bit about a chef called Massimo Bottura who is a chef in it in
Massimo Bottura who is a chef in it in
Massimo Bottura who is a chef in it in Madinah and Italy he’s got a three
Madinah and Italy he’s got a three
Madinah and Italy he’s got a three Michelin star restaurant now as you can
Michelin star restaurant now as you can
Michelin star restaurant now as you can imagine from a three Michelin star
imagine from a three Michelin star
imagine from a three Michelin star restaurant the standards are pretty high
restaurant the standards are pretty high
restaurant the standards are pretty high and extremely exacting so when one of
and extremely exacting so when one of
and extremely exacting so when one of his kitchen staff drops a lemon tart and
his kitchen staff drops a lemon tart and
his kitchen staff drops a lemon tart and it splatters across the plate he is
it splatters across the plate he is
it splatters across the plate he is quite rightly horrified and most of the
quite rightly horrified and most of the
quite rightly horrified and most of the kitchen staff are horrified this is an
kitchen staff are horrified this is an
kitchen staff are horrified this is an error this is a terrible mistake how
error this is a terrible mistake how
error this is a terrible mistake how could such a mistake happen in such a
could such a mistake happen in such a
could such a mistake happen in such a worthy institution but to Massimo
worthy institution but to Massimo
worthy institution but to Massimo Bottura it’s not a mistake it’s an
Bottura it’s not a mistake it’s an
Bottura it’s not a mistake it’s an opportunity
opportunity
opportunity he immediately renames the dish oops I
he immediately renames the dish oops I
he immediately renames the dish oops I dropped the lemon tart and it’s spread
dropped the lemon tart and it’s spread
dropped the lemon tart and it’s spread out across the plate just as it was when
out across the plate just as it was when
out across the plate just as it was when it was dropped he makes all of his
it was dropped he makes all of his
it was dropped he makes all of his chef’s make it in exactly the same way
chef’s make it in exactly the same way
chef’s make it in exactly the same way this now has a story this now has a
this now has a story this now has a
this now has a story this now has a personality it has history it is fun it
personality it has history it is fun it
personality it has history it is fun it is vibrant and presumably it tastes just
is vibrant and presumably it tastes just
is vibrant and presumably it tastes just as good as it did before so embracing a
as good as it did before so embracing a
as good as it did before so embracing a mistake can often lead to an opportunity
mistake can often lead to an opportunity
mistake can often lead to an opportunity we talked a little bit about some of the
we talked a little bit about some of the
we talked a little bit about some of the principles that we play by listening and
principles that we play by listening and
principles that we play by listening and accepting and I just want to talk about
accepting and I just want to talk about
accepting and I just want to talk about a third and final one which is
a third and final one which is
a third and final one which is committing
committing
committing because we commit fully to what we do in
because we commit fully to what we do in
because we commit fully to what we do in the moment right now even if we don’t
the moment right now even if we don’t
the moment right now even if we don’t know what’s going on we commit to it in
know what’s going on we commit to it in
know what’s going on we commit to it in fact a commitment to the process is
fact a commitment to the process is
fact a commitment to the process is often more effective than an attachment
often more effective than an attachment
often more effective than an attachment to the outcome we’re going to
to the outcome we’re going to
to the outcome we’re going to demonstrate that with another game so if
demonstrate that with another game so if
demonstrate that with another game so if we could have the showstoppers back up
we could have the showstoppers back up
we could have the showstoppers back up please this is another common
please this is another common
please this is another common improvisation game it’s called speaking
improvisation game it’s called speaking
improvisation game it’s called speaking in one voice and they are going to speak
in one voice and they are going to speak
in one voice and they are going to speak as one person in one voice I’m going to
as one person in one voice I’m going to
as one person in one voice I’m going to ask them what their name is then you’re
ask them what their name is then you’re
ask them what their name is then you’re going to say my name is and after that
going to say my name is and after that
going to say my name is and after that they’re improvising so hello nice to
they’re improvising so hello nice to
they’re improvising so hello nice to meet you what’s your name
so high so what’s your surname
so high so what’s your surname [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Bentley how old do you saw and what do
Bentley how old do you saw and what do
Bentley how old do you saw and what do you do for a living so how long have you
you do for a living so how long have you
you do for a living so how long have you been in the accountancy game maybe 15
been in the accountancy game maybe 15
been in the accountancy game maybe 15 years yeah give or take
years yeah give or take
years yeah give or take now what was it that really got you into
now what was it that really got you into
now what was it that really got you into accountancy how I see it runs in the
accountancy how I see it runs in the
accountancy how I see it runs in the family
family
family now I also heard that your mother taught
now I also heard that your mother taught
now I also heard that your mother taught you a song when you were young what was
you a song when you were young what was
you a song when you were young what was the title of that song that the title of
the title of that song that the title of
the title of that song that the title of the song that Saul Bentley’s mother
the song that Saul Bentley’s mother
the song that Saul Bentley’s mother taught him a title for a song
keep on counting and what was yours
keep on counting and what was yours maths is everything it’s got both lyrics
maths is everything it’s got both lyrics
maths is everything it’s got both lyrics in it keep on counting maths is
in it keep on counting maths is
in it keep on counting maths is everything ladies and gentlemen the
everything ladies and gentlemen the
everything ladies and gentlemen the showstoppers
showstoppers
showstoppers [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
and finally they’re going to sing that
and finally they’re going to sing that fantastic Accountancy song one more time
fantastic Accountancy song one more time
fantastic Accountancy song one more time in the style of any musical of your
in the style of any musical of your
in the style of any musical of your choosing a musical please Calamity Jane
choosing a musical please Calamity Jane
choosing a musical please Calamity Jane here it is the calamity jane Accountancy
here it is the calamity jane Accountancy
here it is the calamity jane Accountancy musical as our finale thank you very
musical as our finale thank you very
musical as our finale thank you very much my mama always said to go and get
much my mama always said to go and get
much my mama always said to go and get yourself into
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] named German booth brags just in Brent’s
named German booth brags just in Brent’s
named German booth brags just in Brent’s Andrew Pugsley Kippur Evans and on the
Andrew Pugsley Kippur Evans and on the
Andrew Pugsley Kippur Evans and on the keyboard Duncan Watkins
keyboard Duncan Watkins
keyboard Duncan Watkins I’m Adam Megiddo and we’ve been the
I’m Adam Megiddo and we’ve been the
I’m Adam Megiddo and we’ve been the showstoppers thank you very much
showstoppers thank you very much
showstoppers thank you very much [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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