#159 Beautifully wistful and sort of unapologetically sexy
Sing. Dance. Flow. Create. Garden.
26 MARCH 2025
Hey, gang!
Well, it’s been quite a week.
Firstly, yes, my nephew and I DID beat Split Fiction in under 48 hours. We celebrated with a triumphant feast at Hickory’s Smokehouse where we ate ALL THE MEAT. (It might also have been my dad’s birthday but I think our heroic gaming achievement was the main reason for the party).
That was obviously the big news but it’s also been a huge improv week - I’ve started teaching three new cohorts of students, continued to rehearse the Shakespeare show, appeared in a particularly wonderful teacher’s gig at Hoopla and continued my movement journey in various fulfilling ways (which I’ll tell you about below).
Next stop, IMPRO’25 in Berlin.
Rule of three
[Music] Lucy Dacus
Lucy Dacus has a new solo album coming out this Friday and I really love the lead single, Ankles. It’s beautifully wistful and sort of unapologetically sexy at the same time - which isn’t an easy vibe to pull off, I think we can all agree.
[Dance] Ringtone choreography
Way back in the mists of time, phones used to make noises called ringtones. Although now mostly lost to the annals of history, two brave dancers, Cost & Mayor, have choreographed tiny micro-dances to forty of them. Please watch all forty, I cannot contain my joy at how perfect and dumb they are.
[Movement] Way of the Rope
As you know, I’m trying to move more often and in more novel ways. And what could be more fun than swinging a big rope around? Enter the Way of the Rope and a beautifully executed workout methodology that combines rhythm, coordination, flow state and feeling like Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Spotlight
The Play’s The Thing is the new improvised Shakespeare show I’ve been co-creating with Ali James and John Oakes. We’ve been pouring countless hours into research, rehearsal and development. Last week, they came to visit me in Farnham and we all got a little giddy with how much we love it. We kept giggling and whispering There’s magic in this to each other like it was a secret or maybe a charm.
Anyway, a new show needs a new poster, and ours was created by the amazing Roz Gregoire. Here it is.
I think this is my favourite improv poster that I’ve ever seen. The skill and artistry involved is staggering. It’s a linocut, a term I’m just throwing around as if I know what it means, but which I think entails cutting the image into linoleum before making individual prints. So that thing isn’t even drawn, it’s whittled with a knife. LOOK AT THE LEVEL OF DETAIL - how does someone even do that?
If you’d like your own copy, you can pick one up on Roz’s website here. Use discount code THEPLAYSTHETHING for 10% off.
We’re touring the show for the rest of the year, so please come and see whether we live up to the promise of the promotional image. Here are our May dates with many more to come ...
1st May | Hoopla | London
6th May | Up the Road | Southend
8th May | Welcome Festival | Rome
18th May | Pretend Night | Farnham
21st May | Pretend Night | London
I’ll get links to the other shows as quickly as I can, but for now, please mark your diaries accordingly.
Movement for change
GARDENING!!!
This new practice has sent me in many new directions but this week I have loved thinking about my garden. The reason I’m enjoying this new journey so much is because it challenges me to see movement as part of life - rather than some abstracted routine to be done in a gym or class. Gardening brings with it an opportunity for a range of movements - resting squats, stretching to touch the ground with our hands, tool manipulation - an appreciation for nature. It’s a call to integrate movement into our lives rather than annex it off as a separate thing.
The photo is of a neglected border in my garden that I’m beginning to work on with polymath extraordinaire Liam Webber, who has gallantly agreed to share his expertise with me (inbetween making ceramics, running a festival and being incredible at improv).
Radio contact
That boy gets everywhere.
Sounds like an awesome week! Between teaching improv and conquering Split Fiction, you've been busy. Reminds me of the thrill of mastering a tricky slope in Snow rider , that satisfying feeling of accomplishment. The Hickory's Smokehouse celebration sounds well-deserved. Looking forward to hearing more about your movement journey and of course, IMPRO'25 in Berlin! Have fun.