1 JULY 2026

Hello, friends.

This is Chris Mead - improviser, barefoot shoe-wearer and matcha snob.

I’m writing this in the all-too-brief cool period between heat waves.

Please reply to this newsletter with any correspondence you may have for me before the temperature soars once again and my brain turns back into pudding.

Mmmm, pudding.

(Oh no, it’s happening).

Rule of three

[Theatre] Pride
Saw this new NT musical in preview last week. It’s about the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners movement of the mid-80s and is based on the film with the cringiest straight-person-trying-to-be-fabulous dance ever committed to celluloid. HOWEVER, the true story it tells (and actually most of the rest of the film) is astonishing and properly beautiful. I think the stage version does a good job elevating it further (although it definitely falls into the why does it need to be a musical except to make it profitable? trap). The revelation at the end that the Labour Party enshrined gay and lesbian rights in their party programme, due in part to a massive block vote by the National Union of Mineworkers, genuinely makes me tear up every time I think about it.

[Wisdom] George Bernard Shaw (& Jeff Goldblum)
Thank you for all the lovely assurances last week after I shared The Courage to Be Disliked. The mighty Tom Mathias sent me this George Bernard Shaw quote that I thought was worth passing along.

This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

And, if that wasn’t impactful enough, here’s Jeff Goldblum quoting it by heart.

[Tech] HM Digital TDS-3
Now I’m sure you already know this but too many minerals in your water will muddy the taste of just about any delicate tea infusion. That’s why I purchased a HM Digital TDS-3 meter to measure the TDS (Total Dissolvable Solids) in my tap water (370 ppm). I then got to compare that to water that I’d put through a Brita filter (160 ppm) and Voss artesian water sourced from an underground aquifer in an unspoiled natural wilderness in Southern Norway (an unbelievable 20 ppm). Now my teas are brighter and more flavourful and Laura can go around shouting TDS? More like TEDIOUS at the top of her voice every time I try to engage her in conversation about this fascinating topic..

Spotlight

I am positively aglow to announce that we’re opening up applications for our third Improv Actor Training cohort.

This course has been an absolute joy to conceive and teach, as a director, as a coach and just as an improv-human.

Simply put, we’ll spend 16 weeks doing everything we can to help you to become the best improviser you can possibly be.

And now that we’re in the third iteration, we think we’ve really polished this thing to a deep shine.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Smaller classes and a rigorous application process to ensure everyone on the course is at a similar level.

• Input and class time with all three Pretend co-founders - Ali James, Liam Webber and Chris Mead (that’s me).

• A focus on playfulness, stage craft and connection - we are theatre-makers and we want you to be utterly confident on any stage.

• Feedback built into the fabric of the syllabus - you’ll receive actionable notes throughout the programme.

This course is a rare chance to dig deep over time with a trio of outstanding tutors who also practice what they preach on stage. I’m having so many light bulb moments about myself as an actor … and as a human!

- Suzie, former participant

The course will run from 1st September for 16 weeks and applications are open now until 1st August. Good luck!

Click here to read an in-depth overview and apply.

And please just reply to this email if you have any questions or just want to chat it through with me.

Longform thoughts

Being a famous improviser is like playing the lead role in the musical, Cats - sure it takes skill and dedication - but only a select few people are going to be impressed, and everyone else will try desperately to avoid eye contact with you.

This week I warn of the dangers of Believing your own hype.

Radio contact

Radio truly is a mystical unicorn.