'imaginative and fun to watch'
★★★★ - North West End
Premiered at LIF 2025 Taxi Tales follows the taxi driver, a witness to countless dramas and who has seen it all unfold on the backseat of their cab. Therapist, confidant – passengers bare their souls under the flickering city lights.
The subsequent journey throws up recurring themes resulting in a rich human comedy – a mosaic of life's absurdities, built piece by piece across one night.
Taxi tales is inspired by Raymond Carvers short stories which subsequently became the award-winning film ‘Short Cuts’ directed by Robert Altman. Carver was a master storyteller in expressing a lot with a little, Carver's signature style: understated yet impactful portrayals of the struggles and frustrations of everyday life.
The subsequent journey throws up recurring themes resulting in a rich human comedy – a mosaic of life's absurdities, built piece by piece across one night.
Taxi tales is inspired by Raymond Carvers short stories which subsequently became the award-winning film ‘Short Cuts’ directed by Robert Altman. Carver was a master storyteller in expressing a lot with a little, Carver's signature style: understated yet impactful portrayals of the struggles and frustrations of everyday life.
Conceived and Directed by: Mark Smith
Friday performers:
Sophie Appleby, Diana Brown, Lucy Fiori, David Gregg, Jen Hardy, Deirdre Lynskey, Chris Mead, Samuel Pownall and Anthony Saldana
Sophie Appleby, Diana Brown, Lucy Fiori, David Gregg, Jen Hardy, Deirdre Lynskey, Chris Mead, Samuel Pownall and Anthony Saldana
Images by Andrew AB
Saturday performers:
Michael Ananins, Mike Burton, Annabel Edmonds, Jen Hardy, Karen Hughes, Adrià Lerma, Hal Munger, Owen Scrivens and Josie Throup
Michael Ananins, Mike Burton, Annabel Edmonds, Jen Hardy, Karen Hughes, Adrià Lerma, Hal Munger, Owen Scrivens and Josie Throup
Images by Andrew AB
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
Supported by the Liverpool Improvisation Festival