The Free Association, or The FA, is an improvised comedy theatre and school, based in London. It is currently among the largest providers of improvisation training in the UK.
History The Free Association was founded as a performance group in 2014 by Austentatious cast member Graham Dickson and sketch comedy duo Max and Ivan; alongside Nell Mooney, Jessica Ransom, Freya Parker and Joseph Morpurgo.
The group grew to become a theatre and school, hosted shows and classes at their main theatre above the De Beauvoir Arms in Haggerston, London and the Lord Stanley in Camden, London from 2015 to 2025. They also toured shows to Soho Theatre, Underbelly Boulevard and Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Dickson served as Artistic Director of the theatre until 2022, succeeded by Naomi Petersen until 2024. Since 2025, the theatre has been programmed by an Artistic Committee, composed of Katharine Bennett-Fox, Sam Roulston and Briony Redman.
After 11 years operating from a fringe venue in East London, The FA opened its first permanent venue in London, UK, in October 2025. The arts venue, based on Old Union Yard Arches in Southwark, South London, features a café, bar and 104-seat theatre. Opening on the 16th of October, The Free Association's venue is a home for improv and alternative comedy in the UK.
Philosophy As the UK's equivalent to American improv theatres UCB, IO and The Second City, the FA primarily performs long-form improvisation. The FA's main focus is the "game of the scene", the Harold, and narrative improvisation.
FA headline shows / house teams The following shows perform regularly at The Free Association, mainly comprising graduates and current students.
Current Headline Shows Team NameActivityCast MembersPerformanceMailbox #232026 - PresentCast: Graham Dickson, Holly Laurent, Greg Hess Previous Guests: Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Charlie Kemp, Charlotte Gittins, Patrick Nevels, Naomi Petersen, Alison Thea-Skot, David Elms, Alex HollandPremise / MonosceneThis Doesn't Leave The Room2023 - PresentCast: Graham Dickson, Alex Holland, Robert Gilbert, Naomi Petersen, Sophia Broido, Charlie Kemp, Megan McCarthy, Ishan Ganjoor, Sam Roulston, Freya Slipper, Sophia Broido, Lola-Rose Maxwell, Mariam Haque, Alexandra Smith Previous guests: Jamie Laing, Tatty Macleod, Ania Magliano, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Nic Sampson, Emma Sidi, Will Hines, Billy Merritt, Jim Woods, Paul Gorton, Phil Wang, Jessica Knappett, Steen Raskopoulos, Sophia Duker, Lara Ricote, Stuart Laws, Lorna Rose Treen, George Fouracres, Monica Heisey, Alice Snedden, Gus Khan, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Hayley Morris Amy Gledhill, Eli Matthewson, Jake Bhardwaj, Drea Valls, Sophie Garrad, Mark Bittlestone, Ed Jones, Marty Gleeson, Jiavani Linayao, D.J. Mausner, Ambika ModArmando32023 - PresentCast: Graham Dickson, Helen Duff, Rob Gilbert, Shaun Lowthian, Lola-Rose Maxwell, Scott Oswald, Naomi Petersen, Haley McGee, Jonathan Broke, Marian Haque Previous guests: Steen Raskopoulos, Oliver Chris, Ambika Mod, Kiell Smith-Bynoe , Cariad Lloyd, Anna Leong Brophy, Alfred Chow, Alice Snedden, Suzi Barrett, Casey FeighMonosceneSt Doctor's Hospital2021 - PresentKiran Benawra, Kat Bond, Ian Thomas Day, Graham Dickson, Nadège Nguyen, Patrick Dishman, Chris Gau, Shaun Lowthian, Haley McGee, Naomi Petersen, Alison Thea-Skot, Robert Gilbert, Katharine Bennett-Fox, Charlie KempNarrative666 Hell Lane2021 - PresentAlex Holland, Ishan Ganjoor, Laura Riseborough, Luke Healy, Alison Thea-Skot, Graham Dickson, Kiran Benawra, Kathryn Bond, Mariam Haque, Tamar Broadbent, Tara BolandNarrative
Weekend House Teams Team NameActivityCast MembersFormatOrganic Team (Name TBA)2026 - PresentJodie Irvine, Holly Casey, Romy Chaggar, Sara Shanazarian, Chris Lynch, Aren Devlin, Travis O'Connor, Clay BallardOrganicOrange Goose2026 - PresentSteph Farrell, Rosie Smythe, Ted Allpress, Anurag Gulati, Amy Heycock, Temi Wilkey, Will Mead, Kat FinchHaroldTOME2025 - PresentGeorge Collecott, Jack Barry, Karlie Menzel, Lorna Shaw, Anna Leong Brophy, Chris Rosser, Paul G. Raymond, Tom Gidman, Eleanor Hindson, Suchi PaulNarrative
Previous House Teams Team NameActivityCast MembersFormatHotbed2024 - 2026Miriam Craig, Eki Elaine Osewele, Kluane Saunders, Sarah Lewis, Rory Donaldson, Christoforos Epaminondas, Jarvie Ward, Sam BurkettHaroldSweetheart2024 - 2026Alistair Cohen, Hannah Pye, Nicolas Sathicq, Alex Taylor, Patrick Nevels, Alexandra Smith, Dana Birch, Betty ThompsonHaroldTriple Denim2023 - 2025Nadine Bailey, Greg Baxter, Olivia Chidera, Nathan Dean, Eliot J Fallows, Lelda Kapsis, Helen Kennedy, Imran Malik, Penn Ryan, Asmita SinghHaroldNANA2022 - 2024Aram Balakjian, Luke Brown, Ellie Fulcher, Sumina Kasuji, Muireann Kelly, Jen Littlewood, Megan McCarthy, Gareth O'Connor, Charlie Sturgeon, Ben NolanHaroldDream Phone2019 - 2022Kiran Benawra, Tom Levinge, Haley McGee, George Collecott, Jenny Donoghue, Tara Boland, Jack Barry, Phillip KosteleckyHaroldI'm Filthy - Don't Touch Me2019 - 2022Laura Riseborough, Matt Hutson, Sammy Hannah, Jay Bennett, Doug Crossley, Will Rowland, Zoe Dunn, Jamal KhandarHaroldSupreme Leader2019 - 2021Alex Bradbury, Kathryn Higgins, Nick Adamson, Flora Donald, Waleed Akhtar, Anna Carden, Victoria Beardwood, Craig MethvenHaroldThe Millicent Tendrils Experience2018 - 2021Emma Pritchard, Lottie Field, Ambika Mod, Florence Mercer, Ishan Ganjoor, Luke Healy, Dom Ashton, Dan KellyHaroldThe Fortitude2018 - 2020Nick Adamson, Simon Fazey, Rob Sladden, Deep Lidder, Liz Gutterbock, Jenny Donoghue, Kathryn Higgins, Victoria BeardwoodHaroldLong Weekend2018 - 2020Jay Bennett, Nick Elleray, Doug Crossley, Will Rowland, Liz Elms, Anna Carden, Dan Subin, Olivia FlorenceHaroldSuper Discount Party Store2017 - 2021Amy Annette, Clemence Billoud, Victoria Barry, Mathew Gundel, Ruairi McInerney, Nick Brown, Simon Feilder, Sasha BrownHaroldNight Bus2018 - 2019Freddie Sandilands, Lorna Shaw, Alex Morris, Shivani Thussu, Scott Oswald, Flora Anderson, Nicholas Everritt, Bryony ByrneHaroldFeast2017 - 2019Amanda Stauffer, Becci Ride, Kat Bond, Max Dickins, Matthew Cosgrove, Patrick Dishman, Sophie Dickson, Theo McCabeHaroldMy Brother José2016 - 2018Lorna Shaw, Scott Oswald, Tamar Broadbent, Alex Morris, Clare Couchman, Nick Everritt, Kerry Gilbert, Steve ViolichHaroldThe 8382016 - 2018Tom Levinge, Simon Lukacs, Freddie Sandilands, Ivan Gonzalez, Shivani Thussu, Clare Plested, Alison Thea-Skot, Nathalie AntoniaHarold
El Clasico Team NameEl Clasico was a show featuring the theatre's original house Harold teams. The Wilsons still play regularly in their own show, while The Cartel and Sweet FA feature occasionally.Cast MembersThe WilsonsSophia Broido, Chris Gau, Shamus Maxwell, Mariam Haque, Katharine Bennett-Fox, Ian T Day, Shaun Lowthian, Jonathan BrokeThe CartelAlex Holland, Amanda Farley, Freya Slipper, Jez Scharf, Lola-Rose Maxwell, David Elms, Charlie Kemp, Kayleigh LlewellynSweet FAGraham Dickson, Michael Orton-Toliver, Katia Kvinge, Briony Redman, Naomi Petersen, Liz Kingsman, Jim Archer, Rhys Collier
Jacuzii Teams ActivitySince 2024, Jacuzii has a core team of improvisors who are cast annually. Before, Jacuzii was an ensemble team of players around the FA.Cast Members2024Eni Oshowo, Gareth O'Connor, Chloe Godman, Flora Anderson, Josh Tyas, Lucy Gape, Rhys Collier, Ruairi McInerney, Mariam Haque, Katharine Bennett-Fox, David Martinez, Tracy Rakira 2015-2024Rolling ensemble formed of Harold team performers
Retired Headline Shows / Teams Team NameActivityCast MembersPerformanceA Scriptmas Miracle2025Cast: Sam Roulston, Katharine Bennett-Fox, Eleanor Hindson, Paul G. Raymond, George Collecott, Mariam Haque Guest Writers: Lara Ricote, Tom Levinge, David Elms, Ben Mallaby, Erika Ehler, Joe BarnesPartially scripted improv formatTragedy Plus Time2022 - 2024Cast: Simon Lukacs, Sally Hodgkiss, Sumina Kasuji, Doug Crossley, Caroline Amer, Flora Anderson, Freddie Sandilands, Ruairi McInerney Guests: Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Brendan Hunt, Marcus Brigstocke, Rufus Hound, Phil Wang, Freya Parker, Ken Cheng, Ambika Mod, Lara Ricote, Chelsea Gill, Amy Annette, Jack Barry, Lola-Rose Maxwell, Graham Dickson, Naomi Petersen, Lorna Shaw, Alison Thea-Skot, Chris Gau, Mariam Haque, Megan McCarthy, Ishan Ganjoor, Freya SlipperArmando format created by Simon LukacsTaco Cat2019 - 2024Matthew Gundel, Clemence Billoud, Sasha Brown, Nick Brown, Amy Annette, Ruairi McInerney, Vic Barry, Freddie Sandilands, Shivani Thussu, Lorna Shaw, Alex Morris, Nick Everett, Bryony Byrne, Flora Anderson, Scott Oswald, Sam Roulston, Robert Gilbert, Jen Tyler, Britt Pay, Kiran BenawraPalindrome format created by cast members of Super Discount Party Store and Night BusWinner2023Greg Baxter, Katharine Bennett-Fox, Alex Berr, Michelle Fahrenheim, Sumina Kasuji, Shaun Lowthian, Sam Roulston, Anand Sankar, Charlie SturgeonSports Biopic Narrative Format created by Shaun LowthianEpisodes2022 - 2023Lola-Rose Maxwell, Jono Selvadurai, Tamar Broadbent, Doug Crossley, Charlie Kemp, Shaun Lowthian, Scott Oswald, Laura Riseborough, Patrick DishmanTV show narrative format created by Charlie KempSliding Lives2022Hosts: Laura Riseborough, Tara Bolland Cast: Tara Bolland, Luke Healy, Alex Holland, Jonathan Broke, George Collecott, Eni Oshowo, Shivani Thussu, Helen Duff, Flora Anderson, Naomi Petersen
Guests: Ken Cheng, Kayleigh Llewellyn, Andrew Hunter Murray, Mae Martin, Oliver Chris, Rose Matafeo, Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Jack Barry, Fran Bushe, Miranda Keeling, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Mobeen Azhar, Clive AndersonTalk show inspired Narrative format created by Tara BolandStarry Starry Eyes2020 - 2023Hosts: Jonathan Broke, Freddie Sadilands Music: Dylan Townley Cast: Naomi Petersen, Alex Morris, Liz Gutterbock, Jay Bennett, Jonathan Broke, Emma Pritchard, Gareth O'Connor, Tamar Broadbent, Freddie Sadilands, Amy Annette, Joe LeatherTalent Show format created by Ryan Dench and Naomi PetersenMinority Report2019 - 2023Ishan Ganjoor, Bruce Tang, Eni Oshowo, Jono Selvadurai, Alice Varma, Kiran Benawra, Hana White, Amille Jampa-Ngoen, Anis Qizilbash, Aram Balakjian, Nadège Nguyen, Evelyn Mok, Dev Donovan, Ambika Mod, Sumina Kasuji, Li Sa, Jeff KhanTeam composed of players from ethnic minority backgroundsI'm Not Here To Make Friends2019 - 2022Charlie Kemp, Alison Thea-Skot, Jack Barry, Ruairi McInerney, Ambika Mod, Lorna Shaw, Doug Crossley, Naomi Petersen, Jenny Donoghue, Scott Oswald, Graham Dickson, Lucy GapeNarrative format created by Jenny DonoghueThe Nearly News Show2019 - 2022Dominic Ashton, Mariam Haque, Alex Holland. Lola-Rose Maxwell, Max Dickins, Jonathan Broke. Florence Mercer, Nick Adamson, Naomi Petersen, Laura RiseboroughOriginal format created by Jonny CollisThe Present Company2019 - 2021Olivia Awuor, Katie Davison, Chloe Godman, Liz Guterbock, Ben Hadley, Lora Hristova, Jed Kass, Kaarina Kendall, Deep Lidder, Jack Morris, Jess Napier, Ben Nolan, Gareth O'Connor, Chris Ryan, Rob Sladden, Laurie Stevens, Felix Trench, Hana WhiteConservatory show performing range of formatsThe Badge2019 - 2020Graham Dickson, Ian Thomas Day, Naomi Petersen, Alison Thea Skot, Victoria Barry, Nick Everritt, Nick Adamson, Chris Gau, Shaun Lowthian, Freya SlipperNarrative show created by Ian T Day, Chris Gau & Shaun Lowthian
Cage Match +2025 Winner: ScampsHeat 1StellaCold Cuts (WINNER)The DishHeat 2Scamps (WINNER)HeatwaveNANAHeat 3TBC (WINNER)Plinky PlonkMax & Naomi are MarriedHeat 4Happy Clappers (WINNER)Summer CampFluffSemi Finals 1Cold CutsScamps (WINNER)Semi Finals 2TBCHappy Clappers (WINNER)FinalsHappy ClappersScamps (WINNER)2024 Winner: The EnsembleHeat 1MichelleNANAKarlie & Tom (WINNER)Heat 2The GatekeepersThe Ensemble (WINNER)Good JobHeat 3LooProv (WINNER)BirthstoneSummer CampHeat 4HoofPlinky Plonk (WINNER)Love FactuallySemi Finals 1Karlie & Tom (WINNER)Plinky PlonkSemi Finals 2LooProvThe Ensemble (WINNER)FinalsKarlie & TomThe Ensemble (WINNER)2023 Winner: GroundhogHeat 1Groundhog (WINNER)Minority ReportParty BargeHeat 2The Homunculus