'imaginative and fun to watch'
★★★★ - North West End
Presented and developed for LIF 2025. Taxi Tales has been to Impro Amsterdam and we are delighted to bringing it to Birmingham improv festival 2026.
Who doesn't love a chatty cabbie?
Inspired by Raymond Carver's short stories (which were later adapted into Robert Altman's film 'Short Cuts'), Mark Smith's Taxi Tales is a playful exploration of humanity as seen through the simplest of interactions.
Set in the back of a taxi, the story unfolds over a single night, revealing the personal struggles and frustrations of everyday life for both the driver and their passengers. What emerges across the show is voyeuristic, funny, and very human.
Who doesn't love a chatty cabbie?
Inspired by Raymond Carver's short stories (which were later adapted into Robert Altman's film 'Short Cuts'), Mark Smith's Taxi Tales is a playful exploration of humanity as seen through the simplest of interactions.
Set in the back of a taxi, the story unfolds over a single night, revealing the personal struggles and frustrations of everyday life for both the driver and their passengers. What emerges across the show is voyeuristic, funny, and very human.
LIF Development collaborators:
Mike Burton, Ryan Byrne, Charlotte Cleaver, Lee Hithersay, Mark Smith & Ollie Wilson
Mike Burton, Ryan Byrne, Charlotte Cleaver, Lee Hithersay, Mark Smith & Ollie Wilson
Muprov Musing PODCAST
#77 - Hals adventures - Taxi Tale
Live interviews with the cast of Taxi Tales from the Liverpool Improvisation Festival! Taxi tales was an incredible show created and directed by Dr. Mark Smith that tells the story of twelve taxi rides over the course of one night.
#77 - Hals adventures - Taxi Tale
Live interviews with the cast of Taxi Tales from the Liverpool Improvisation Festival! Taxi tales was an incredible show created and directed by Dr. Mark Smith that tells the story of twelve taxi rides over the course of one night.
Quotes on previous work:
The work reminded me of Jim Cartwrights ‘Two’ and Caroline Aherne ‘The Royle Family’ – a slice of life made real amongst the buffet.
★★★★ - The Reviews Hub
Talk to the Hand is great fun, highly skilled and very funny.
★★★★ - The Reviews Hub
Improvised theatre at its very best
★★★★★ - At the Theatre
Originally commissioned by the Liverpool Improvisation Festival