#185 Madness and revelry
Ease. Ideas. Peas. Pleased.
17 SEPTEMBER 2025
Hey, team.
You know when you pray a show goes well? Or when you secretly dream it’ll be a total triumph.
That rarely actually unfolds the way you hoped, I’ve found.
But last Friday, we actually pulled it off. The Play’s The Thing at the Questors Theatre was a total riot.
Look at us there, being all theatrical and stuff. And thanks to the clearly cosmically talented Claire Bilyard for taking the photos. Here’s one more.
Madness and revelry. All made up on the spot.
Rule of one
[Film] The Ballad of Wallis Island
An estranged folk duo are invited to a remote island by an eccentric lottery winner to play one last gig together. I think Tim Key is an absolute revelation in this, his face when he first hears the duo sing at his dinner table is luminous. Really, really funny and really, really emotional it gets the Palme du Chris Mead, the highest honour a film can achieve, bestowed by me (Chris Mead).
[Improv] Suggestion generator
Avid newsletter reader and excellent improviser Miriam has created a suggestion generator for all your improv needs. It’s free, it has multiple categories and it lives here. I just had a go and got a sanctimonious naval officer.
[Music] Peas
How to sum up British humour succinctly? This two and a half minute song does a great job. I hope it appeases you.
Spotlight
Tonight, 17th September (if you’re reading this the day it’s delivered) is Pretend Night. We have an absolutely mind-blowing line-up. A workshop from Mr Theatre himself, Tom Mathias, followed by sets from Teresa & Folusho, Anxiety Club (feat. me, playing with my absolute heroes) and an ensemble that just casually includes Lee Simpson, Katy Schutte, Liam Webber & James Taverner.
Class: Your Theatrical Improv Batbelt with Tom Mathias
Show: Teresa & Folusho, Anxiety Club, Pretend Ensemble
We’ve also launched THREE new workshops with amazing international improv teachers - Asaf Ronen, Timothy Yeo and Bianca Casusol. They’re all in October, they all rock and you can get an excellent saving if you book all three at once. Have a look here for all the details.
It’s International October at The Pretend Company.
Longform thoughts
My brother is an improviser. He specialises in an art form that sees him creating theatre from thin air. The curtain goes up with not a single line learnt, a scene rehearsed or a dance choreographed. The actors invite a suggestion from the audience – a place, a theme, an idea – and from that bursts forth a production that is plucked from nothing and made into something. It is really quite breathtaking to watch.
My sister saw The Play’s The Thing on Friday and unexpectedly sent me this over the weekend. It made me incredibly happy as the show obviously struck a chord with her (she rarely says nice things about me, if she can help it). So here’s What improv can teach the world by Caroline Flint.
Radio contact
Radio upstaging absolutely everyone.