London Improv Theatre is a dedicated improv venue in West Hampstead founded in 2016 by Jake Lyons, a director, playwright, and actor. Lyons established the venue in response to a perceived shortage of dedicated short-form improv spaces in London, focusing on audience-accessible formats in the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. The venue hosts 3-4 shows per week at 104 Finchley Road, West Hampstead.
History
Founding (2016)
Jake Lyons founded London Improv Theatre in 2016 at 104 Finchley Road, West Hampstead, NW3 5JJ. Lyons had noted a lack of venues for improv in the audience-friendly, game-based style associated with the television show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and set up the venue to fill that gap.
Programming
The venue hosts 3-4 shows per week including a monthly Props and Costume Show. Lyons runs Saturday beginners drop-in sessions (capped at 12 participants) and Wednesday scene-work classes.
Whose Line Connections
In 2017 the venue hosted Slattery Night Fever, welcoming back Tony Slattery, an original cast member of the UK version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, following his 2017 Edinburgh Fringe return.
Artistic Identity
London Improv Theatre is a dedicated short-form improv venue in West Hampstead, founded in 2016 by Jake Lyons to bring audience-accessible Whose Line-style improv to a part of London underserved for live comedy.
Key Events
London Improv Theatre Founded in West Hampstead
Jake Lyons founded London Improv Theatre in 2016 at 104 Finchley Road, West Hampstead, establishing a dedicated short-form improv venue in the area.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). London Improv Theatre. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/london-improv-theatre
The Improv Archive. "London Improv Theatre." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/london-improv-theatre.
The Improv Archive. "London Improv Theatre." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/london-improv-theatre. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.