The Greater Manchester Improv Festival returns 5th-7th June 2026! Three days of shows, workshops and laughter at The Kings Arms, Salford, showcasing some of the best in improv comedy and theatre from Greater Manchester and beyond... There are TWENTY shows this year, covering a wide range of styles and formats from improvised musicals to chat shows. All shows and workshops are ticketed at JUST £5 - the full line-up is available below!
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Join us for the festival launch party jam on Wednesday 3rd June at The English Lounge, NQ from 7.30pm! FREE ENTRY!
Barnish and Carmichael: No Idea | 6pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Barnish & Carmichael take a one-word suggestion from the audience and improvise a longform story where the two performers play all the characters!
Stupid | 7pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Stupid is a chaotic two-prov joyride. Inspired by UCB Game style and the anarchic DNA of Reeves & Mortimer and Mayall & Edmondson.
Blink And You'll Miss It | 8pm | Studio Space | TICKETS
A solo improv comedy show for people with very short attention spans. Important show info here.
Instant Noodling | 8.15pm | Main Space | TICKETS
An Asian-western relationship-driven improv duo exploring emotion and silliness. A bit salty. A bit spicy. The noodling may be instant but the improv is long-form.
Drunk Classics Present: Sense and Sensibility | 9.15pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Austen’s tale of restraint versus abandon performed with a drunken twist based on audience suggestions. An improvised musical drinking game!
The Art of The Improvised Monologue with Shaun Landry | 1.30pm | Studio Space | TICKETS
WORKSHOP. From real life to Beat and Character Monologues and all in between. Shaun Landry gives you a toolbox to present an improvised monologue, whether it's comedic or dramatic, or to open that Short Form/Long Form performance.
Intro To Game Of The Scene with Kate McCabe | 1.30pm | Main Space | TICKETS
WORKSHOP. What even is GAME OF THE SCENE? How does this differ from plot/narrative style? How is it different than short form games? What do we do once we FIND the game? All these questions and more will be addressed in this fun and friendly workshop!
Real and Present Theatre | 4pm | Main Space | TICKETS
We take your stories & improvise them back. You’ll laugh and/or cry. You’ll feel celebrated. Not for the faint-hearted... It's powerful!
Party Time | 4.50pm | Studio Space | TICKETS
Jen Clarke and Kamal Arafa explore stories based on your suggested party themes. Get ready for big characters, surreal stories and party bags of funny.
Improvable | 5.40pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Ludicrous games, ridiculous scenes and everything in between! Expect a fast-paced evening of big characters, silly games and chaotic spontaneity. Improvable? Maybe. Funny? Definitely!
Shakespeare On The Spot | 6.15pm | Studio Space | TICKETS
This solo show uses audience suggestions to improvise new iambic speeches and dialogues by some of Shakespeare's most famous characters. It could get silly.
ComedySportz | 7pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Two teams. One Winner. No script. Two teams go for gold with quick-witted gags and games. Who wins? You decide!
Vermont Avenue: An improvised Billy Wilder Sunset Blvd | 8pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Landry & Summers takes you back to the early sixties with this improvised Billy Wilder's Sunset Blvd. A hilarious and dark show. Costumes by Edith Head.
Casino Improv: The Invocation | 9.10pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Inspired by Inside No.9 and The Twilight Zone, THE INVOCATION is an improvised anthology of comedy horror so chilling even Cthulhu would catch a cold.
Improv On Demand | 10.20pm | Main Space | TICKETS
TV-themed improv comedy from the Manchester-based short form collective in its eighth year. Now with new programming!
How To Improvise Any Genre (But Specifically Horror) | 1.30pm | Studio Space | TICKETS
WORKSHOP. This workshop explores the structures behind every genre, breaking them down into a “cheatsheet” any improviser can work with to effortlessly improvise characters and stories in any story.
Intro To Improvised Songs with Stephanie McCullough | 1.30pm | Main Space | TICKETS
WORKSHOP. This workshop will introduce you to improvised songs and singing games, identifying simple structures to give you the confidence to create funny, emotive and catchy songs.
Davenham Theatre: Improv Joy | 4pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Joyful scenes, made up entirely on the spot based on your suggestions.
No Notes Improv | 4.45pm | Main Space | TICKETS
We start by getting a word, then tell true anecdotes inspired by that word, and we'll use those to inspire three storylines of hilarious shenanigans.
Wet Skeleton | 5.45pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Wet Skeleton is one performer, zero script, and infinite possibilities. Watch as her 206 soggy (and slightly wonky) bones become all manner of characters from the familiar to the downright bizarre.
Babble with Drabble | 6.45pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Join curious chat show host Cynthia Drabble in a warm and witty babble with the audience about their specialist subjects - the quirky, geeky or downright daft!
My That Improv | 7.40pm | Studio Space | TICKETS
My! That Improv! specialises in making the surreal real, give us your suggestions, and watch us make a play from scratch.
Mouse-Trapped | 8.20pm | Main Space | TICKETS
Embark on an adventure inside the world of the audience's favourite board game. Discover the occupants, explore the uncharted territory, and overcome challenges along the way.
The Totally Improvised Musical | 9pm | Main Space | TICKETS
It's always opening night for this cast as they compose brand-new comedy musicals. That's right, the story, songs, characters and "choregraphy" all come from your title suggestions!
