The Comedy Store Players
The Comedy Store Players are the resident improv troupe at London's Comedy Store, founded on October 27, 1985 by Kit Hollerbach, Dave Cohen, Neil Mullarkey, and Mike Myers. In 2010, Guinness World Records certified the Comedy Store Players as the world's longest-running comedy show. The troupe plays on Wednesday and Sunday nights at the Comedy Store, now located at 1a Oxendon Street near Piccadilly Circus.
History
Founding (October 27, 1985)
The Comedy Store Players gave their first performance on October 27, 1985 at the original Comedy Store in Leicester Square. Founding members Kit Hollerbach and Mike Myers, both North American, taught the other founding members Dave Cohen and Neil Mullarkey the short-form improv games rooted in Chicago improvisation. The first show attracted fewer than 20 audience members, and the troupe was initially allowed only the second half of the bill, with stand-up comedy occupying the first half.
Growth and Membership
Paul Merton joined in approximately November 1985. Richard Vranch joined in 1986 as musical accompaniment, Josie Lawrence joined in summer 1986 after the Edinburgh Fringe, Lee Simpson joined in 1989, and Jim Sweeney joined in 1992. Wednesday night shows became a regular fixture from October 11, 1989.
Guinness World Records (2010)
In 2010, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, Guinness World Records certified the Comedy Store Players as the world's longest-running comedy show.
Venue History
The troupe has been based at the Comedy Store since its founding. The venue moved to its current location at 1a Oxendon Street, near Piccadilly Circus, in 1993.
Artistic Identity
The Comedy Store Players are the world's longest-running comedy show per Guinness World Records, performing short-form improv every Wednesday and Sunday in London since their 1985 founding.
People
Legacy
The Comedy Store Players launched the UK careers of Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Josie Lawrence, Richard Vranch, and Jim Sweeney, and established short-form improvisation as a sustainable long-running entertainment format in Britain.
Key Events
Comedy Store Players Give First Performance in London
Kit Hollerbach, Dave Cohen, Neil Mullarkey, and Mike Myers gave the Comedy Store Players' first performance on October 27, 1985 at the Comedy Store in Leicester Square, London.
Comedy Store Players Certified as World's Longest-Running Comedy Show
In 2010, on the troupe's 25th anniversary, Guinness World Records certified the Comedy Store Players as the world's longest-running comedy show.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). The Comedy Store Players. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/the-comedy-store-london
The Improv Archive. "The Comedy Store Players." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/the-comedy-store-london.
The Improv Archive. "The Comedy Store Players." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/the-comedy-store-london. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.