#162 A little cry
Flock. Hack. Halo. Time.
16 APRIL 2025
Hello, friends.
Since the last newsletter, we broke the exciting news that The Pretend Company is partnering with ImprompTwo - the incredible team of Joe and Kathy Rinaldi - both of whom are such beloved performers and ambassadors for theatrical improv around the world.
From the press release:
Together, we plan to co-produce shows that reflect our shared love for unscripted theatre and our vision for an improv community that globally embraces this style of improv.
In the near future, we’ll be collaborating on performances in London and areas nearby. Looking ahead, our vision is to establish an improvised theatre festival in England and create a touring show that brings this exciting form of improv to communities across the UK.
I think that pulls into focus a bunch of plans that I’ve only vaguely hinted at up until this point. And on a personal note, I couldn’t be happier to be working with such kind, talented and smart friends. This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to upcoming Pretend announcements so do keep an eye on the newsletter in coming weeks.
And talking of amazing improv companies ...
Rule of three
[Improv] Flock Theatre
I spend a lot of time with Gael and Laura and their company, Flock Theatre. I think they are both improv geniuses (and it’s rare to have even one genius in a company). The art that they are producing is on a scale and of an ambition I rarely see in improv. When I think about what The Pretend Company might become, it’s Flock Theatre that inspires me the most. Check out this lovely video of audience reactions to the last Flock Festival and especially this deep dive into the process of creating just one festival show. It really showcases the care and thought that goes into a Flock production.
Laura and Gael are bravely restructuring their entire company’s methodology right at this moment and they are looking for a handful of improvisers to come on the journey with them. Take a look at what they’re offering here - a chance to be part of an ensemble that will change and grow with the company. It’s an extraordinary offer and, if you live close enough to Amsterdam, one extremely worthy of your consideration. Basically, I love what they do, and can’t wait to see what they create next.
[Article] Sophisticated software
Us humans are pretty spectacular at finding ways to destroy ourselves. This is a story about the most sophisticated piece of software ever written - and I’m not sure whether it frightens me or gives me hope.
[Podcast] Twenty Thousand Hertz
A podcast about sound is a clever idea in and of itself. It’s well-produced, smartly-made and covers a great deal of ground from 80 years of radio jingles to the Wilhelm scream. But there’s a recent episode about one line in the original Halo game that was so affecting, I had to stop walking Radio in the park to have a little cry. Thanks to Laura Doorneweerd-Perry for the recommendation.
Spotlight
Just a handful of tickets left to study with the redoubtable Inbal Lori - an instructor and performer of near-legendary improv status in the international community. Inbal is teaching two classes with Pretend - one sold out in less than an hour, the other has just a few tickets left.
Time | Inbal Lori
🏢 Studio 9, Theatre Deli Studios, 107 Leadenhall Street, EC3A 4AF
🕥 29th May, 2025, 10am - 5pm
💰 £100
Improvisation – like any other storytelling art form – uses the element of time, and does a variety of cool things with it.
It allows us to jump from one time to another
to be in two different times simultaneously
to slow or fast-forward reality
to jump from the past to the future
This intensive workshop will take us from being totally present in the moment to time-traveling through fast, funny, epically-cinematic and theatrical scenes.
Movement for change
Here’s my movement coach chatting through how to sit in a shinbox on the floor. I’ve been trying to sit like this more often and it’s finally getting a bit easier.
Radio contact
Radio is happy to see you.
Sprunki 1996 is a labor of love—a project created by genre enthusiasts who appreciate what made the oldies great.
For fans of physics-based games, try Ragdoll Archers at https://ragdollarchers.pro/ - no downloads required!
Whoa, this workshop sounds like a total blast! I love how it plays with time in such creative ways—jumping between eras, slowing things down, or even being in two times at once? That’s some next-level storytelling magic. Count me in for the fast, funny, and epic cinematic scenes! When and where is this happening? ragdoll hit
Searching for a two-player co-op game to play with friends? Ragdoll Archers on ragdollarchers.pro has a 2-player mode.
What do you think is the biggest challenge in building an international improv community, especially when bridging different Baseball Bros Game styles and performance cultures from different countries?