Maidstone's Home of
Improv Comedy

Funny things happen when you say yes.

50+
Community Members
3
Years Running
52
Drop-in Nights a Year
2023
Established
✦ ✦ ✦

About County Town Improv

What began as a Wednesday night drop-in has grown into one of Kent's most vibrant comedy communities. Whether you've never stepped on a stage or you've been performing for years, there's a place for you here.

Improv is not just about comedy — many people use it to help with anxiety, or fear of public speaking. Talk to us today about how improv can help you in your life.

🎭
Wednesday Drop-Ins
Every Week

No experience required! Show up, warm up, play. Perfect for beginners and seasoned improvisers.

📅
Improv Shows
Live Performance

Join us for our regular shows at Craft Brewed and across town. Each show is completely different and totally unscripted!

🌟
Maidstone Improv Festival
Annual Event

Launched in 2024, County Town Improv puts on the Maidstone Improv Festival every September, bringing quality local and professional improv to our County Town.

Annual Event · Maidstone, Kent

The Maidstone Improv Festival

Four days. Dozens of performers. One unforgettable weekend of entirely made-up comedy. The Maidstone Improv Festival returns — get your tickets before they sell out.

Festival Tickets

Ready to Get on Stage?

From your first Wednesday drop-in to your first full course — the stage is waiting.

Classes & Courses

Drop in whenever you fancy, or commit to an 8-week journey. All levels welcome — no experience necessary.

Drop-In Classes

🎭
Wednesday Drop-In
All Levels Welcome
£7 per session
  • Wednesday 3rd June, 8pm–10pm
  • Craft Brewed, 9 Market Buildings, Maidstone
  • No experience needed — all levels welcome
  • Booking required via the button below
🎭
Wednesday Drop-In
All Levels Welcome
£7 per session
  • Wednesday 10th June, 8pm–10pm
  • Craft Brewed, 9 Market Buildings, Maidstone
  • No experience needed — all levels welcome
  • Booking required via the button below
🎭
Wednesday Drop-In
All Levels Welcome
£7 per session
  • Wednesday 17th June, 8pm–10pm
  • Craft Brewed, 9 Market Buildings, Maidstone
  • No experience needed — all levels welcome
  • Booking required via the button below
🎭
Wednesday Drop-In
All Levels Welcome
£7 per session
  • Wednesday 24th June, 8pm–10pm
  • Craft Brewed, 9 Market Buildings, Maidstone
  • No experience needed — all levels welcome
  • Booking required via the button below
💡
What to Expect

A friendly, low-stakes environment where the only rule is 'yes, and.' You'll play games, make scenes, and leave with aching cheeks from laughing.

  • Warm-up games and exercises
  • Short-form improv scenes
  • Experienced facilitators
  • Friendly community atmosphere
  • Post-session social optional
  • Booking required in advance

8-Week Courses

[DESCRIPTION — e.g. "Want to go deeper? Our structured 8-week courses take you from the fundamentals of improv to full scenes and performance-ready skills."]

🌱
Beginners Course
8 Weeks
TBC full course
  • Next cohort: September 2026
  • Ideal for complete newcomers
  • Learn the foundations of improv
  • Ends with a showcase performance
Watch This Space ✦
🔥
Returners Course
8 Weeks
£110 full course
  • 11th May – 29th June (excl. bank holidays)
  • Craft Brewed, 9 Market Buildings, Maidstone
  • For those who have completed our Beginners Course or with some improv experience
  • Showcase performance for friends & family at Craft Brewed — 3rd July 2026
Find Out More →

Get in Touch

Not sure which class is right for you, or have a question before booking? Drop us a message and we'll come back to you.

By submitting you agree to us contacting you about your enquiry. We don't share your details with third parties.

Beginners Course

Eight weeks. No experience needed. You'll be amazed at what you can do by the end.

Is This For Me?

Absolutely — if you've never done improv before, this is exactly where you start. No acting experience, no comedy background, no confidence required. Just a willingness to show up and play.

Over eight weeks we'll take you from the very foundations — the rules of improv, how to listen, how to support your scene partner — all the way through to performing in a real showcase in front of a real audience.

Course Details

  • 📅 [DATES — e.g. Starting September 2025]
  • 🕗 [DAY & TIME — e.g. Wednesdays, 7:30–9:30pm]
  • 📍 Craft Brewed, 9 Market Buildings, Maidstone
  • 💷 £[PRICE] for the full 8-week course
  • 🎭 Ends with a live showcase performance

What You'll Cover

👂
Week 1–2: Listen & Accept

The two most important skills in improv — and in life. We start with games and exercises that teach you to truly hear your scene partner and say yes to whatever they offer.

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Week 3–4: Yes, And

The golden rule of improv. You'll learn to build on offers, keep scenes moving forward, and discover how much further a scene goes when you stop blocking and start adding.

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Week 5–6: Characters & Scenes

We move into scene work — who are you, where are you, what's your relationship? You'll create characters from scratch and explore how they come alive in the moment.

🌟
Week 7–8: Performance Prep & Showcase

You'll put it all together and perform a real show for a real audience. This is the bit people are most nervous about — and the bit they're most proud of afterwards.

Ready to Begin?

Secure your place on the next cohort below — spaces are limited.

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Intermediate Course

You know the basics. Now let's go deeper — into characters, long-form, and the kind of scenes that leave audiences speechless.

Is This For Me?

If you've completed our Beginners Course, attended drop-ins for a while, or have some improv experience elsewhere, the Returners Course is your next step. We assume you know the fundamentals — this is where things get interesting.

Over eight weeks you'll develop richer characters, explore long-form formats, and work on the kind of nuanced scene work that separates good improvisers from great ones. You'll finish with a full showcase performance.

Course Details

  • 📅 [DATES — e.g. Starting October 2025]
  • 🕗 [DAY & TIME — e.g. Wednesdays, 7:30–9:30pm]
  • 📍 Craft Brewed, 9 Market Buildings, Maidstone
  • 💷 £[PRICE] for the full 8-week course
  • 🎭 Ends with a live showcase performance

What You'll Cover

🎭
Week 1–2: Character Depth

Move beyond stock characters into fully realised people. We'll explore physicality, status, voice, and the psychology of character — how your person thinks, not just how they speak.

🔗
Week 3–4: Scene Mechanics

The anatomy of a great scene — game of the scene, emotional truth, subtext, and how to find and heighten what's really interesting rather than just what's obvious.

🌊
Week 5–6: Long-Form

Short-form is where most improvisers start — long-form is where they grow. We'll introduce formats that allow for narrative, recurring characters, and scenes that breathe and evolve.

🌟
Week 7–8: Performance Prep & Showcase

A full showcase performance in front of a live audience, drawing on everything you've developed across the course. This is the one that changes how you see yourself as a performer.

Ready to Level Up?

Secure your place on the next cohort — spaces fill quickly.

Shows

Completely unscripted. Entirely unrepeatable. Come and see what happens when talented improvisers meet your suggestions.

Upcoming Shows

MAY
1
2026

Instacomedy at the Maidstone Fringe

Craft Brewed, 9 Market Buildings, Maidstone · 8pm · £7

Monthly Show
Tickets
MAY
3
2026

Improv Brunch at the Maidstone Fringe

Craft Brewed, Market Buildings, Maidstone · 11am · £12

Special Event
Tickets

Secure Your Seats

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Maidstone, Kent · Annual

Maidstone Improv Festival

Four days. Dozens of performers. One unforgettable weekend of entirely made-up comedy. The Maidstone Improv Festival returns — get your tickets before they sell out.

[#]
Performing Groups
[#]
Days of Shows
[#]
Venues
Visit Festival Website

What's On

Drop-ins every Wednesday. Monthly shows. Courses and special events. There's always something happening.

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Live from Google Calendar · All times UK local

Upcoming Events

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Hire County Town Improv

Corporate workshops. Charity events. Private shows. We bring the spontaneity — you bring the audience.

What We Offer

🏢

Corporate Workshops

Our corporate improv workshops turn hesitation into confidence. Expect sharper communication, stronger team bonds, and the kind of genuine laughter that makes people actually want to collaborate.

Find Out More →
❤️

Charity Gigs

Raising money for a good cause? We love supporting charities with fundraiser performances and are happy to discuss rates and arrangements for the right event.

Find Out More →
🎉

Private Shows

Birthday. Wedding. Retirement. Leaving do. You name the occasion and we'll improvise an unforgettable show around your crowd. No two shows are ever the same.

Find Out More →
🎓

Education & Youth

We work with schools, youth groups, and colleges to deliver improv programmes that build confidence, public speaking, and social skills in young people.

Find Out More →

Send Us an Enquiry

Fill in the form below and we'll come back to you within [X] working days.

By submitting you agree to us contacting you about your enquiry. We don't share your details with third parties.

Corporate Workshops

Improv isn't just comedy — it's one of the most effective tools for building the skills your team uses every single day.

Why Improv?

Our corporate improv workshops turn hesitation into confidence. Expect sharper communication, stronger team bonds, and the kind of genuine laughter that makes people actually want to collaborate.

Improv teaches the same skills that make great colleagues: active listening, adaptability, trust, and the ability to think clearly under pressure. We just happen to make it ridiculously fun.

What to Expect

  • ✦ Half-day and full-day formats available
  • ✦ Tailored to your team size and goals
  • ✦ No performance experience needed
  • ✦ Delivered at your venue or ours
  • ✦ Post-workshop debrief included

Skills Your Team Will Build

🗣️
Communication

Improv demands real listening — not just waiting for your turn to speak. Teams leave with a renewed ability to hear each other and respond thoughtfully.

⚡
Adaptability

Things change fast. Improv trains people to stay grounded, pivot quickly, and find opportunity in the unexpected rather than freezing up.

🤝
Trust & Collaboration

You can't improvise alone. The games and exercises we use are designed to build genuine psychological safety and make collaboration feel natural.

💡
Creative Thinking

Improv breaks the habit of self-editing before you've even had an idea. Teams come away more willing to contribute, experiment, and back each other's instincts.

Ready to Book?

Get in touch and we'll put together a proposal tailored to your team.

Charity Gigs

Comedy with a cause. We're proud to support the charitable work happening in our community.

How It Works

Raising money for a good cause? We love supporting charities with fundraiser performances and are happy to discuss rates and arrangements for the right event. Every charity gig we do is a chance to bring people together, create something joyful, and raise real money for causes that matter.

We work with you to create a show format that fits your event — whether that's a standalone performance, a warm-up act, or an interactive experience for your supporters.

🎟️
Fundraiser Shows

We perform a full improv show as part of your fundraising event. Ticket sales, raffle integration, and audience participation all welcome. We'll help make the night one your supporters won't forget.

🎪
Event Entertainment

Need something to warm up a crowd or fill a slot in your charity evening? We can provide a tailored short set that energises the room and gets people in a generous mood.

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Bespoke Formats

We're flexible. If you have a specific vision for how improv could feature in your charity event, talk to us — we love a creative challenge and will find a way to make it work.

Get in Touch

Tell us about your cause and your event and we'll take it from there.

Private Shows

The perfect entertainment for any occasion — and guaranteed to be like nothing your guests have seen before.

Your Night, Unrepeatable

Birthday. Wedding. Retirement. Leaving do. You name the occasion and we'll improvise an unforgettable show around your crowd. No two shows are ever the same — and that's exactly the point.

We take suggestions from your guests, weave in details about the person you're celebrating, and create something genuinely personal. People will be quoting it for years.

Perfect For

🎂
Birthday Parties

Give the guest of honour a show built around them — their quirks, their stories, their people. A birthday gift that can't be bought in a shop.

💍
Weddings

An improv show makes for a truly unique wedding entertainment slot — whether it's the evening reception, a pre-dinner warm-up, or a late-night surprise for the couple.

🥂
Leaving Dos & Retirements

Send someone off in style with a show that celebrates who they are and what they've meant to the people around them. Warm, funny, and completely bespoke.

🎊
Any Celebration

If there are people you want to entertain, we can make it work. We've performed in pubs, function rooms, gardens, and living rooms. Just ask.

Book Your Show

Tell us the occasion, the date, and roughly how many guests — we'll do the rest.

Education & Youth

Giving young people the tools to speak up, stand tall, and think on their feet — through the power of play.

Why Improv for Young People?

We work with schools, youth groups, and colleges to deliver improv programmes that build confidence, public speaking, and social skills in young people.

Improv meets young people where they are. It's active, collaborative, and low-stakes — which means even the shyest students find themselves surprised by what they're capable of.

What We Offer

  • ✦ One-off workshops and multi-session programmes
  • ✦ Suitable for ages [X] and up
  • ✦ Delivered in schools, youth clubs, and community spaces
  • ✦ Aligned to PSHE and communication curriculum goals
  • ✦ All facilitators DBS checked

Skills Young People Build

🎤
Public Speaking

Improv removes the fear of saying the wrong thing. Students learn to speak clearly and confidently in front of others — because the whole point is that there is no wrong answer.

🧠
Quick Thinking

The fast-paced nature of improv games trains students to process information quickly, stay calm under pressure, and trust their instincts.

👥
Teamwork

Every improv exercise is built on supporting the people around you. Students leave with a stronger understanding of what it means to listen, contribute, and lift others up.

💪
Confidence

Perhaps the biggest thing improv gives young people is the belief that they have something worth saying — and the courage to say it.

Book a Session

Tell us about your school, group, or organisation and we'll put together a programme that works for you.

Who We Are

The people behind County Town Improv — the coaches who guide the games, the committee who keep the lights on, and the values that hold it all together.

Our Coaches

Our coaches bring years of performance and facilitation experience to every session. They'll push you, support you, and laugh alongside you.

Chris Riley
Chris Riley
Creative Director

Chris founded County Town Improv in 2023. He trained with Seamus Allen at What's The Game Improv, and was a member of Mad Monkey Improv and The Free Radicals in Reading before moving back to Kent.

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Matt Peake
Coach

[BIO]

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Kit Cox
Coach

[BIO]

The Committee

County Town Improv is run by a volunteer committee who give their time to keep the community thriving. We're always grateful for the work they do behind the scenes.

Chris Riley
Chris Riley
Creative Director
⭐
Matt Peake
Committee Member
⭐
Kit Cox
Committee Member
⭐
Law Martin
Committee Member
⭐
Alex Holt
Technical Director

Our Code of Conduct

County Town Improv is committed to being a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for everyone. Our Code of Conduct sets out the values and expectations that every member, guest, and participant agrees to uphold.

Read Our Code of Conduct ↗