THESE FOLK
These Folk is a funny, beautiful and heartwarming show performed by two of the UK’s most experienced improvisers.
Inspired by suggestions from the audience, Justin Brett and Susan Harrison create an entirely improvised, magical, song-filled musical folk tale.
Everything is made up on the spot, the characters, the folklore, the story, the harmonies, the lyrics and the music. These Folk seeks to uncover the mythic in the mundane; the lyrical in the local. Expect laughs, moving moments, magic and delight.
HISTORY
These Folk debuted in Rome in 2019 as part of the Welcome Festival of Improvised Theatre. Since then, These Folk hasperformed in London, selling out The Boulevard Theatre, Soho, Brighton Fringe, Thorington Open Air Theatre, Birmingham Improv Festival, Etcetera Theatre Camden, Bristol Improv Theatre and sold out Stanley Halls as part of their summer outdoor season.
THE CAST
Susan Harrison and Justin Brett are long standing members of the Olivier Award Winning Showstopper! - The Improvised Musical, performing regularly in the West End and at the Edinburgh Fringe, as well throughout the UK and Internationally.
'These Folk is that rare combo of beautiful and funny. I laughed, I cried, and I walked away completely inspired’ Kevin John Gillese, Artistic Director Dad’s Garage Improvisation Theatre USA
SUSAN HARRISON
Susan trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is an award-winning Character Comedian, actress and Improviser. She has taken numerous solo comedy shows to the Edinburgh Fringe to great reviews, picking up a Three Weeks Editors Choice Award along the way.
She was a series regular in BAFTA winning CBBC sketch show Class Dismissed and a series regular in the CBBC spoof news show DNN, for whom she wrote and created her own characters. Theatre credits include: Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Mischief Theatre/ West End), The Elephantom (National Theatre/West End), Bagpuss (Soho Theatre), Timpson The Musical (Gigglemug), Robin Hood and Marian (New Vic), The Fence (Wrestling School), The BFG (Polka Theatre), to name a few.
JUSTIN BRETT
Justin trained at Central School of Speech and Drama, and is an actor, musician, comedian and improviser. Theatre includes: Million Dollar Quartet (West End); Then, Now and Next, (Southwark
Playhouse); Snow Queen (Park Theatre), Widow Twankey in Aladdin (Leeds City Varieties); Blue/Orange (Octagon, Bolton - Nominated Best Actor, MEN Awards); Captain Tempest in Return to the Forbidden Planet and Dick Barton in Dick Barton - Special Agent (both Oldham Coliseum and Tour); Dame Nellie Nightnurse in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood (Theatr Clywd).
His TV credits includes: Peep Show; Doctors, Eastenders; Topsy and Tim; Pulling; Dombey & Son; and The Queen’s Nose (BBC). Film work includes: War Horse (Steven Spielberg); Gulliver’s Travels; The Fallen; Brothers; Kissing All The Fish.
Past:
Boulevard Theatre, Soho
Etcetera Theatre, Camden
Brighton Fringe
Bristol Improv Theatre (plus workshops)
A Secret Garden Somewhere in London
Stanley Halls, Norwood
Thorington Theatre, Southwold, Suffolk
Hoopla at The Miller, London Bridge
Bath Spa University (plus workshops)
A series of These Folk shows for children across North London
in association with Barnet Libraries
Future:
30th May 2026 8:00pm, Hoopla at The Miller, London Bridge
(as part of GTI and Enemies)
9th July 2026 8:00pm, Hoopla at The Miller, London Bridge
Versions of the show: 1 hour continuous or 2 halves of 35 - 40 minutes, excluding interval.
Cast: can be variable, 3 - 5; always two performers (Susan & Justin) and between 1 and 3 musicians.
We also perform a children's version of These Folk.
As well performing the show, Susan and Justin are both experienced workshop leaders and we offer These Folk-based workshops. These can include: narrative improv; short form Improv; character comedy; game-based improv; acting for improvisers; improvising for actors. All are lighthearted and super fun for adults and/or children, and can be tailored to suit any needs.
We're currently booking for more shows and workshops for 2026, and will post information as soon as they're confirmed. If you have any enquiries, please get in touch.
