The Comedy Store Players is a group of improvisational comedians known for their performances at The Comedy Store in London.
Performing since 27 October 1985, members of the group have included Dave Cohen, Jeremy Hardy, Kit Hollerbach, Josie Lawrence, Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Mike Myers, Lee Simpson, Andy Smart, Jim Sweeney, Sandi Toksvig, and Richard Vranch. Guest performers have included Niall Ashdown, Rory Bremner, Julian Clary, Debi Durst, Stephen Frost, Eddie Izzard, Mike McShane, Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops, Caroline Quentin, Tony Slattery, Arthur Smith, and Steve Steen. Other guests include Ruth Bratt, Pippa Evans, and Dan Patterson. They are in the Guinness World Records for being the world’s longest-running comedy show with the same cast.[1]
The Players perform twice a week, usually with six performers. Shows start at 8pm on Wednesdays and 7.30pm on Sundays and typically run two hours playing six or seven games.
Typical games:
- "Die" - in which each performer takes turn to tell a story, with the audience shouting "Die" when one makes a mistake
- "Freeze Tag" - two performers start in positions suggested by the audience, and act out sketches. The other performers will 'tag' someone to take their position and start a new sketch
- "Guess the Job" - A Player leaves the room while an outrageous job is concocted. When he re-enters, he has to guess the job based on clues dropped into the sketch
- "Translation" - Specialist lecture from a foreign expert who doesn't speak English, so another Player translates for him
- "Film and Theatre Styles" - Two people perform in different film and theatre styles
- "Musical" - A story told with song, with the Players often playing several characters
- "Emotions" - Two performers act out a sketch changing based on different emotions suggested by the audience
- "The Three-Headed Expert" - An interview between one person and an expert played by three people