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The Free Association
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.
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. The FA is currently building a new venue in Southwark, London, set to open in October 2025.
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.
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.
The following shows perform regularly at The Free Association, mainly comprising graduates and current students.
The theatre also hosts ensemble shows performed by players from the House Teams. These include Jacuzii, The Ladies of FA County and Uncle Glen's Menagerie. Previous guest residencies included other London-based acts Do Not Adjust Your Stage, The Petting Zoo and Sorry. Jacuzii was performed at The Pleasance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 2015 to 2018.
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The Free Association
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.
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. The FA is currently building a new venue in Southwark, London, set to open in October 2025.
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.
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.
The following shows perform regularly at The Free Association, mainly comprising graduates and current students.
The theatre also hosts ensemble shows performed by players from the House Teams. These include Jacuzii, The Ladies of FA County and Uncle Glen's Menagerie. Previous guest residencies included other London-based acts Do Not Adjust Your Stage, The Petting Zoo and Sorry. Jacuzii was performed at The Pleasance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 2015 to 2018.