The team behind the consistently good Jericho Comedy have created another winner with this warm-hearted and deeply fun improvised murder mystery. In the top room of the Jericho Tavern, we are welcomed by two hosts and asked for a place, a profession and a murder weapon. Then, four actors start a comedy murder mystery. In the interval, we’re invited to write down a suggested use of the weapon, with a prize for the most inventive. Then, the second half.

That is the entire extent of the audience interaction. We are not called upon to get on stage and become a character, or have the action paused so that the cast can awkwardly banter with us. In fact, watching the show, is it easy to forget that it’s improvised comedy, which is as far I’m concerned, a blessing. You see, I have a confession. Normally, I kind of hate improv. I feel like I have done my time sitting in clammy rooms watching students play drama games, make in-jokes that I don’t understand and blame the audience if it falls flat. Normally I leave an improv night unimpressed and just thinking that they should have bothered to actually write their show.

But Criminal isn’t like this at all. Instead it is showing the very best of improv - the surprises to both audience and cast, the feeling that anything can happen, the replayability of it being different every night. The show avoids the pitfalls that can befall improvised comedy and is instead joyful and inclusive of the audience, and also respectful of the audience’s time. Even though this show is clearly put together in front of our eyes, it is a proper show - the plot is well formed, with returning characters and jokes, and the acting is done with commitment. It’s not slick, of course, but it is a finished unit of drama - and a very funny one at that.

My husband said that this was the most he can remember laughing at comedy in a long time - kind of breathless, gleeful laughing, like you do in the pub with mates you know very, very well. I think this is because of the inclusiveness of the night. The actors created an air that the audience were very much in on the joke. When they were surprised, we were surprised, and what they found funny, we found funny. It was not a particularly serious theatrical event, but it really delighted me.

This is a semi-regular night, which also shows in other cities. I will be coming back, and I will be bringing friends (and family actually - I think this would go down very well with young teenagers and there’s nothing here I’d be upset to be sitting next to my father in law during). I wholeheartedly recommend this little comedy gem.