10 DECEMBER 2025

Hello.

This week, we learned that London Improv Festivals are like buses, you wait ages for one and then two come along at once.

Also, they are both in May.

That is less like buses.

Rule of three

[Theatre] Daniel Kitson
I think Daniel Kitson is an astounding theatre maker. He is incredibly funny, he always comes at things from a supremely idiosyncratic angle and he often leaves me feeling better about the state of humanity (no small feat). His shows sell out in seconds - but I have recently discovered his Accumulation of Failure archive - basically you pay an insultingly tiny sum of money and gain access to a treasure trove of videos, audio and miscellanea. If you have even a passing interest in theatre, this is the bargain of the century.

[Comics] 16 Scenes of You & Your Dad In Cars
An unexpectedly moving twenty page/ eighty panel comic about music, travel, loss and paternity. Now I want Blue Sky Through the Window of a Moving Car for Christmas.

[Game] Level Devil
Here is a browser-based platform game that will make you bark out a frustrated but sincere laugh of grudging joy several times per minute. Thanks, Level Devil. YOU ARE WELCOME!

Spotlight

What to point you towards this week? Well, The Pretend Company has two big shows coming up.

17th December - A Very Pretend Christmas featuring a huge cast of performers improvising a Christmas movie around our incredible special guests, ImprompTwo, who will also be presenting their world-renown duo show. Kathy & Joe have been garnering standing ovations all over Europe, I can’t recommend them enough - they truly are at the top of their game and we’re absolutely thrilled to have them.

18th December - The Pretend Company Showcase featuring performances from all three of our current actor training cohorts. It’s £5 for an entire evening of theatrical improv, you can come for the whole thing or pick and choose to support a friend.

7pm The Party (dir. Chris Mead)
What do humans crave? Connection, intimacy, dancing, a choice of snacks on tiny plates. Welcome to the party! An improvised tale of hope, community, betrayal and hanging out in the kitchen when it all gets too much. With audience suggestions inspiring the action, you can be the life and soul of the party without ever leaving your seat. And you won’t wake up with a thudding headache the next morning either.*

*Not a guarantee.

Featuring: Alex Peplow, Gabriel Romero Day, Muireann Kelly, Kate Nieland, Lottie Clitherow, Stephen Burt, Zozi Goodman, Shanaka Dias and Suzie Rai

8pm The House (dir. Ali James)
A world of history within the walls of one house. The Southend Ensemble bring the past (and future) to life delving deep into the lives of a cacophony of characters - under the same roof, decades apart.

Featuring Andy Shore, Gemma Bennett, Heather Hill, James Little, Jen O’Connor, Jonathan Jacomb, Lauren Russell, Matthew Willis, Sorraiya Nawaz and Wendy Morgan

9pm Dust Figures (dir. Liam Webber)
Weaving audience-shared memories with heartfelt emotions, Dust Figures transforms everyday events into tender moments. The show uses movement to echo feelings, creating a playful, physical rhythm. Dust Figures blends the personal with the unexpected to paint whimsical nuggets of comedic sunshine.

Featuring: Charlie Morris, David Brady, Eki Osewele, Kasia Uscinska, Hal Munger, David Pepper, Sai Kamisetti, Víctor Arcturus Estrella, Sasha Sokolova and Zosia Zabron

Radio contact

Throwback to the days when Radio was cute!