The Long Shots
The Long Shots is a Cape Town improvised comedy troupe founded by Jason Delplanque in 2011, drawing an international cast from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The company performs a mix of short-form and long-form improvisation using live audience suggestions, with a regular Monday-night residency at the Armchair Theatre in Observatory. In addition to public shows the troupe runs weekly drop-in classes and corporate workshops.
History
Jason Delplanque established The Long Shots in 2011 with a deliberately international ensemble, reflecting Cape Town's position as a city that attracts performers from multiple English-speaking countries. The troupe built its audience through a consistent weekly show model, settling into Monday-night performances at the Armchair Theatre on Lower Main Road in Observatory. The Long Shots co-hosted weekly Thursday drop-in classes alongside Second Liners Improv at the Rosebank Scout Hall in Rondebosch. The company has also performed at the Courtyard Playhouse in the CBD and participated in the Mama City International Improv Festival from its 2016 inaugural edition.
Artistic Identity
The Long Shots positions itself as an audience-first company, building every show entirely from suggestions gathered in the room with no script, no planning, and no predetermined material. The troupe works across both short-form games and long-form narrative formats, applying a direct and accessible comedic sensibility that reflects the diverse backgrounds of its international cast.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). The Long Shots. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/the-long-shots
The Improv Archive. "The Long Shots." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/the-long-shots.
The Improv Archive. "The Long Shots." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/the-long-shots. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.