Inside London’s latest improv comedy hotspot – The Free Association’s new home

The Free Association, one of the UK’s leading improv comedy companies, will open a new arts venue in central London on Thursday 16 October.

The new space features a performance area, a public bar and café, and a classroom that will host The Free Association’s improv classes and courses.

Located three minutes from Southwark tube station and surrounded by the National Theatre, the Globe, and the Young and Old Vic, the 104-seat venue has been secured on a 10-year lease and is dedicated to alternative comedy with improv at its core.

Founded by Graham Dickson, the Free Association has become a training ground for performers including Ambika Mod, Phil Wang, Olga Koch and Liz Kingsman, many of whom will reunite with Dickson for the opening of the new venue tomorrow. Kingsman said of the venue: “It has been a privilege to be a part of The Free Association since they opened their doors over ten years ago. It is incredibly exciting to finally have a destination for the ever-growing improv community, and to safeguard the general public from the dangers of having improvisers on the streets.”

Bryce Dallas Howard also attended a workshop with the company while preparing to play an improv teacher in the Prime Video comedy Deep Cover.