TBC Improv is Edinburgh's primary improv organisation, founded in December 2009 by Lauren Berning, Fernando Fresquez, and Sacha Timaeus after the three arrived in the city and found almost no existing improv scene. The company opened a pop-up theatre venue in 2015 and has since established international branches in Hong Kong (2014) and Barcelona (2023).
History
Founding (December 2009)
Lauren Berning, Fernando Fresquez, and Sacha Timaeus each arrived in Edinburgh in the latter half of 2009 and, finding little existing improv community, founded TBC Improv with their first show at the Pleasance Cabaret Bar on December 10, 2009. The show used a competition-style format with workshop members as performers.
Pop-Up Theatre (2015)
In March 2015, TBC Improv opened a pop-up theatre venue at The Tron Tavern in Edinburgh. The following year the venue moved to Monkey Barrel Comedy. The pop-up theatre operated until 2019.
International Expansion
In 2014, founder Lauren Berning established TBC Improv HK in Hong Kong. In 2023, the company established TBC Improv Spain in Barcelona, making TBC one of the few UK improv organisations to successfully operate across multiple international cities.
Artistic Identity
TBC Improv is Edinburgh's foundational improv organisation, built from scratch in 2009 by three arrivals to the city and now operating internationally in Hong Kong and Barcelona.
Key Events
TBC Improv Founded in Edinburgh
Lauren Berning, Fernando Fresquez, and Sacha Timaeus founded TBC Improv with their first show at the Pleasance Cabaret Bar on December 10, 2009, establishing Edinburgh's first dedicated improv organisation.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). TBC Improv. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/tbc-improv
The Improv Archive. "TBC Improv." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/tbc-improv.
The Improv Archive. "TBC Improv." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/tbc-improv. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.