Prompter

From the co-creator of Set List, Troy Conrad, comes this similar but much tougher concept of stand-up improvisation. Prompter is inspired by the most obscure, batshit crazy TED Talks you've ever seen online, with three comics asked to deliver a presentation from the prompter in front of them.

The twist is, not only do they have no idea of their character or specialist area of expertise until they arrive on stage, but the prompter “breaks down" periodically, forcing them to ad-lib the latest insights into their supposed research or flounder.

An indication of the format's robustness (or otherwise, perhaps) is that the subjects are significantly more prescribed than the eclectic, incongruous compounds of Set List, and consistently cover the extremes of human behaviour. Specifically "Five Heil-y Effective Habits of Hitler", "Making Inbreeding Enjoyable For Everyone" and "Drug The Ones You Love!" on the day I caught the show. Presented by John Hastings, Tom Stade and Tim FitzHigham respectively, only Hastings, unfortunately up first, flourished within the limitations – Nazis are always good for barking at a crowd when inspiration temporarily dries up.

Demanding that the participants incorporate randomly projected graphs and audience members into their lectures too, Prompter truly is a test of wit and imagination. Still, I found myself sympathising with the performers as much as laughing at them. Shorter talks and slightly less perfidy from the prompter might compromise Conrad's vision. But it'd make for an easier show to perform and a more entertaining watch I'd surmise.