Improv

Richard improvises comedy on stage - he does not play the piano - every Sunday as one of The Comedy Store Players with Josie Lawrence, Lee Simpson, Ruth Bratt and a guest musician. Each show is different, based on suggestions from the audience. Here's a short video clip with Richard and Lee. The Players also appear at events, festivals and theatres across the UK.

Richard Vranch intro to Comedy Store Players on stage — Richard introducing the Comedy Store Players, November 2023

Neil Mullarkey, Ruth Bratt, Lee Simpson, Josie Lawrence and Richard Vranch, March 2024.

The Comedy Store Players were invited to perform at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre by artistic director Mark Rylance in 1998 and they returned annually, most recently in December 2024:

Richard Vranch on stage in front of a large audience at Shakespeare's Globe in London in 2019 — Richard on stage at Shakespeare's Globe, London, 2019

They played the Olivier stage at the National Theatre and performed annually at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. They toured India in 2004 and in 2010 they achieved the Guinness World Record for the longest running comedy show with the same cast.

Photograph of Josie Lawrence, Peter Egan and Richard Vranch performing on stage at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 1990 — Josie Lawrence and Richard Vranch with special guest Peter Egan, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, 1990

The Players featured in the STV series The Funny Farm and they won the improvised Sitcom Challenge live on ITV. Their first theatre tour was in 1992 and in 2022 they were invited to be the first performers at @sohoplace.

Comedy Store Players Kaliber No Limits Tour poster from 1992 featuring Josie Lawrence, Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Lee Simpson, Jim Sweeney and Richard Vranch

Richard featured in the 50 hour Improthon Lord of Thrones at Wilton's Music Hall, and he toured to UK theatres and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for 20 years as one of Paul Merton's Impro Chums:

Group photograph of Kirsty Newton, Mike McShane, Paul Merton, Richard Vranch and Suki Webster with a caption explaining that they are touring the UK again in 2022

In 1992 Richard improvised stories on Jackanory on BBC1 with Sylvester McCoy and Linda Bellingham.

Richard went on dozens of tours to Hong Kong and the Far East, the Middle East, Ireland and New York in Stephen Frost's Impro Allstars. They are regulars at the Astrolabe Theatre Tent at the Glastonbury Festival.

Monotone photograph of Jim Sweeny, Andy Smart, Stephen Frost, Richard Vranch and Steve Steen standing grouped together in suits, with Steve in mid-air above some phone directories — Jim Sweeney, Andy Smart, Stephen Frost, Richard Vranch and Steve Steen

Richard was a guest in the Omelette Broadcasting Company with Jim Sweeney and Steve Steen and he appeared in Micetro Impro directed live on stage by Keith Johnstone and Phelim McDermott at the Hackney Empire:

Poster for Keith Johnstone's Micetro Impro benefit night at Royal Court Theatre featuring Jonathan Pryce, Tony Slattery, Richard Vranch, Neil Mullarkey, Lee Simpson, Sarah Parkinson, Suki Webster and Stella Duffy

He was a guest improviser with Improbable Theatre for Animo, Improbable Tales and Lifegame. Richard and Leisa Rea created the children's improv show The Yarnbards for the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2022 Richard improvised in character for Private Drama Events' immersive production on board the iconic Belmond Orient Express:

Photo of Richard Vranch wearing distinguished glasses and suit, sat in a dining car on the Orient Express — Photographed by The Other Richard

Group photo of the Belmond Orient Express cast (four men, six women and Richard) dressed smartly in 1920s era clothing aboard the train — Photographed by The Other Richard

Richard improvised the music for the original British TV version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Richard Vranch

Upcoming shows

Comedy Store Players shows

Sunday Night Improv: Comedy Store Players