The British “Comedy Games” is a slapstick comedy that follows a lonely but cheerful janitor who finds himself caught up in a series of ridiculous Olympics-inspired sports.

The show running through next Friday is a visual impression of UK humor drawn from Monty Python, Benny Hill, Mr Bean, Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin.

"Comedy Games" features a marathon, synchronized swimming, volleyball and boxing. An unexpected twist brings the games to a conclusion which reveals the true spirit of sport.

The show has been devised by eight acting graduates of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and eight current acting students at Shanghai Institute of Visual Art, supported by directors and designers from both sides.

The show is part of a British Council-funded program to create a series of experiential management training courses for businesses operating across the United Kingdom and China. The trainings aim to improve communication and engagement between Chinese and UK companies and provide employment for actors.

"It's been a joy to work with such talented young people. The production crews have all been fantastic and a lot of great work has

been done in a very short time," says director Jeraint Hazan.

"There are some distinct differences in techniques and skills between the UK and Chinese cast but these have been incorporated into the show," he says. "In regards to the sports theme of the show, it is no coincidence that Expo 2010 sits nicely between the success of Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the forthcoming London Olympic Games in 2012."