For a comedy evening that feels a little more exciting and spontaneous. This is the comprehensive beginner's guide to improv comedy nights in London.
In the busy city of London, there are endless possibilities for a night out at the theatre. Look out scripted shows, there's a new form of comedy in town and it's completely made up on the spot! Improv comedy nights are popping up all around London providing audiences with fun and entertaining improvised scenes, games and musicals. Every show is different and completely brand new. Long form, narrative or short form games, whatever style of improv is of interest, there is a night for you. No need to break the bank to go see a live show this week; you can see an improv show for free. Here's our guide to the growing scene of improv in London that will have you laughing all night long.
Hoopla Improv Comedy
All are welcome to the friendly Hoopla improv community. If you’ve never experienced improv before, Hoopla Improv Comedy has a variety of shows running four nights a week with many styles, including short-form games, improvised plays, improvised musicals, long-form scenes and many more. Grab drink at The Miller Pub with your friends and head upstairs for a delightful evening of improv.
Improv nights are every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 8pm - 10pm at The Miller by London Bridge. Tickets are £5, and £2.50 for students and NHS members. Free for Hoopla students. Find out more here.
Photo credit: Hannah Anketell
Duck Duck Goose Improv
This uniquely special night has headliner guests and a mixture of improv jams all in a tiny cosy room at Effra Social. In between acts, the house team encourages new students and experienced improvisers to join in for a two-person scene or ten-minute group montage. This free improv night not only takes place in a living-room style space, but you’ll notice that the keen eye of Winston Churchill is always watching.
Improv nights are every Monday night at 8pm - 10pm at the Effra Social in Brixton. Free to enter. Find out more here.
The Improv 5-A-Side by C3 Something Improv
Above the Horse and Stables Pub in Lambeth North, six teams battle for improv supremacy every Sunday night. C3 Something host the free improv show The Improv 5-A-Side. With their weekly special guests, C3 Something’s fun and experimental improvised acts entertain all audiences through storytelling, improv jams and sketch comedy.
Improv nights are every Sunday night at 6pm - 8pm at the Horse & Stables Pub in Lambeth North. Free to enter. Find out more here.
Photo credit: Mariana Feijó Fernandes
Bracket Racket by The Parentheticals
Once a month just up the road from the Kings Cross Station, The Parentheticals host a delightfully silly night of whimsical improv acts, Bracket Racket at The Star of Kings Pub. After a free night of improv, join in on their audience jams. Just feel like watching? Then, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!
Improv nights are on Wednesday nights once a month at 8pm at The Star of Kings near King’s Cross. Free to enter. Find out more here.
Photo Credit: Sean Toole
The Giggle Loop Show
Not only have they infiltrated the podcast scene, every month Giggle Loop runs the free improv night The Giggle Loop Show. This self-described group of ‘misfits from the world of improv’ hosts a fun and friendly show upstairs at the Wheatsheaf Pub. Anyone is welcome to come have a pint and enjoy a wonderful night of improv.
Improv nights are on Wednesday nights once a month at 8pm at The Wheatsheaf on Rathbone Place. Free to enter. Find out more here.
City Impro’s Comedy Sunday Roast
After a busy afternoon shopping at the Spitalfields Market, nothing sounds better than a delicious Sunday roast paired with an hour of witty improv. Every week over the Sunday Roast in Shoreditch, City Impro gathers together for a free evening of fun characters, dramatic scenes and crazy games with special guests.
Improv nights are every Sunday night at 7pm - 8pm at The Water Poet in Shoreditch. Free to enter. Find out more here.
Photo credit: Susanne Caro
Free Association Improv
Every week discover the joys of ‘yes and’ by watching The Free Association improv at The ARTSpace. Based on the American style of long-form improv, Free Association adds a twist to long-form improvisation regularly with their in-house teams and guests. Well known for their performance of the popular format—The Herald—nothing will stop this sharp night from staring wit in the face.
Improv nights are every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 8pm - 10.15pm at Southgate Road. Tickets are £5.50. Find out more here.
Photo credit: Andrea Lops