"The best way to describe it is to take Whose Line Is It Anyway? and mix it with The Mighty Boosh - then you'll get the MayDays," says group member Jason Delplanque.

The Brighton-based company were inspired to start the UK's only improv festival after staging their 12-hour Improvathons at the Open House pub in Springfield Road for the past two years.

"We thought it would be great to have a whole weekend of events instead," Delplanque explains. "So we could involve all the other Brighton-based improv troupes, as well as creating more awareness with the theatre-going public."

The event began on June 27 with shows in Brighton and Shoreham and continues with Improvathon Saturday at Komedia on June 28, which will see the MayDays running an improv workshop for over-16s.

The ticket price for that event includes the chance to perform at Festivalino (Komedia Studio, noon-5.30pm, donations only for spectators) on June 29, a non-stop improv session with troupes "dropping in and just going for it", alongside performers from the MayDay's beginners' workshop.

The group was founded by John Cremer when he returned to his home city at the start of the decade after training in improv in the US. MayDay came to prominence with a run of bi-monthly shows at the Marlborough and an ongoing series of locally-run courses.

"We can't teach anyone to be funny," says Cremer. "Some people just have that in their genes. But what you can learn are techniques and games you can use to make it easier for yourself on stage. Then the humour just comes out of that."

The festival concludes June 29 in the evening with a performance of MayDay! The Musical (Komedia, 7.30pm, £10/£7), which will see them improvising a new musical based on audience suggestions. The show won best comedy prize at Brighton Festival and Fringe Awards 2007.

"The magic of improv is that it's in the moment. You're thrown into the cauldron," says Delplanque.

"It's so satisfying when it comes together, not just for the performers but for the audience as well.

"You do develop a strong bond with your fellow performers. We're all good friends outside the shows. But we also like to do what we refer to as pimping', when you deliberately put each other in a difficult situation. At the same time, you must be wary it will come back on you one day."

Delplanque believes the secret to their success is simple - hard work. They rehearse every week, going through rigorous drills involving word association skills, songwriting methods and rhyming systems.

"It's a case of breaking the code," he explains. "Once you've done that, you can fiddle with the pieces."

  • times and prices vary. Call 01273 647100 or visit www.themaydays.co.uk for full details.