Comedy Store Players
The Comedy Store Players are a group of improvisational comedians who perform at The Comedy Store in London. The ensemble currently features five regular cast members: Josie Lawrence, Neil Mullarkey, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, and Ruth Bratt. Shows are performed on Sundays and typically run approximately two hours, featuring six or seven improvised games with no designated host and no points system.
History
The Comedy Store Players first came into being in October 1985 and celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2025. In 2010, the group entered the Guinness World Records for being the world's longest-running comedy show with the same cast. Past members have included Mike Myers, Paul Merton, Sandi Toksvig, and Jeremy Hardy, among others. In June 2026, a founding-era member retired from the Comedy Store Players after approximately 40 years with the ensemble, marking a generational transition for the world's longest-running improv show.
Key Events
Comedy Store Players founding member retires after 40 years
A founding member of the Comedy Store Players retired in 2026 after approximately 40 years with the ensemble, marking the end of an era for the world's longest-running improv comedy show. The retirement coincided with the group's 40th anniversary year and drew coverage highlighting the cast member's four-decade contribution to the London improv scene.
Comedy Store Players founding member retires after 40 years
A long-standing member of the Comedy Store Players retired in 2026 after approximately 40 years with the ensemble, marking a significant change in the lineup of the world's longest-running improv show. The group, which had celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025, continued performing at The Comedy Store in London following the departure.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Comedy Store Players. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/comedy-store-players
The Improv Archive. "Comedy Store Players." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/comedy-store-players.
The Improv Archive. "Comedy Store Players." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/comedy-store-players. Accessed October 11, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.