Improv North

Founding (2024)

Freya Parker and Paul Foxcroft founded Improv North in Manchester in 2024, combining roughly 30 years of combined experience. Taster sessions began in late September 2024 at Northern Monk Refectory on Tariff Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter, with structured courses following. Shows also take place at the 53Two venue.

Parker trained in long-form improv under Second City alumnus David Shore, and was one of the original members of The Free Association in London before co-founding Improv North. Paul Foxcroft is an actor and improviser.

Approach

Improv North focuses explicitly on long-form organic improvisation rather than short-form games, positioning itself as a distinct offering from the short-form improv tradition in Manchester.

Improv North brings long-form organic improvisation to Manchester from a 2024 founding by screen actor Freya Parker and improviser Paul Foxcroft, rooted in the UCB and Free Association tradition.

Walrus is Improv North's monthly improv night, featuring the house team ENORMOUS, a troupe assembled from graduates of the company's training program. The company offers weekly classes for all experience levels, from complete beginners to experienced improvisers familiar with Harold and Canadian Cross formats. Taster classes provide a two-hour introduction for newcomers.

Co-founders Freya Parker and Paul Foxcroft brought over 30 combined years of professional comedy experience to Manchester's improv scene. Parker, one half of sketch duo Lazy Susan, has appeared in productions including Wonka and One Day. Foxcroft has appeared in Ted Lasso, Brassic, and Drifters. By launching Improv North, Parker and Foxcroft established a dedicated longform improv training and performance company in a city where improv had operated primarily through individual workshops and short-form groups.