Between 2001 and 2005, David Reed  performed with Edinburgh based improv troupe The Improverts, where he met fellow performers Humphrey Ker and Thom Tuck. In 2006 they formed The Penny Dreadfuls sketch group, who performed regularly on the Fringe and recorded the BBC Radio 7 series The Brothers Faversham, which was repeated on Radio 4, and the two Radio 4 afternoon plays Guy  and Revolution.

In 2011 he made his solo Edinburgh festival debut with the show Shamblehouse. He is also the drummer for Karaoke Circus, a show where comedians perform songs with an accompanying live band