Play comedy Guess Who? game with real-life characters

“It’s an extremely stupid, extremely simple idea, but it’s a lot of fun,” says comedian James Ross (and many others) about his latest comedy show Guess Who?, which brings the children’s board game idea to life in a comedy setting, with the audience making up the characters. The hugely entertaining show is coming to the Electric Palace on Saturday 5 October and Annie Waite says you should head along.

We had a chat with James Ross in advance of his upcoming show at the Electric Palace and he shared the reception he’s received to this inspired Guess Who? live incarnation:

“It’s been really great, people have really taken to it. I had a load of full rooms and people coming up to Edinburgh all the way from the other end of the country to see it, which is really flattering.”

The  significant difference from the original is that the show is based on the ‘vibes’ the audience give out rather than their physical appearance, “which helps it remain sufficiently legally distinct from the original intellectual property,” advises James – so don’t worry about being singled out if you sit at the front, or picked on by the comedian, it’s really not that kind of comedy show. You’ll laugh and connect with your fellow audience members.

Just some of the reviews the Guess Who? show has received:

• “Absolutely loved this show. It’s so simple a format yet so brilliant, James Ross is an extremely clever guy for putting this together”
• “Laughed from start to finish”
• “The questions that are asked to audience members to keep the show going are chosen very well by Ross and make the show brilliant”
• “A fabulous show! An hour of comedy fun playing a remodelled version of a childhood favourite (but for adults now!)”
• “Was smiling and laughing the whole way through and just had the best time. Would defo recommend.”

No audience bullying allowed

At every show audience members get to volunteer to play. You don’t have to join in unless you want to. All the audience participation is totally consensual.

“You can volunteer to be on stage and play the game, otherwise the only participation is standing up and sitting down, which I reckon most of us are pretty comfortable with,” says James.

“We get everyone to stand up, they choose a person, and I ask yes/no questions to whittle it down and guess who they’ve picked. It starts off simple but takes a lot of sharp and peculiar left turns. No spoilers!” James notes.

“Comedians who pick on and bully their crowds are the reason so many people have trouble getting people to sit in their front rows,” he says. “I want you to have a nice time and feel like the night has justified the cost of a babysitter/catsitter/putting on shoes,” he laughs.

Tea towels with James’s face on

James has built up quite a cult following – at his most recent Edinburgh fringe comedy show (but his first in eight years), he met returning audience members, bringing along with them his previous show’s tea towels “of my terrifying face that I sold last time,” he says.

Has anyone turned up to a show dressed as any of the ‘characters’ from the game? “Not intentionally,” says James, “though several people have come close to replicating e.g. Maria’s timeless statement beret, Bill’s peculiar head, or George’s justifiable misanthropy,” he quips.

Hastings’ comedy scene and Quantum Leopard

So what current crop of comedians has caught James’s attention?

“Locally in Hastings, Nick Elleray is very funny as well as a lovely human, make sure to check him out if you see him playing.”

For the past 10 years James has run a multi-award winning, pay-what-you-like, no punching down, no picking on the audience Saturday comedy night in central London called Quantum Leopard.

“We have a competition section where the best of five acts by audience vote comes back for a longer spot at a future show. Over that decade we’ve had some great acts through who are now making it big”.

Those names include Sophie Duker, Olga Koch, Helen Bauer, Esther Manito, Sikisa, Jordan Gray, Daniel Foxx, Heidi Regan, Rosie Holt, Jazz Emu, Chloe Petts, Fatiha El-Ghorri, and Toussaint Douglas.

“Some of my highlights from the past year are Alex Franklin, Samira Banks, Kate Cheka, Tasha Cluskey and Joshua Bethaniah. I think it’s really important to support your local grassroots gigs – they’re the absolute lifeblood of the comedy scene.

“If you see any of these people on a bill near you, go see them!” James urges.

Book now for Guess Who? comedy night at the Electric Palace cinema, Hastings Old Town on Saturday 5 October, 7.30pm.
Unwaged tickets available.

 

This article was amended by Nick Terdre on 30 September 2024.

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