Seamless ad-lib skills

They certainly do what it says on the tin. Never mind the fancy Whose Line Is It Anyway? punning or grand Comedy Store Players nomenclature. This new ad-lib supergroup, the Velvet Revolver of scriptless sketches, follows its name and simply gets on with the business of making it up on the spot and making audiences laugh.

Stephen Frost, Richard Vranch, Andy Smart, Phill Jupitus and Jim Sweeney have umpteen miles on the comedy clock, hence the grey hair and paunches, but also the seamless skill to conjure freshly minted material out of any invited public suggestions. Frost and Vranch's sozzled pilots worried about their 747 getting ticketed were particularly delightful.

Like improv's answer to the Fantastic Four, this quickfire quintet bring distinctive talents to the party. Frost is the affable self-mocking host, Vranch the keyboard maestro, Smart does sublime vulgarity, Jupitus does a
mean Wookie impression. Jim Sweeney now uses a wheelchair due to MS, but last night his mind was as agile as ever, particularly in a David Brent-ish skit where he embodied the über-nerd traits of the IT obsessive.

On Thursday Josie Lawrence guests and she should have no reason to feel intimidated. This is a crowd-pleasing combo with none of the testosterone-fuelled competitiveness of performers half their age. The result is a memorable evening which pulls off the neat trick of making fans feel they are part of the show while also thinking that they are getting a glimpse of private celebrity parlour games.

Until Saturday but not Wednesday. Information: 0870 060 6651.