Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is experiencing a pop culture renaissance. Once considered a niche hobby in the ‘70s and ‘80s, D&D now boasts a large, diverse fanbase that is rapidly pushing it into the cultural mainstream. 

Actual play-shows – games of D&D that are filmed for an audience – are becoming increasingly popular. When the actual play-show “Dimension 20” performed live at Madison Square Garden in January of this year, tickets sold out in a matter of hours. 

On Sept. 14, an English improv comedy group, Shoot From The Hip, released the first episode of their own four-part D&D campaign, “The Plagueround,” on YouTube. The members, include Sam Russell, Tom Mayo, Luke Manning and Alexander Jeremy, also known as AJ. 

The group regularly posts content from their performances on social media. They’ve amassed over half a million subscribers on YouTube and nearly two million followers on TikTok. Their longform plays, where they fully improvise a story based on a title obtained from the audience, are fan favorites for their humor and memorable characters.

Shoot From The Hip’s newest creative venture, “The Plagueround,” follows four cursed boys as they attend a supernatural boarding school called St. Churnley’s. They learn to control their unique afflictions before disaster strikes. The setting of St. Churnley’s evokes other classic British tales such as “Matilda” and “Harry Potter,” yet “The Plagueround” manages to stand out and feel distinct. 

In a video interview, Mayo told me that the transition to the D&D format “took some getting used to.” Ultimately, though, he said that “it was nice being able to play things a bit slower.” 

The longer runtime, with episode one being a little over two and a half hours, really works in Shoot From The Hip’s favor. This allows them more time to develop their characters while also leaving plenty of room for comedic shenanigans. 

Each member of Shoot From The Hip is a fantastic actor, and they all shine as their respective characters. It’s hard not to love Roland, whom Russell endows with an infectious cheerfulness, and Mayo is endearing as the perpetually anxious Edgar. Manning’s well-intentioned yet temperamental Kevin is a lot of fun; meanwhile, AJ delivers a performance that is equal parts unpredictable and hilarious as Monty. The four have such genuine camaraderie and play so well off each other, making it’s easy to forget that they’re not actually rowdy schoolboys. 

Tom Midgley, who steers the story as the Dungeon Master, is a delightful addition to the group. He strikes a good balance between keeping the players on track and taking part in – and at times even encouraging – the inevitable chaos. 

Additionally, the production quality is impressive. The lighting is good, there are multiple camera angles and the story is enhanced by sound effects and character art. 

The most immersive part, however, is the wonderful costuming. The four protagonists are dressed in custom St. Churnley’s school uniforms, with Dungeon Master Tom Midgley outfitted in a headmaster’s gown and cap. This attention to detail adds to the overall viewing experience.

I asked Mayo about Shoot From The Hip’s goals when creating content. “We have a big focus on being a sort of fun, like, break from the world,” said Mayo. 

Mayo added that when it comes to their longform content, he likes being able to achieve a balance between storytelling depth and humor. “I hope we cause emotions,” he said. 

Episode one of “The Plagueround” certainly succeeds in mixing humor and heart, and I can’t wait to see what happens next at St. Churnley’s School for Cursed Boys. After all, the school year has only just begun.

For more information, visit shootimpro.com.

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