The Nursery Theatre

Founding (2009)

Jules Munns, Judith Amsenga, Heather Urquhart, and Robin Steegman founded The Nursery Theatre in 2009 as a UK arts educational charity. Munns had trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and was also associated with The Maydays Brighton. Amsenga trained at LAMDA from 2005. The early company operated from a leaky railway arch, then through temporary office units and other transient spaces.

Slapdash International Improv Festival

From 2010, The Nursery co-runs the Slapdash International Improv Festival, which launched at the Old Vic Tunnels and has become London's longest-running improv festival.

Broadgate Theatre

The Nursery opened The Nursery Theatre Broadgate at 2 Finsbury Avenue (via Whitecross Place), London EC2M 2PP, in collaboration with British Land, Broadgate Estates, and Theatre Delicatessen. When British Land offered the space, founders Munns, Amsenga, and Urquhart pursued it as a permanent home after years of transient existence.

Notable Members

Heather Urquhart is also a performer with Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, the Olivier Award-winning company. Jules Munns served as Artistic Director of The Nursery until May 2020 and has cross-pollinated extensively with The Maydays and other UK companies.

The Nursery Theatre is London's long-form improv charity, founded in 2009 and co-producing Slapdash International (London's longest-running improv festival) from its Broadgate home near Liverpool Street.