29 JULY 2026

Hello.

I am back from Liam and Kat’s wedding and once again reminded of the absolute power of love, partnership and found family.

It’s the same confluence of positive influences that animates the very best improv shows.

Long may it continue.

Not much else to report this week, it’s your last chance to apply for the 16-week improv actor training, and then we’ll all have a nice rest for the summer.

Rule of three

[TV] Jury Duty presents: Company Retreat
I really loved how Jury Duty used improv seamlessly to create a mockumentary where only one person was real and everyone else was an actor. If anything, this second season, set at the annual retreat for a family-run business, is even better. The knife-edge they walk between comedic set pieces and enough naturalism to not give the game away is exhilarating. And this season’s dupe/ hero is as wonderfully kind as he is charming.

[Newsletter] Stephen Burt
I’ve been a big fan of Stephen Burt for the longest time and have spent many a lovely afternoon in his company at various improv events. I’m delighted to see he has launched an improv newsletter. You can read the first article here and it’s a humdinger. It’s about receiving and giving notes in an improv context. I really liked this quote too:

Good lessons don’t just apply where they are learnt.

[Game] Steve - The Game
It’s another daily online game. This one is app-only but it has an intriguing premise where you need to fit blocks into a larger area. Works beautifully, no adverts and it’s very satisfying when you win. Also, it’s called Steve. The game is called Steve. Got to love how completely unmarketable that is (try finding it through a simple Google search). Thanks to Vic Hogg for the recommendation.

Spotlight

You have but a few days left to apply for the next Pretend Company 16-week Improv Actors Training programme. The deadline is 1st August 2026.

You can read an exhaustive explainer here.

This is the course into which we pour so much time, passion and rigour. It represents a distillation of all our experiences teaching improv over a combined fifty plus years. We’re really proud of it and we’ve seen it make a real difference.

I came to Pretend to develop my ability to be more real and more vulnerable during improvised scenes. What surprised me was how many of my old habits I needed to unlearn. Rather than jumping to write the whole plot and push it on my scene partners, I had to do nothing. No thinking. No planning. Just  stop the noise and take in my partner’s music.

The end result is now, I surprise myself. I connect better with scene partners on and off stage. I’m less anxious that it’s all on me. By trusting Pretend, I trust my partner, the audience, and myself. 

— former student

Apply for Improv Actor Training here.

Radio contact

Radio and plant.