London
CityCompanies
Notable Figures
Historical Moments
Theatre Machine Founded by Keith Johnstone
Keith Johnstone founded Theatre Machine in 1967 with Ben Benison, Roddy Maude-Roxby, Richard Morgan, and Anthony Trent, establishing Britain's first pure improvisational theatre troupe. The company toured extensively across Europe from 1968 to 1971, performing under labels such as 'classes' and 'lectures' to avoid British censorship law, which remained in force until the Theatres Act of 1968.
Theatre Machine Begins European Tour
Theatre Machine began touring across Europe in 1968, performing improvisation exercises under the labels of 'classes' and 'lectures' to circumvent British censorship laws still in force under the Lord Chamberlain. The company toured extensively across Europe from 1968 to 1971, performing under labels such as 'classes' and 'lectures' to avoid British censorship law, which remained in force until the Theatres Act of 1968.
Keith Johnstone Publishes "Impro"
Methuen publishes "Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre" by Keith Johnstone, one of the most widely read and influential books in the history of improvisational theater. Drawing on his experience as a playwright, director, and teacher, Johnstone develops original theories of status, spontaneity, narrative, and mask that provide an alternative vocabulary for understanding and teaching improvised performance. The book's directness, humor, and practical insight make it essential reading for improvisers, actors, and educators worldwide.
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. In 2010, Guinness World Records certified the Comedy Store Players as the world's longest-running comedy show.
"Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Premieres in the UK
"Whose Line Is It Anyway?" premieres on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, hosted by Clive Anderson with a rotating cast of improvisers. The show brings short-form improvisational games to a prime-time television audience for the first time, popularizing formats such as Props, Scenes from a Hat, and Film Dub. The UK series runs until 1998 and spawns an American adaptation that introduces improv comedy to a global mainstream audience.
Keith Johnstone Publishes "Impro for Storytellers"
Keith Johnstone publishes "Impro for Storytellers," a comprehensive follow-up to his landmark "Impro" that expands his theories of narrative, status, and spontaneity with additional exercises, games, and insights from decades of teaching and directing. The book addresses the specific challenges of sustained narrative in improvisation, offering tools for developing longer and more structured improvisational pieces. It becomes an important companion to "Impro" for practitioners working in longer forms.
Hoopla Impro Founded in Balham, London
Steve Roe and Edgar Fernando founded Hoopla Impro in January 2006 as a free weekly workshop at The Bedford in Balham, South London, which grew by word of mouth into the UK's largest improv training company. Growing by word of mouth from The Bedford in Balham, Hoopla expanded to shows five nights a week, produces the annual London Improv Festival, and teaches thousands of students per year across multiple venues.
The Nursery Theatre Founded in London
Jules Munns, Judith Amsenga, Heather Urquhart, and Robin Steegman founded The Nursery Theatre in 2009 as a UK arts educational charity promoting improv participation. After years of transient venues beginning in a railway arch, the company opened The Nursery Theatre Broadgate at 2 Finsbury Avenue, Liverpool Street, in collaboration with British Land.
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. The recognition affirmed the group's unbroken weekly residency at London's Comedy Store since Kit Hollerbach, Dave Cohen, Neil Mullarkey, and Mike Myers first took the stage in October 1985.
The Free Association Gives First Show in London
Graham Dickson founded The Free Association with its first show above the De Beauvoir Arms in Haggerston on October 19, 2014, introducing a UCB and iO-style long-form improv school model to the UK. The company offers a six-level Harold-based curriculum modelled on the UCB and iO schools where Dickson trained.
London Improv Theatre Founded in West Hampstead
Jake Lyons founded London Improv Theatre in 2016 at 104 Finchley Road, West Hampstead, establishing a dedicated short-form improv venue in the area. Lyons established the venue in response to a perceived shortage of dedicated short-form improv spaces in London, focusing on audience-accessible formats in the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway?.
Blanche Improv Founded in London
Lelda founded Blanche Improv in June 2023, establishing a female-led long-form improv company focused on giving underrepresented performers stage time. The school launched courses in January 2024 and produces shows including Blanche's Besties and Ride or Die, alongside a Queens and Queers monthly jam for women and LGBTQIA+ members.
The Free Association Opens Permanent Southwark Venue
The Free Association opened its first permanent home at Arch 26, Old Union Yard Arches, Southwark on October 16, 2025, with a 104-seat theatre, cafe-bar, and classroom on a 10-year lease. The company offers a six-level Harold-based curriculum modelled on the UCB and iO schools where Dickson trained.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). London. Retrieved September 29, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/locales/europe/united-kingdom/england/london
The Improv Archive. "London." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/locales/europe/united-kingdom/england/london.
The Improv Archive. "London." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/locales/europe/united-kingdom/england/london. Accessed September 29, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.