With an extraordinary line up of skilled and innovative players from all over the world, The London Improv Festival is truly a celebration of artistry, community and joy.
The London Improv Festival is thrilled to be hosting some of the world’s best established and most exciting up and coming teams.
shows
The London Improv Festival Headliners
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Achilles Stamatelaky has been performing comedy since 2005, mainly at The UCB Theatre NY, where he was formerly the Associate Artistic Director and a veteran house team improviser, writer, and director.
He has taught improv and sketch writing at the UCB Training Center, as well as sitcom writing at NYU, and tons of independent classes and workshops.
Achilles was a staff writer on Broad City and has developed multiple projects for TV, film, and new media.
Achilles is a super smart improviser and an incredible teacher. The London Improv Festival is thrilled to have him on board.
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Connor Ratliff is a New York City-based actor/comedian and creator of the award-winning, critically acclaimed podcast, Dead Eyes.
He has appeared in numerous films & TV shows, including The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Widow's Bay, Ghosts, Bob's Burgers, The Great North, Jellystone!, Super Duper Bunny League, Étoile, Search Party, Orange Is The New Black, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Daily Show, Don't Think Twice, Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game, Run Amok and the Mean Girls movie musical. You may have also heard him on This American Life, Comedy Bang Bang, or in the audiobook edition of Tom Hanks’ New York Times Best Selling debut novel, The Making Of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece.
A fixture of the NYC improv comedy scene, performing for over a decade at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in shows like ASSSSCAT and The Stepfathers, he can now be seen most weeks in the improvised show RAAAATSCRAPS on the lower east side at Caveat, or hosting the long-running cult comedy series, The George Lucas Talk Show.
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After growing up on the central coast of Maine, Ryan Gaul moved south and attended Stonehill College outside of Boston, Ma. Ryan then transitioned into acting – landing a spot as a performer at Improv Asylum in Boston.
He moved to Los Angeles shortly after and became a staple of the Improvisation and Sketch comedy theater The Groundlings. From there, Ryan landed guest star roles on numerous television shows, including House of Lies, Modern Family, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 2 Broke Girls, and Bajillion $ Properties, NBC’s Superstore and as a series regular on TBS’s The Last O.G.
Film credits include Father Figures, The Happytime Murders, Identity Thief and Space Station 76. Ryan also has roles in Christopher Guest’s Mascots and Taran Killam’s Why We’re Killing Gunther.
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Suzi Barrett is an LA based actor/writer/improviser who plays with ASSSSCAT at UCB LA, is a member of the long-running house team Sentimental Lady, and is one half of the beloved indie team Elephants Gerald, with Rebecca Drysdale. She hosts the popular improv podcast Yes Also, and is a frequent guest on After Midnight and Comedy Bang Bang.
Suzi is passionate about bringing the philosophies and skills of the improv world (trust, support, and flexibility) to people in other walks of life. It is an honour to have such a bright, kind and experienced member of the improv community as part of The London Improv Festival.
festival passes
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Tickets to every show at the festival!!
No need to book tickets, this pass has you covered, and gives you a cheeky discount. Tickets for the live recording of Yes, also and CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS are not included in this pass.
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This pass entitles you 3 headliner shows and 3 shows… plus a lovely discount.
When you purchase your pass you'll need to book your shows using the code from your pass.
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This pass entitles you to 5 non headline shows at The London Improv Festival all at a discounted price.
When you purchase your pass you'll need to book your shows using the code from your pass.
5.30pm thursday 21st may
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yes, also Live Podcast recording with Suzi Barrett and her guest Lelda Kapsis
The London Improv Festival is thrilled to host a live recording of 'yes, also'. In this love letter to improv comedy, comedian Suzi Barrett deep dives with veteran improvisers about their journeys through improv, discussing the philosophies, theories, tips, lessons, and stories they’ve gathered along the way.
Listen to episodes here: https://yesalso.supercast.com/ as well as on your fave podcast platform.
For this live recording, Suzi’s guest will be Blanche Improv Founder and The London Improv Festival Director, Lelda Kapsis.
7pm thursday 21st may
CONNOR RATLIFF presents
THE ACTING CLASS
A one-person improv show that PRETENDS to be a real acting class, from the creator of the Dead Eyes podcast.
Professional actor (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Bob's Burgers, Widow's Bay) and award-winning podcaster (Dead Eyes) CONNOR RATLIFF is a classically trained performer who graduated "with honours" from the prestigious Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts over a quarter of a century ago, making his professional debut on the stage of the Royal Court Theatre in London’s West End. During that same year, he also performed at Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II. In the decades that followed, he has accumulated numerous credits as a star of stage, screen and stream, appearing in multiple Netflix Original Films as well as content on CBS, NBC, FOX, TBS, Home Box Office, Comedy Central, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and the now-defunct comedy platforms, Go90 and Seeso.
But none of that matters now.
What matters now is CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS, an unending series of workshop performances where he will, before your very eyes, demonstrate what acting truly IS.
Each performance will be slightly interactive and completely improvised, with occasional opportunities for “students” to participate (from the safety of their position in the audience.)
Defiantly self-indulgent and beyond pointless, THE ACTING CLASS is your opportunity to witness the kind of greatness – only slightly appreciated by The Industry – that has kept Connor Ratliff steadily employed for nearly half of the past 10+ years.
8.30pm thursday 21st may
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The London Improv Festival Headliners play with Sundae
Sundae creates silly fun theatre inspired by some of the audience’s hot takes on trivial matters. In this very special show, they will be joined by their friends Ryan Gaul, Suzi Barrett, Connor Ratliff and Jeremy Brothers.
5pm friday 22nd may
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Ooh La La (Portland)
Ooh La La is an award-winning all-women improv team from Portland, OR, USA, the land of hipsters, coffee, and good vibes. Like you, they enjoy a good podcast and they're going to host a podcast based on your audience suggestion! Will be a gossip session? A true crime mystery? Crypto bro rants? Let's find out! There'll be wacky characters, awkward situations, tangled romances, all coming together for a cheerful, good time.
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The Bloopers (London)
A Complete Unknown. Bohemian Rhapsody. Rocketman. Just some of the Oscar-nominated films The Bloopers had every intention of making. But this year, they’re getting in first. And they’re going for gold.
The Bloopers cordially invite all esteemed members of the Academy to help cement their place in film history, with a musical-Biopic about someone audiences actually want to see – whoever it is they ask for.
6pm friday 22nd may
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Derek's MoJo (London)
Derek's MoJo presents Questionable Behaviour. A follies' folly of exploded truths, twisted tropes, taboos and other unmentionables. Get ready for a fun, fast, feminist farce.
Starring Comedy Store Players regular Monica Gaga with stage and screen veteran Jodyanne FR.
Join Derek’s MoJo and prepare for comedy, debauchery and fun all inspired by you!
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Hard Pass (Los Angeles and Boston)
Jeremy and Ryan prefer an audience for their two-man show, but it's happening whether you're there or not. Based on your suggestions, Jeremy and Ryan create a dizzying series of characters and scenes that draw upon decades of collaboration as improvisors, writers, and everything in-between (other than brothers).
Ryan Gaul (The Groundlings, The Last O.G., Comedy Bang Bang) and Jeremy Brothers (The Moth, McCurdy Point, Improv Asylum) can't wait to spend a night with you making up scenes based on your suggestions and then spending the rest of the evening convincing you that they were fully written and rehearsed. Giddyup!
7pm friday 22nd may
Suzi Barrett and Ryan Gaul (LA)
Festival headliners and great friends Suzi Barrett and Ryan Gaul play bring their legendary talents and joy to the London Improv Festival for an hour of improvised awesomeness.
8pm friday 22nd may
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Plinky Plonk (London) with Achilles Stamatelaky
Four skilled improvisers, accompanied by a master pianist, create an hour of spontaneous, fast-paced hilarity inspired by your choices. Watch as the music inspires the scenes which in turn inspire the music. For their show at the London Improv Festival, they will be joined by festival headliner Achilles Stamatelaky.
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The Kingdom Kids (Burlington)
The Kingdom Kids are a trio of some of the most experienced improv comedians in the Northeastern U.S. The cast all grew up in the northeast corner of Vermont (AKA the “Northeast Kingdom”), hanging out in places like gravel pits, drugstore parking lots, and decrepit movie theaters.
The team likes to ask audience members where they hung out as teenagers (and what kind of trouble they got up to there). Then, they use these stories as inspiration for an entirely improvised, freewheeling and wildly entertaining comedy set.
With a shared sense of humor that is smart, sarcastic and silly, this homegrown troupe of performers puts on an unpredictable show that is enjoyable for any audience.
9pm friday 22nd may
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At Home (Sheffield and Liverpool)
Sometimes the simplest of people have the most interesting lives.
Join Jen Hardy and Owen Scrivens as we take a peak through the curtains in suburbia and marvel at humans in their most natural habitat – The Home.
An unscripted theatrical piece inspired by 20th century British Theatre and slice of life sitcoms. Think Alan Bennett, John Osborne and Keeping Up Appearances – but with something new in every performance.
Relatable characters you may wish were not so familiar – At Home reminds us that there is drama and humour behind every front door.
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The Show that Goes Backwards (London)
An improvised play that starts at the end and ends at the start!
With just a single word of inspiration taken from the audience, the show starts with the final scene of the story and the performers work backwards from there to find out what happened before that, and before that, and so on. With each preceding scene exploring what caused that final (first!) scene to be.
Each new scene jumps back in time; sometimes by a little, sometimes by a lot, and in each new scene you will discover a new element of the tale, bit by bit piecing together how the story came together so that, by the end, everything has become clear!
From discovering why a bride ran out on her wedding, to finding out why that deranged man murdered all those people, we guarantee you’ll laugh along at every step of the journey!
5pm saturday 23rd may
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Smoke Break (Berlin)
Smoke Break are a Berlin-based improv team with many years of collective experience. Powered by CNN (caffeine, nicotine, niceness), they deliver fast, slacker-energy improv with maximum laughs and zero hustle culture.
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Burn the Script (London)
Burn The Script is an improv comedy troupe that takes Hollywood’s most iconic films and flips them on their head, mixing everyday life with blockbuster mayhem. You know the films… now watch them burn!
6pm saturday 23rd may
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Dough Dough (Los Angeles)
Dough Dough is a Los Angeles–based improv team and UCB LA CageMatch winners, performing game based improv built on sharp instincts and big swings - freshly made, no preservatives.
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Lobster Tango (London)
Fan Faves Competition Winners, Lobster Tango are your newest favourite improvisers. Lobster/tango not guaranteed.
7pm saturday 23rd may
Achilles Stamatelaky and Connor Ratliff (NYC)
New York comedy icons Achilles Stamatelaky and Connor Ratliff will have us all lol-ing with their hour of silly fun improv.
8pm saturday 23rd may
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Loo-Prov! (London) with Suzi Barrett
London’s sweethearts will be joined by festival headliner Suzi Barrett in the women’s toilets for an improv show full of mischief, high emotions and lots of love.
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Fünfdollar (Berlin) with Ryan Gaul
Comedy Cafe Berlin’s longest running House Team, now put out to pasture, aren’t ready to be made into lasagne just yet. Riffing off of an audience suggestion, the gates open up for a night of wild improvised comedy and galloping laughter from these seasoned stallions. These hilarious players will be joined by festival headliner, Ryan Gaul.
9pm saturday 23rd may
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Egg Squish It - Improvised Nordic Noir (Oslo)
Join “Egg Squish It” as they improvise a gripping Nordic Noir crime story set in your community: moody, mysterious, and full of unexpected laughs. Watch as your local landmarks become crime scenes, your neighbors turn into suspects, and chilling secrets get unraveled.
One familiar location. One unexpected crime. One unforgettable evening of comedy and intrigue. Could your hometown be the next setting for a Nordic Noir thriller? There's only one way to find out.
Warning: May cause increased suspicion of friendly neighbors and an irresistible urge to wear more turtlenecks.
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IMPEERIUM (Tallinn)
This is what happens if you mix clown, mime, silent movies and commedia dell´arte. No knowledge of any language is necessary.
4.15pm sunday 24th may
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Bandwagon (London)
What is an improviser without a single thought? When do you run out of ideas? At Bandwagon we are trying to answer those questions. Come join us for the last 30 minutes of a 6 hour set. See what's left in our brains.
5pm sunday 24th may
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Somewhat Theatre (London and Cambridge)
What makes a play a play? What is the difference between a play and an improv set? What do you call a fish with no eyes? A very serious, not at all silly exploration of the nature of theatre and other grand-minded ideas. Somewhat Theatre ask the audience what makes a play a play, then play that play. Playfully.
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Bear Milk (Berlin)
Taking only the present moment for inspiration, Bear Milk creates a hilarious one act play of criss-crossing characters, stories and relationships, unfolding in real time. In spotlighting the minutiae of everyday life, Bear Milk reveals the hilarious absurdity lurking beneath both the seemingly ordinary and the decidedly unusual. Every show is completely made up on the spot and no one knows where it will go or where we will end up.
6pm sunday 24th may
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Couch (Glasgow)
Ever experienced a bad bistro, horrid hotel, or rancid restaurant? Long-form improv troupe Couch transform real 1-star reviews from your angriest stories into comedy! Complaints become characters and grievances become games! Expect plenty of questionable customer service, tense holiday drama, and zero refunds.
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The London Improv Festival Ensemble (So many places)
Incredible improvisers from all over the world meet and create a show together during the festival. See the magic that can be made when minds meet with intention and joy.
7pm sunday 24th may
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Slumber Party (London)
The self-proclaimed 'Spice Girls of improv' are bringing big energy debauchery as they craft a show based entirely off your audience gossip, on the spot.
Tell your mum you’re staying at your friend's, grab your midnight snacks, and join us for improvised comedy fun. We start every slumber party with a good gossip so come armed with your juiciest morsels, and prepare to laugh the night away with this powerhouse all-female comedy group.
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Legitimate Artists (Toronto)
3 veteran improvisers from Toronto come together to make the funniest show you can possibly see. Alums from Second City, JFL, and seen on TV shows like What We Do In The Shadows, they come together to absolutely destroy the stage. You will not find a better show out there.
8pm sunday 24th may
finale show with guest monologist Britt Pay
Beloved London improviser, Britt Pay will tell stories and festival guests Ryan Gaul, Suzi Barrett, Achilles Stamatelaky and Jeremy Brothers will improvise a show inspired by her tales.
The London Improv Festival is presented by Blanche Improv, you can contact the festival team by emailing programming@blancheimprov.com