#169 Naked people riding dinosaurs
AGM. WTF. OTT. TLDR.
4 JUNE 2025
Hey, friends.
Last week saw the first AGM of The Pretend Company - we went to a mad sculpture park and dared to dream bigger amongst the naked people riding dinosaurs and dragons made of horseshoes.
It was a great day and I can’t wait to share all the things we’ve got coming up.
But for now, here are my recommendations for this week.
Rule of three
[Film] The Phoenician Scheme
I’m just a sucker for Wes Anderson. This one won’t change anyone’s mind about him. But it made me laugh out loud in the cinema pretty consistently and Michael Cera and Kate Winslet’s daughter are both perfect in it.
[Comic] Exquisite Corpses
This is a new comic (issue #1 is on its second printing already) and it’s about as sky high a concept as anything I’ve ever read. It’s about a group of killers who are dropped into an unsuspecting rural American town and made to fight to the death for the amusement of the 13 richest families in the world (who secretly run the US). Also, it’s being passed from writer to writer over 13 issues (like that old surrealist parlour game of the same name) so apparently no-one knew, when they started writing it, who was going to win in the end. Also, there’s a card game element that I don’t yet understand. Anyway, it’s got some real energy and inventiveness to it. I’m hooked.
[Song] The Actor
I didn’t watch a single episode of How I Met You Mother but I really like this song about the character Ted Mosby and, of course, Josh Radnor. Who is Josh Radnor, I hear you ask? Why he’s the actor - 🎵 who plays him on teeeeeveeeeeee!🎵
Spotlight
The effects of Liam are becoming even more apparent because we ALREADY have links up for the next Pretend Night on 2nd July 2025.
We’re really lucky to have both Aree Witoelar AND David Escobedo teaching the Pretend Academy workshop this time. Both of these guys are not in London that often (with Aree being an ocean away in Norway). They share this wonderful infectious enthusiasm for the art form and for each other. I think this workshop might mostly be an excuse to teach together. Haha!
As always, it’ll be 14 students, 90 mins, no break, high-level work and you get a free ticket to the show afterwards. I’m expecting these to go very quickly so don’t sleep on this opportunity.
And as for the show - we’ve got quite the line-up of theatrical improv. In We’re Here, Aree & David lead a cast of amazing improvisers including Alexia Pavli, Stephen Lee and our own Liam Webber. PLUS another chance to see The Play’s The Thing fresh from our world tour of Canada and the Netherlands. All that and an ensemble made up of the very best veteran improvisers. All for £10.
If you just want to see the show without taking the workshop, get your tickets here.
Radio contact
Radio has had a summer haircut. He also smells of coconut.