OFFICE PARTY

http://www.officepartyshow.com/

SO last night I ventured up to Islington to see office party. Its like going to a work do with a couple of hundred people all recreated. The only thing is you dont know anyone to giggle at, but by the end of the night I found myself submerged in the whole scenario. There is actors that walk about and ask you questions and you soon feel as though you belong. There was the girl who strips off and swings around the pole and the boys who get there kit off. (I saw ginger pubes!) Not for the faint hearted I have to say. There is even a bit of fake sick involved. All in all I have to say it was entertaining and original. I had just wished my heels were comfy.. damn.. OH yes when you arrive you are assigned an area of the office where you work as well. Like account, HR, etc...x

Courvoisier Cognac went down a treat.. I forgot how much I liked that drink..

Seems I had forgotten a whole bunch of things about myself lately as I had been busy trying to please others.

Very dumb.

Here is a review from the Fringe review..

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Low Down

Office Party is a concept devised by Ursula Martinez of 'La Clique' fame and FringeReview favourite Christopher Green . It makes it's Edinburgh debut at office block, Appleton Towers, after a successful run at the Barbican last Christmas.

Review

Office Party is a theatre experience so different, engaging and downright fun it is hard to quantify. I say 'theatre experience', but this seems so limiting and reductive,Office Party is miles apart from anything else you will experience at the Fringe this year and for all the right reasons.

Firstly, the unsuspecting audience were directed towards tables where they were given coloured name badges indicating a department of the company. My companion and I were 'domestic services', the official title of the cleaners. Our group were paired with section leader, Cath, a delightful and warm performer, and herded into the men's toilets for a briefing.

The audience were then directed around the cavernous space at Appleton towers, with departments competing against each other in series of quizzes and contests. Also thrown in was some exceptional cabaret entertainment from Ursula Martinez and a special appearance by Christopher Green's Tina C to name but a few.

This is site-specific work where the concept and the performance space work together seamlessly, it was totally consuming, filled with unexpected moments of humour. By the time the night drew to a close, the feeling that you had been at an office party for two hours was inescapable- and boy what a party!

All of the performers involved in this show embodied their roles, playing about with office stereotypes to great effect and improvising with the audience beautifully- and although my bias is clear, Cath really made the night. Another unique aspect of this performance was they way in which the audience sections bonded with each other, as well as unselfconsciously interacting with the performers, forming a real sense of camaraderie. The ease with which the audience seemed to so naturally become part of the performance makes you wonder what the hell are we doing sitting in the dark for long periods of time this August, when we could be out at office parties!?

Take a group of friends, have a few drinks, lose your inhibitions and get ready for what has to be the best night out of the Fringe.