impromptu Shakespeare
Hold onto your doublets, ruffs and trunk hose. The Bard is back! With story and verse improvised in the moment, enjoy a riotous new Shakespeare play every time – performed by Impromptu Shakespeare’s whip smart cast.
Packed with priceless wit, lyrical smarts, romance, and a dash of double-crossing, this leading ensemble do the Bard proud with a brand new one-act hit every time, inspired by audience suggestions.
Impromptu Shakespeare have been a smash hit at the Edinburgh Fringe, Bristol Shakespeare Festival, appeared on BBC Shakespeare Live, and won Best Comedy Event, Buxton Fringe 2021
22nd Nov 2025
7.30pm £15
“Shakespeare from the hip. Ingenious and very funny” Will Gompertz, BBC Arts Editor
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★★★★★ “Simply sublime... side-splittingly hilarious improvised comedy almost worthy of the bard himself” BroadwayBaby
Santa & sven
Stewart Wright with Ben Kirby
Now in a staggering 6th year, British comic actor Stewart Wright returns once more to bring the Father of Christmas to life. Experienced at entertaining all ages with his own brand of improvisation and audience interaction, it’s where theatre meets ‘An audience with’ Father Christmas. He’s reunited once again with the actor and circus artist Ben Kirby as Sven the Reindeer Handler. Guaranteed to bring a sense of fun, laughter and anticipation to all. There’ll be music, sleigh bells, new surprises and bucket loads of Christmas spirit.
They can only bring the gift of laughter, joy and bedtime ruining excitement. They will however do their best to deliver your children’s wishes on Christmas Eve....with your assistance
30th Nov 2025
2.30pm & 4pm £10
‘A funny and touching sprinkle of Christmas magic, which you’d be hard pressed not to be enchanted by, whatever your age.’
Bristol’s Best Christmas Shows, Bristol 24/7
living spit's
Beauty and the Beast
As North-Somerset based, Two-Person Comedy Theatre Companies go, Living Spit are widely known as being one of the most physically attractive to ever grace the British stage. However, in this tale as old as time, one of them will be forced to portray a hideous, foul-tempered beast. But which one will it be?
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From the creators of the Offie award-nominated Six Wives of Henry VIII, the 2024 show of the year (StageTalk) There’s Something About Typhoid Mary and the “beguiling rib-tickler” (The Times) Living Spit’s Frankenstein The Musical comes a re-worked, monstrously-musical, Disney-defying version of this classic French tale about what it means to be truly beautiful in the 18th century.
8th - 13th Dec 2025
19th, 20th, 27th, 28th Dec 2025
2nd & 3rd Jan 2026
7.30pm £15
“Living Spit’s deadpan, well-seasoned repartee pays dividends in this playfully updated version of the 18th century French fable.” The Telegraph
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“A well-loved tale, told with warm-hearted silliness and wit, gently reminding us that beauty is more than meets the eye.” Intermission
“Rollicking good fun – deserves a standing ovation every night.” Bristol 24/7
A winter's tail
The Last Baguette
Theatre Shop regulars The Last Baguette return with their much loved Christmas show.
The snow is falling and the solstice is approaching. Ratty is getting ready. She wants everything to be really rat-tastic! But will her friends make it through the snow to the winter woodland revels? Can you help them on their journey? There’ll be excitement, adventure, games, music, silliness and lots of snow!
A Winter’s Tail is a fun, relaxed play-along theatre adventure. Expect to play, move, watch and laugh. The show lasts 1 hour and is for ages 2-6 and their grown-ups. Younger and older siblings welcome!
2nd Jan 2026
10am, 11.30am & 2pm £8
Coming up in 2026...
Later life letter
Luke Wright
Later Life Letter tells the story of Luke Wright’s adoption – the life he leads, and the one he might have done.
Wright navigates his audience through a warm and honest hour of poems and stand-up with the wit, pathos, and silliness that has made him one of the most popular live poets in England.
Expect raucous laughter, tear-stained cheeks, and a little smattering of drum n bass.
24th April 2026
7.30pm £15
“A streetwise panache and a sardonic comic verve to rival Stewart Lee.”
★★★★★ Telegraph
“His poems shoot arrows through the heart, or leave you dazzled by their virtuosity”
★★★★★ List
The day i got the horn
Jacob Aldcroft
John Binjuice lived a quiet life, until everyone in his town suddenly transformed into terrifying beasts. With horns. Big, scary horns.
Now, John is the last human left. He has, so far, resisted the horn. But with the beasts smashing down the walls (of the very theatre you’re sat in), his humanity is fading… A horn never looked so good. Watch as John attempts to save ALL HUMANITY through song, dance, and running around and shouting about soup.
An riotous comedy about life after catastrophe and hope in the face of absurdity. Prepare to laugh (a lot), cry (a little), and pee (your pants).
8th May 2026
7.30pm £15
★★★★★ “Hysterically funny, feral, and full of feeling"
Broadway Baby (Edinburgh Fringe 2025 review)
“Ridiculous in the best way” ★★★★
West End Best Friend
instant wit
The Quick-Fire Comedy Improvisation Show
Instant Wit, the best in improvised comedy. Fresh and inventive, each show throws up new nuggets of hilarity crafted by a company of the highest calibre. It’s a pick-me-up tonic with unexpected twists and a dash of sauce.
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There’ll be sketches, songs and general silliness – and all of it based around audience suggestions. And if you’re too shy to shout anything out? Well don’t worry, you’ll have the chance to write things down in the interval. We’re the ones who’ll look daft, not you!
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Instant Wit – a bunch of very Unusual Suspects who are forever on the run from the Comedy Police.
16th May 2026
7.30pm £15
"These are conspicuously skilful performers - everyone is exhilarated
on stage and off!"
The Guardian
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“Instant Wit produce a show of surreal, mad-cap improvised hilarity that will leave you aching with laughter, chuckling with the stupidity of it all and, no doubt, wanting to go again.”
The Bristol Eight magazine
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Older. Bolder.
Sally-Anne Hayward
Sally has never felt more comfortable in her own skin. Especially now it’s that bit looser. This award-winning comedian tells tales of juggling lovers, dodging societal expectations and thriving without kids. Ageing isn’t a crisis – it’s an upgrade.
Sally-Anne Hayward appears as UK and international tour support for Sarah Millican. She is the winner of Best MC Comic’s Comic Award and an ARIA Nominee for Best Radio Comedy 2024.
We're thrilled to have her back at Theatre Shop after her sell-out show in 2023.
29th May 2026
7.30pm £15
‘You’ll struggle not to laugh’
British Comedy Guide.
‘Hilarious’ Chortle.
‘Exceptionally funny’ The Independent.