We’re not really sure what Adelaide’s master of instrument-hopping improvisation has in store for his Fringe show Adam Page: Chairman of the Beard, but then again, neither does he. But even if the specific notes and sounds are still percolating in the recesses of Page’s subconscious and muscle memory, you can bet it will be an extremely entertaining night of looping fun.

There’s a lot more to improvising than making shit up, so to get in the zone for his Fringe run we got Page to take us through some of the dynamite improvisors he draws inspiration from.

Reggie Watts

Without a doubt, Reggie Watts is my number 1. Going to a Reggie Watts concert is like seeing your Grandma on acid balancing her teacup on her cat… What? Exactly. His comic timing is superb, his randomicity is oxygen stealing and his musicality is just mind-blowing – but often masked by his comic timing. He’s a nice dude too, he taught me how to beatbox the snare sound he uses backstage at The Gov a few years back. I blatantly stole it and use it to this day.

Phil Kay

Scottish comedian Phil Kay is a complete nutter. I saw him many times at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe (and had many beers and 4.00am Fish ’n Chips with salt ’n sauce). No two shows are the same – one of the shows I went to had him sucking on my friend Emily’s toes within the first 5 minutes. I love him. Sah random.

Buster Keaton

Very active in the 1920s as a silent film actor, director, producer, writer and stuntman, Keaton created many of his incredible stunts and sequences through improvisation. The effortless performance on the screen in so many of the epic scenes he created leads me to believe he really cut his teeth just running around hurting himself until he got it right. A true genius.

Jack Kerouac

OK, not so much an ‘improvisor’ as such, but the way in which On The Road is written makes me imagine Kerouac actually saying those exact words with seamless rhythm on the back of a truck, somewhere in the middle of America to some poor, unsuspecting German backpacker, just out of school, wanting a new, crazy experience – and that’s what they got! A pioneer of the Beat Generation, Kerouac surrounded himself with improvisors and spearheaded this new way of thinking, writing and performing into pop culture. What a legend.

Tom Thum

One of the most phenomenal and well known beatboxers on the planet (his TedTalk has 47,060,281 views and counting), Tom not only performs a meticulously honed solo show, he also flies on the seat of his pants like a hyperactive kid on a detergent lathered slippery dip. He has the sounds of a million voices in that mouth of his – and isn’t afraid to use them! You can catch him this Fringe performing with Jamie MacDowell too. You’ll regret it if you don’t, but if you do forget and find yourself hanging out in The Royal Croquet Club – you’ll hear him coming and you’ll end up in the audience!

Every kid on the planet

Yep, that’s right. Every single kid that ever was and ever will be. You were one, I was one (some may say I still am). If we could only just instil a tiny bit of that intrigue and need for creating worlds and fantastic stories in our minds that kids have, then adult life would be WAY more fun. Kids – the great improvisors.

Adam Page: Chairman of the Beard hits Royal Croquet Club from February 25 – 28, March 2 6, tickets via Adelaide Fringe

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