Closer Each Day Company
Creators of Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera.
Bristol’s fortnightly iconic comedy hit!
Our fortnightly show
Closer Each Day has run fortnightly at The Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol, UK, for 15 years and nearly 300 episodes! It is made up of some of Bristol’s best theatre talent and is like no other show out there.
Come and get addicted to something brilliantly fun that won’t ruin your health or relationships – it will just make everything better (every other Monday, at least).
Whether it’s your first time or you’re a binge-watcher, come and find out what will happen next and be uplifted!
Next shows
- Monday 14th September
- Monday 28th September
- Monday 12th October
- Monday 26th October
- Monday 9th November
- Monday 23rd November
Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera
Set in the fictional town of Newtown, Closer Each Day is the longest running theatre show outside of London and the world’s longest improvised story.
Drama, romance, intrigue!
Closer brings you all the drama, romance, and intrigue of a traditional soap, but with the comedy and excitement of an unscripted live show, brought to you by an incredibly talented cast.
Buy Tickets
Larger than life!
These are recurring, larger than life characters who live in the fictional world of Newtown and whose lives, loves, petty revenges and everything in between we see played out in the show.
The Characters
So far…
Catch up with what happened last time, or delve into our archives to explore this record-breaking improvised story!
Synopses
Our Patreon
Join our Patreon page for free to get discount codes for our shows, or upgrade to receive all our filmed shows from Sept 2024.
Our Patreon
Closer Each Day Company
Other Shows & Workshops
Besides our regular soap, we have created other joyful shows and trained everyone from professional performers to absolute beginners.
Closer at the Bristol Old Vic!
We are excited to announce a special Christmas season at the Bristol Old Vic! The story continues to unfold after 15 years, but with a festive twist exclusive to these Bristol Old Vic shows – each show begins with a gift taken from the audience, inspiring a completely new story every time. Another tasty ingredient to these 8 shows are the mystery guest stars – adding a further dynamic, unpredictable and hilarious element to this addictive treat of a show. As in all the best British soaps, Christmas is when things really ramp up with juicy storylines and unforgettable moments. What will happen? Let’s find out!
No Expectations
No Expectations: The Improvised Dickens grew out of Steamed: A Dickensian Improvised Christmas Tale, itself inspired by a special performance aboard the SS Great Britain. Since then, the show has toured the South West and enjoyed a successful run at the Wardrobe Theatre. Audience suggestions inspire brand-new Dickensian tales, with orphans, avaricious landlords, and fateful coincidences galore! We have discovered that Dickens’ larger-than-life characters, drama, comedy and cliff-hangers are a perfect match for us!
Our Workshops
We have delivered private masterclasses, corporate training, workshops for schools, and classes for both the public and professional performers across the country. Described as inspiring, fun, supportive and engaging, our sessions draw on years of experience and the unique techniques developed through creating our long-running improvised shows. Some of our workshops include, ‘Unleashing your Creativity’, ‘Improvising the Emotional Way’, ‘An Improv Toolkit for Actors’. ‘Narrative Masterclass for Writers’ and ‘Improvising Forever’. We also love to tailor our offering to whatever you need – get in touch!
Come Join Us!
We are always looking for guest stars to appear in our improvised soap opera and are known for the warm welcome we give them, and the fun they have onstage with us! We are also always open to invite performers to join our regular company workshops. We have built strong connections with improvisers and actors from across the UK and beyond, and we are always keen to make new ones. This is one of the many exciting things about our show – the way we can fold in a whole variety of brilliant performers. If the thought of this wonderfully madcap adventure excites you, we’d love to hear from you.
What the Press Say About Us
“So consistently gripping it’s incredible to think it’s created off the cuff.”
Visit Bristol
“Truly brilliant.”
★★★★★ Epigram
“…a vivacious performance.”
Bristol 24/7
“Funny, inventive, fast-paced and sparkling. Loved it!”
David Lloyd, BBC Screenwriter
“Quick-witted, very watchable ensemble, razor-sharp in timing and delivery.”
★★★★ Stage Talk
”...as deft as any script you’ve heard…a bit like a visit to Narnia: unpredictable, but ultimately enchanting.”
Bristol 24/7
”Closer Each Day is a fun and uplifting piece of theatre, perfectly scheduled for dull Monday evenings, that will bring you back time and again.”
Backstage
”Don’t miss the chance to see this entirely spontaneous and deliciously Dickensian show that will leave you asking, ‘Please sir, can I have some more? ”
Stage Talk
(about No Expectations)
”No Expectations: The Unscripted Dickens is improvised ensemble work at its very best. Catch it if you can.”
★★★★ Stage Talk
I had heard about this show for a long time before I finally went to see it. It went far beyond what I expected of it, and my expectations were high after hearing so many people going on about it for years! It felt like just what we need in this world right now – high quality entertainment which makes you laugh so much everything hurts afterwards, in a good way. But the actors are not afraid to have tender moments too, and I have gone ‘Aww!’ and sighed and gasped along with the rest of the audience. It is so incredible the way they keep the story flowing, they really are on the top of their game and I am really proud to live in the city where a show like this could happen. Anarchic. Hilarious. Flipping amazing.
Bianca Williams, audience
I was able to see Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera when I was visiting Bristol, and it blew me away. I live in the USA and so am really pleased they are now on Patreon and I can watch them online from all the way over here. It feels like a part of me can still be in Bristol, laughing my socks off, surrounded by people having a good time. And that is a very nice feeling.
Nola Bobsin, Patreon supporter
It has been a joy to be a part of Closer Each Day. It is fast moving, unpredictable and the best fun. The insanely talented cast welcomed me into the fictional world that is Newtown and have encouraged me to play. With fortnightly workshops to practice and develop our skill base, to hone our creative craft ready to present to our audiences, audiences who whoop with delight at the audacity of the storylines and plot twists. Each show is a surprise and a treat.
Leah Fletcher, new cast member
Unique and the cast appear to be enjoying themselves as much as the audience!
Audience Survey, June 2026
Unique and the cast appear to be enjoying themselves as much as the audience!
Audience Survey, June 2026
Everything about the show is novel, fun, and engaging. I love all the characters and the madcap situations that arise. I dream of being in a show like this! My favourite bit is noticing when the actors are trying not to laugh out loud at the unexpected and
hilarious things happening.
Audience Survey, June 2026
Love seeing how familiar characters behave and interact on encountering bizarre news or situations. Love the improv ‘anything could happen’ unpredictability. Actors are all great. It’s funny!
Audience Survey, June 2026
Watching a group of hugely talented performers who know each other inside out is an absolute joy!
Audience Survey, June 2026
The acting, the humour, the improv! I love how the characters bounce off each other and use snippets gleaned from others scenes to add to their delivery and plot development. Clever and hilarious! It’s so brilliant and I’m really invested in the characters!
Audience Survey, June 2026
Fresh and exciting. A sense of a real creative experience unfolding with a cast that responds to the live audience
Audience Survey, June 2026
I came away with positive feelings, it was funny, chaotic, unique and I felt part of a unique experience. I felt close to the action as it was unfolding and I’d definitely see the show again when next in Bristol.
Audience Survey, June 2026
The cast are incredibly talented and the interaction between characters is amazing
Audience Survey, June 2026
Absolutely love the show – a great tonic and uplifting start to the week
Audience Survey, June 2026
These actors’ improv skills are the best I’ve ever seen!
Audience Survey, June 2026
I only found you at the end of Season 30, but I’m so glad I did! Thank you for making the world a happier place.
Audience Survey, June 2026
It’s an incredibly rare thing in the theatre world to get to really live and breathe a character – to find out who they are and what makes them tick for more than just a couple of hours. Guesting and then joining the super talented and wonderfully warm cast of Closer Each Day has been the biggest performing highlight for me to date. The show is equal parts genius, joyous, bonkers and heartfelt: everything you could want from a soap and so much more. Mondays have since become my favourite day of the week.
Tara Judah, new cast member