Why Improv Is Actually The Best Date Night In London

It’s not like there are a shortage of options for date nights in London. In the capital, we are blessed with a huge number (and variety) of restaurants, bars, galleries, museums and theatres – so, whatever your date is into, London surely has you covered.

But what if you are planning a first (or second, or third) date where you want to wow your new friend with an out-of-the-box idea … while casually gauging if they are a good match for you or not?

Let us pitch this idea: come and see improv at The Free Association for your next date night.

We think a high quality improv show is a great way to get to know someone better, while having a proper laugh. Win win.

Why live comedy is so good for dates

Working out if someone shares your sense of humour – or, at the very least, HAS a sense of humour – is a crucial early step in the dating process. Do we find the same things amusing? Are we on the same comedic page? Can this person laugh when things go wrong, or do they take themselves a bit too seriously?

Of course, you could watch a funny film together… but a live show provides a more exciting experience, and (if you are organising it) demonstrates that you have put thought and care into the planning process.

You could aim for theatre, but there’s no guarantee it’s going to be funny – and it’s really quite expensive.

With live comedy, you get to laugh even if the date isn’t going well, and impress your date without breaking the bank.

Unscripted comedy for predictably good evenings

Not all live comedy is created equal. If you’ve been to an open mic night, you will know the quality can be very hit-and-miss. While it might bring you two closer to laugh AT the misfortunes of the comics, perhaps over a shandy in the pub afterwards, stand-up comedy is the more stressful of the comedy show options. Do you really want to risk being “picked on” by a middle-aged man who’s secret skill is finding your most embarrassing weakness!? Is a one in five hit rate really good enough?

An improv show is simply good fun. You won’t get singled out, and the unscripted element means it stays incredibly lively and entertaining.

Pick a well-established, high quality improv show – I think you can tell where we are going with this – and you’ve got a successful date night guaranteed.

The Free Association: “one of the funniest date nights in London”

One of our audience members took to Google to say that we were “one of the funniest date nights in London!” They went on: “I was crying with laughter … my fake tan started to run.” It does show the perils of going somewhere TOO funny – beware of that makeup! – but it’s also more proof that a night at the FA is a safe bet.

It says so much about you as lover/partner material. It says: “I understand culture; I am not just doing the same old thing; I want us to feel alive and connected.” All with very little effort on your part.

You just need around £25 for two tickets (or, with a membership, £12 monthly gets you 2-for-1 on most of our shows). A show like Couple’s Therapy or Lola Rose’s Safe Space could be perfect for longer-term daters who are a bit more established ... while a community favourite like Groundhog or NANA could be perfect for those new to the scene – and to each other.

And you’ll be pleased to hear that there’s a proper bar. Grab a drink before the show to settle the nerves, and stay for a while afterwards to chat about what you just watched.

So what are you waiting for? We have brilliantly funny shows every weekend. And, while the material is unpredictable, the experience is not: you will laugh, you will feel the exhilaration of unscripted comedy, and you will UNDOUBTEDLY impress whomever has come along with you for the ride.