Improguise Hosts SA's 1st Live Improv Soap-a-thon to Benefit Rape Crisis at UCT's Little Theatre, 27 Oct

Improguise, South Africa's longest running, award-winning and hilarious improvisation company turns 20 this year. To celebrate, on 27 October, they invite you to the Soap-a-thon: South Africa's first ever live, improvised soap opera marathon, performed in aid of Rape Crisis.

All Improguise shows are totally improvised: the actors make up the action and lines as they go along. But the Soap-a-thon will be an extreme feat of improvised comedy. The actors will improvise eight soapie episodes, starting from 10am. Each episode is 1 hour and 10 minutes long, except for the final episode, which is 1 hour 30 minutes, and ends at 10pm. There will also be food and drink, celebrity appearances and other surprises.

Just for this show, the actors have created a cast of characters set against the backdrop of a small fictional harbour town. Like any good soapie, it will explore threads like love, revenge, divorce, medical issues and family life. Says Tandi Buchan, artistic director of Improguise: "We can't give away the story even if we wanted to because it is all going to be improvised. We will all be just as surprised as our audiences! The 12-hour event will make South African theatre history whilst supporting a really worthy organization – Rape Crisis. We challenge as many of our audience members to 'do' the whole thing with us!" says Tandi.

Rape Crisis provides essential services to women through counselling and court support services. Their 24-hour helpline reaches 4 500 to 5 000 survivors each year. But Rape Crisis is facing a crisis of its own: a shortfall of R1.3 million this year, which is threatening to force the organisation to close. All proceeds will contribute to alleviating their deficit and help them to continue with the daily running of the organisation.

The Soap-a-thon takes place on 27 October at The Little Theatre, on UCT's Hiddingh Campus from 10am to 10pm. Tickets for each episode cost R60. It's family-friendly, and, if you pay for four shows, you can get a discount at the door for further episodes. To book for the Soapathon, visit Webtickets at www.webtickets.co.za. For more information about Rape Crisis: www.rapecrisis.org.za.

Improguise performs at 20h30 every Monday at The Intimate and on Tuesdays at Kalk Bay Theatre. For bookings or info call 072 939 3351. To book for the Soapathon, visit Webtickets at www.webtickets.co.za. For more info about Rape Crisis: www.rapecrisis.org.za.

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