The Comedy Store Players
Show type: Misc live shows
Founded in 1985, Britain’s leading improv troupe performs at the Comedy Store every Sunday night, with a core team that comprises Neil Mullarkey, Josie Lawrence, Richard Vranch, Lee Simpson and Ruth Bratt
Mullarkey was one of the founders of the trope along with Kit Hollerbach, Dave Cohen, Neil Mullarkey and future Austin Powers star Mike Myer, with Paul Merton joining within a week and Vranch, Lawrence and Simpson joining soon afterwards.
They first appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1986, and in 2010 they became Guinness Word Record holders for the world's longest running comedy show with the same core cast. They also perform in theatres and festivals, including at Shakespeare's Globe annually since 1998 and for over 20 years at Regents Park Open Air Theatre.
Guest performers have included Marcus Brigstocke, Pippa Evans, Julian Clary and Eddie Izzard.
Upcoming Dates
Date: Thu 12 Mar 2026
Venue: Lincoln Drill Hall
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 15 Mar 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Niall Ashdown, Ruth Bratt, Josie Lawrence, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sat 21 Mar 2026
Venue: Chelmsford Theatre
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 22 Mar 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Monica Gaga, Ruth Bratt, Josie Lawrence, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Thu 26 Mar 2026
Venue: Hertford Beam
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 29 Mar 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Cariad Lloyd, Rachel Parris, Josie Lawrence, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 12 Apr 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Richard Vranch, Ali James, David Reed, Monica Gaga, Ruth Bratt
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 19 Apr 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Josie Lawrence, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Ruth Bratt, Ian Coppinger
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 26 Apr 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Josie Lawrence, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Ruth Bratt, Heather Urquhart
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 3 May 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Josie Lawrence, Ruth Bratt, Cariad LLoyd
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 10 May 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Josie Lawrence, Ruth Bratt, Neil Mullarkey
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 17 May 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Josie Lawrence, Dan O’Connor, Monica Gaga
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 24 May 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Josie Lawrence, Ruth Bratt, Lauren Shearing
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Sun 31 May 2026
Venue: Comedy Store
Price: £12.75 to £24.75
Improv with Richard Vranch, Josie Lawrence, Ruth Bratt, Niall Ashdown, Marcus Brigstocke
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Date: Thu 11 Jun 2026
Venue: Bath Komedia
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Reviews
Mike Myers with the Comedy Store Players
You’d be forgiven for thinking that The Comedy Store Players are as old as London itself.
6/07/2011
Twenty-five years the Comedy Store Players have been going; and you’ll be hard-pressed to think of many credible improv groups that have sprung up in all that…
1/01/2010