Brave or downright foolhardy? The success of an improv show such as Kiell Smith-Bynoe’s Kool Story Bro is surely precarious. Smith-Bynoe and friends undertake to create something amusing, on the spot, from unpredictable audience suggestions. A triumph if you succeed, but the potential to fall flat on your face must surely be great, and therein lies the charm of a show such as this.

Smith-Bynoe, though, is something of an old-hand at this style of comedy. In recent months Kool Story Bro has enjoyed a super-successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, and this Birmingham show marked the second night of what will be a national tour. And the experience shows. While on the surface disaster is only a footstep away, Smith-Bynoe controls proceedings with a practised hand and a discerning understanding of what will and will not work.

The concept is a simple one. Smith-Bynoe, four fellow improv-masters and a special guest star - on this occasion local comedian Lindsey Santoro - improvise skits and jokes based on stories provided by the crowd. And the audience’s ability to offer a good story did not disappoint. The evening’s offerings included tales of a dog rescued from an outhouse in Montana, complications arising from interactions with Alexa, and a day spent touring the Midlands dressed as Pudsey Bear. Surely even the most creative of minds would have been hard-pressed to come up with that selection? Proof indeed that life is stranger than fiction -  and rich pickings for the onstage team!

That the comedians are practised at making a good deal out of the most mundane of details is clear. Exaggeration is par for the course as they weave amusing stories from seemingly trivial beginnings. Naturally, there’s the occasional hint of harking back to previously practised material - and why wouldn’t you, given the opportunity? But the improv format encourages freshness, and the feeling that nobody - including the performers - knows where the next bit of the show is going, introduces an intriguing element of jeopardy.

Kiell Smith-Bynoe is a well-loved figure in the comedy world - his CV includes Ghosts, Stath Lets Flats and Taskmaster - and it’s not difficult to see why; he’s a master when it comes to working the crowd and has genuinely funny bones. Though the hilarity-levels of this show could be a little hit and miss, there were plenty of truly laugh-out-loud moments and much to entertain. Kool Story Bro offers a fresh take on live comedy and comes highly recommended both for fans of Smith-Bynoe’s work and for those looking for a change from more traditional stand-up formats. A chortle-filled evening of slightly anarchic antics is guaranteed!

Four stars

Kiell Smith-Bynoe’s Kool Story Bro was reviewed by Rachel Smith on Wednesday 7 October at Birmingham Town Hall