New 60-seater in The City

London is to get its another fringe theatre dedicated to improv.

The 80-seat Nursery Theatre, in the heart of The City, is to open on June 1 after raising more than £6,000 for crowdfunding.

Its line-up for the first two months includes Scott Adsit, who played jaded producer Pete Hornberger on 30 Rock (pictured), an Edinburgh preview from Pippa Evans, and a class being given by US Second City improv guru David Razoswky.

The venue has been set up by a collective, also called the Nursery, that has been offering improv classes in a training centre for the past eight years. 

 Artistic director Jules Munns said: ‘The Nursery has a wonderful community of improvisers of all levels of experience and we are delighted to give them an opportunity to perform, learn and hone their craft. We are also excited to put on regular top-quality shows to attract a whole new audience. We are establishing a hub for audiences and performers alike.’

And chief operating officer Judith Amsenga added: ‘Having a theatre will allow us to make and host more shows, raising the profile of improvised theatre and comedy in London and throughout the UK. It's a huge opportunity and will be a wonderful addition to the London scene.’

The new venue, at the Theatre Delicatessen building near Liverpool Street station, is London’s second space dedicated to improv.

It follows the Free Association Comedy Room in Camden, North London – a pub theatre above the Lord Stanley, which is run by the improv troupe of the same name. The Miller pub in London Bridge also offers heavily improv-led programme, although also hosts stand-up shows.

And in March this year, the 100-seat Bristol Improv Theatre opened in the studenty Clifton area of that city, dedicated to the artform.

Here is the Nursery Theatre’s crowdfunding video:

Published: 24 May 2017