22 JULY 2026

Hello!

It’s the day before my birthday. Tomorrow, I’m going into London to do a whole bunch of fun things.

But I don’t want to talk about that now, what I do want to talk about is the fact that this weekend Liam & Kat are getting married.

I asked Liam to co-found The Pretend Company with me when I barely knew him. What I did know, I loved - he was a unique and unforgettable presence on stage, an irrepressible imp of a human and always incredibly funny. What I’ve learned over these last two years is that on top of that he is a powerhouse of organisation, a beautiful and empathetic listener and an indefatigable champion of our art form.

I’m so lucky I had the impulse to ask him. Last week, we had the final showcase for our 24-week Improv Actors Training in which nearly 30 improvisers took to the stage with three entirely new improv formats they had devised from scratch.

I am so proud of everything we’ve achieved so far and, along with Ali, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be on this journey with.

Here’s to love, creativity and building new things!

Rule of three

[TV] Widow’s Bay
I’m not normally one for horror but Widow’s Bay is so funny and charming, I almost didn’t mind being scared out of my tree. It’s got a great improv pedigree too with Neil Casey, Connor Ratliff, Jeff Hiller, Colton Dunn and Anthony Atamanuik all featuring, either in front or behind the camera.

[Film] Mile End Kicks
This film is set in 2011 and follows a young music critic as she moves to Montreal to write a book on Alanis Morissette’s seminal Jagged Little Pill. I always love anything that has such a specific sense of time and place. It’s hard going at times and definitely doesn’t coddle its audience but I found it ultimately uplifting and I was pleased to see some Montreal landmarks that I recognized from my visit - like the giant building shaped like an orange that serves poutine and orange milk.

[Movement] Nordic Stretch
So apparently the distance you can stretch - doing the splits or touching your toes - has less to do with your muscles, tendons and fascia and more to do with your nervous system. Almost anyone can do the splits under general anesthetic, so it doesn’t have much to do with how stretchy we are. It’s how risk averse the aforementioned nervous system is. Enter the Nordic Stretch staff? Stick? Post? I’m not sure what it is, but it provides another point of contact with the floor, meaning you can push yourself into deeper stretches whilst keeping that aptly named nervous system happy. Ten minutes a day and I’m hoping to be able to lay my palms flat on the floor by the end of the year.

(Whilst standing, I can already do it lying down.)

Spotlight

You have a little over a week left to apply for the next 16-week Improv Actors Training programme.

You can read an exhaustive explainer here.

Put simply, it’s a chance to immerse yourself in theatrical improv with a group of like-minded improvisers and some of the best coaches in the country.

Here’s my quick list of why it’s different from other improv programmes you might have done:

• It’s 16 weeks long Giving you a chance to really bond with your fellow players and let the improv theory sink into your bones.

• The syllabus We’ve put a huge amount of thought into every aspect of the course structure AND it’s now in its THIRD iteration. I genuinely believe it’s never been more helpful, focussed and effective.

• It’s unique We are looking specifically at theatrical improv with a focus on stagecraft and real human relationships.

• Guaranteed skill level Because we’re only taking 8-10 people per cohort and the course is by application only - you’ll notice immediately that the level in the room is far higher than other classes. This course is for people who want to get better and are prepared to do the work.

  So yes, if that sounds like you then click the link below and read more about what we have to offer. You have until 1st August 2026 to apply.

  Apply for Improv Actor Training here.

Radio contact

The Paw-tend Company were both on stage last week as part of the ensemble show at Pretend Night.