20 MAY 2026

Hello, friends.

This week sees the beginning of The London Improv Festival run by Blanche Improv. I’m so excited I’ve bought the full festival pass and am planning to see almost every show.

I know that improv is my job but it’s also the thing I love to watch most in the world - so I’m really excited about four days of total immersion (and bonus points for the fact I won’t even have to organise any of it).

If you’re planning on attending too, please come and say hi. I’ll be the guy in the audience smiling a lot.

Rule of three

[Comedy] Chris Fleming
I didn’t think I liked big stand-up specials that much anymore. But Live at the Palace with Chris Fleming is so unflinchingly weird, anarchic, unique and unpredictable, I’m going to have to maybe reconsider? Fleming is absolutely on fire throughout this show - they aren’t just funny, they have this sense of raw physicality that comes off them in waves, stalking the stage in their purple jumpsuit and finding humour in the hyper-specific - what it takes to lead a conga line, mutilated oreos and an eel with a gun.

[Music] Tiny Habits
A recommendation from top improviser Jen O’Connor, All for Something by Tiny Habits has moments of astounding beauty, sadness, hope and reflection. As I continue to listen to whole albums rather than algorithmically generated playlists - this one has brought me no small amount of joy.

[Film] Harakiri
Famously Letterboxd’s best reviewed film of all time, I thought it was finally time to check out this samurai classic from Masaki Kobayashi. And you know what? It’s pretty fantastic. The storytelling feels modern and fleet-footed and every shot is beautifully framed (particularly the climactic fight scenes). Old films, huh? Turns out there were some really good ones. Who knew?

Spotlight

Pretend Night this month has been moved a week later to 29th May. We’ve got a great line-up - graduates of our Improv Actor’s Training programme performing The Party, another outing for the Pretend Ensemble and Instant Noodling - the super talented duo that opened the very first Pretend Night ever. If you haven’t come down to the Omnibus in Clapham yet - it’s a great night out with a wonderful atmosphere and the very best theatrical improv in London. We’d love to see you.

Book your tickets to Pretend Night here.

In addition, if you live in or around Southend-on-Sea, our own Ali James is offering an Introduction to Theatrical Improvisation course, starting next week. The course was designed by The Pretend Company to bridge the gap for players who want to create more theatrical work and for actors who want to take on the challenge of improvising theatre. We see it as a ramp up into our longer Improv Actor Training programme.

Details are 8 weeks from 27th May, 6.30-9pm, Up the Road on Hamlet Court Road, £150. If interested you can email Ali for more details.

I have learnt a lot from many great improv classes in the past, but The Pretend Company feels like the first programme to take my performance to another level and create a group that can make truly compelling theatre. - Stephen, ensemble

Radio contact

Radio and his tiny pillow.