The London 50-Hour Improvathon is an annual event, loved by improvisers and improv fans globally. The event takes place over a weekend and is a fifty-hour marathon with twelve of this year’s group of improvisers taking on the full fifty hours. For those history lovers among us, the Improvathon began as a Soap-a-thon, which was a fundraising event in Canada in 1993, with Teatro la Quindicina, Shadow Theatre, and the improvisational theatre group, Die-Nasty, set out on a rescue mission to save (what would become the Varscona Theatre in Edmonton), from becoming a restaurant. The Improvathon’s journey to London began in 2005, when Ken Campbell was touring in Canada, and began sending his own actors over to Canada to join in. From there, in 2008 the first fifty-hour Improvathon took place, directed by Die Nasty’s Dana Anderson, ‘Casino Oui Oui’ took to the stage at Bethnal Green.
The Improvathon has been an annual event ever since, only halted by the pandemic, but its resurgence was welcomed by the improv community, both on and off stage.This year’s theme was set in the 1980’s in a small town called Pleasanceville. With a set designed by Alex Marker, and a very strong ‘Stranger Things’ vibe there was a strange research lab in the woods; a diner that served thick and thin coffee; portals that took you ‘Back To The Future’ or into ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ territory; a library with a restricted section, and a Police department that could not solve crime! Strap yourself in, there is lots to talk about!
Before I continue, I will just point out that I did not see the whole fifty hours, I managed thirty-four hours, so I have a good grounding for discussing the Improvathon as a whole. I think that the first question to answer here is – did this marathon do what it promised to do, to build on themes that were pre-determined successfully? A resounding – yes! The beauty of having the time to explore not one, but several themes, is that you have the opportunity to open up the space and to fully explore the characters, their lives, thoughts, and emotions. We must remember that this is a comedy, but it had its fair share of drama, the Dungeons & Dragons theme was a raging success, I have to admit to knowing nothing at all about Dungeons & Dragons when I went into ‘the Improvathon zone’, but now I want to know how to play, so that I can teach my grandkids! All credit to Mark Meer, he did an excellent job as Dungeon Master, and the members of Microsoft Teams, you fought hard, and poor Alan Cox gave a little more than maybe he wished to! The ‘diner’ is an American institution, and Ruth Bratt’s Sugar Butter Flour and Alan Cox’s Mitch Drifter ensured that everyone got a thick or thin coffee and pie, and a good dose of advice or friendly banter, oh, and it had a portal covered in wallpaper, which came in particularly useful later in the show. The library made me immediately think of Ghostbusters, and of course Harry Potter, but this was much later in 2001. The drama of the restricted section was of course lifted from Harry Potter, but having this intrigue in the library created some magic as in the 1980’s we did not have mobile phones or kindles, so books were a ‘go to’ for teenagers. The Stranger Things theme was carried excellently by Oliver Senton as Dr Berner (probably an incorrect spelling), and the children played by Nell Mooney – 0, Kimane Junaeu – 1, Charlotte Clitherow – 3, Bryony Redman – 4, and Chris Mead – 5, (sorry, I must have been on a break for 2). The children’s journey of discovery to find out who they are provided on ongoing story arc which added new twists and turns along the way. There are too many characters to mention, but special shout outs whom I have not mentioned already should go to, Dylan Emery and Justin Brett as the bungling cops Deputy Frank Goodness and Sheriff Chester Drawers, Doc played by Adam Meggido, John Oakes as Skip Intro, Belinda Cornish as Tomasina Piglet, Safia Lamrani as Hells Kreig, Seamus Allen as Peter Jordansen, Talia Pick as Socrates Drawers, and Andrew Gentilli as farmer Bobby Lee Bubbles.
The excellent producing team Ali James and Dylan Emery assumed the mantal this year, and what an incredible job they did. Each scene flowed, the music was fabulous, and the Ghostbusters theme especially, was a rousing introduction to reinvigorate some very tired people. The band did a tremendous job, huge respect to Nathan Gregory who led the beat for the whole fifty hours, and he was joined by multi-tasker Dylan Emery, Chris Ash, Duncan Walsh Atkins, Jordan Paul Clarke, and Su Yeon Kim. Assisting directors Ali James and Adam Meggido, was Su Young Shon, whom I believe also completed the full fifty hours.
This was my fourth London 50-Hour Improvathon, and the third one doing my own blog-a-thon, and I can still not get used to the extraordinary skills that I witness from the stella cast. They are truly remarkable, and it is hats off to the organising ability of the producing team that pulled all of this together. The team spirit, thirst for adventure, and true respect and care for each other is demonstrated throughout the whole event, and it is heart-warming to be a witness to this. A truly tiring, yet invigorating weekend full of incredibly special moments. Let us cross our fingers that next year The London 50-Hour Improvathon rides again with a new theme. I only have one thing to say – BE THERE!
Reviewed: 27th February-1st March 2026
Theatre Muse UK Rating: *****
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