14 OCTOBER 2026

Hello, excellent people.

Well this week was a bit of a bummer all round, as we got the news that the venerable Bristol Improv Theatre - the first brick and mortar improv-specific theatre in the whole of the UK, has had to close its doors, effective immediately.

I’ve been going to the BIT since it first opened - seen shows of incredible craft, wit and beauty and experienced the joy and passion of its staff, performers and wider community.

It sucks it’s gone. I’m heart-broken for everyone involved. But I know that this isn’t the end of the story, that the community will rebound and rebuild, that new venues and opportunities will emerge to join the incredible indie nights that are already running.

And at the same time, we should acknowledge its passing, and recognise that improv institutions should never be taken for granted - the time, talent and tenacity poured into each one is no guarantee of perpetual prosperity. They deserve our patronage and encouragement.

Long live the Bristol improv community!

Rule of three

[Film] Portrait of a Lady on Fire
An absolutely gorgeous film about love, art, friendship and sitting naked in front of a fire whilst smoking a pipe. Dangerously French.

“Do all lovers feel they're inventing something?”

Thanks for this one go to Lisa Gallagher who has great taste in cinema.

[Online] Drawing a horse
This online fella is drawing a horse every day until he’s really good at drawing horses. It’s genuinely heart-warming stuff. He’s not trying to get to a point where the horse is photorealistic or anything - he just wants to continue to improve. And he’s willing to put the work in. Drawing horses. I think there’s an improv lesson in there somewhere. And so does joy-penguin and person-who-recommended it to me - Jennifer Jordan. Thanks, Jennifer!

[Book] How to be Good at Life
The title of this book is printed in large reassuring letters on the cover. More than one person openly laughed at me as I read it on the train. But I’m really digging the central idea that building and maintaining personal systems is the key to long term success. Colour me intrigued with the concept that habits help you maintain what you have but it takes a system to take a giant leap forward. You can clean your teeth every day (and you should, ideally twice) but maintaining that habit won’t set your oral hygiene on an exponential curve towards a godlike smile. That takes a system (which I guess in this case is ... braces?) - this example may have got away from me.

Spotlight

Pretend Night at the Omnibus Theatre is THIS WEEK. And in case I haven’t shouted about it enough - we have Flock Theatre over from Amsterdam to perform their basically perfect duo show Object of Affection. It features two inanimate objects falling in love Pixar-style. Cute, heartfelt and beautifully funny. If you have any interest in improv and want to see two masters of the form in a one-off London show then book your tickets now.

We will also be there doing an extended version of our new show - Life Sonata.

I. Honestly. Can’t. Wait.

Longform thoughts

Maybe we can be more empathetic than the comedians AND funnier than the dramatists.

This week, I’m talking about coordination of techniques and how it can save us from over-specialising.

Petal Power

Meet Petal, the newest member of the extended Pretend family. She’s my sister’s new puppy and she’s no bigger than a fruit bowl.