Lost Without Words by Caroline Blakiston

he last time I was in front of a live audience was at the National Theatre in London, a year or so ago, in a show called Lost Without Words. It was part of an experiment devised by Improbable, a theatre company started by Phelim McDermott and Lee Simpson, 2 stand-up comics with a passion for improvisation.

They wish to make the world a better place. It occurred to them that it might please an audience to watch older actors – who are in general under-employed and not necessarily senile – having a go at the most dangerous practice of performing without a text, or a story, or a plan, or anything more than a huge impetus towards a positive adventure in an unknown circumstance.

Well into my ninth decade, I found it the most exhilarating, revealing, trusting and nourishing work I’ve experienced. The fear fell away as the most alert and ardent audience accepted trip-ups, non-sequiturs and wild daring leaps into deep water, with empathy, recognition, roars of laughter and joy, followed by spontaneous spectacular applause.

A heady mixture, which meant I hardly slept between our 10 performances.
It took me three months to come down to earth at the end. Actually I’m still high. Thanks, guys!