Improv troupe ComedySportz marks its quarter-century

It was intended to be a one-off charity gig, but this month, Northern improv outfit ComedySportz is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Organiser Brainne Edge, who also performs in the show, started the good-natured competitive games as an off-shoot of Chorley’s youth theatre, originally as a special for Children In Need.

‘When we started, we had no idea we'd still be doing this,’ she said. ‘Back in 2001 there wasn't really any improv comedy outside of London, now there is a thriving scene across the country.’

Her firm, The Totally Improvised Company,  also runs the Greater Manchester Improv Festival showcasing local and international talent.

‘In a world of social media and AI, people are seeking out live experiences that are unique, in the moment, centre human creativity and more importantly, are just a lot of fun,’ she said. 

‘The last 25 years have been an amazing journey. We've performed on stages across the country from the grand to the strange and unusual. 

‘We've performed on massive stages, in abandoned shops, people's living rooms and even a shed. We've done massive festivals and residencies at major comedy clubs. We did hundreds of online shows during the pandemic. We've done weddings, bar mitzvahs and birthdays. We haven't done any funerals yet but would give it a go.’

They have even performed for royalty, as Prince Edward, patron of the Edinburgh International Festival, came to see the show with his family a few years ago. ‘They loved it, especially one scene that ended up being a three-minute fart gag,’ says Edge, pictured above.

The family-friendly ComedySportz started in the US in 1984, and has more than 20 local versions in America – but this is the only regular international iteration. 

Edge says one of the favourite games is called Object Tag, where the audience leaves random items on the stage that the cast will use as props. ‘We've had everything from someone's spare tyre, a child's scooter and even a microwave,’ she said – raising questions about just what people are carrying with them to gigs.

The team are celebrating their anniversary with a show at Chorley Theatre on Saturday November  21, that sees original cast members take on the newer generation of comic minds - some of whom weren't even born when the show began.  Tickets.

Published: 12 Nov 2026