Graham founded The Free Association in 2014, with his friends Max & Ivan, to be a place where improv could flourish and grow in the UK. He is enormously proud of how the company has expanded, and is excited to imagine where it will go next. Graham trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York over 15 years ago and has been improvising ever since. It would be fair to say that improv plays a big part in his life. He is a founding member of Austentatious, an award-winning West End smash hit, and one of the most cherished improv shows in the country. Besides playing at the FA in many shows and in Austentatious, Graham can also be seen improvising with Steen Raskopoulos, Mae Martin and They Seem Nice at theatres across London and the UK. He teaches and coaches improv regularly.

Graham is also an actor and writer. He has written two solo comedy shows, and is the co-creator and co-star of the short film and series Down From London. His acting credits include the film All My Friends Hate Me and the TV shows Afterlife, Witchfinder, PLS Like and Borderline.

Jonny is a Company Director at The Free Association. It’s a vague job title that suits an all-encompassing role. He has his finger in every pie, and works across the 3 Free Association main areas - Theatre, School & Business Training, alongside identifying new and exciting opportunities for the company. (That’s a nice way of saying he’s all up in everyones business, but in a nice way, not a neurotic-micromanagey way)

Jonny has worked to build the FA to what it is today from it’s very first show, and knows the company inside out. He’s not an improviser (shock) or particularly funny (horror) - but he’d like to think that after 7 years of working with comedians, something has finally rubbed off... at least that’s what he tells everyone he meets.

Catch him in a vulnerable moment and he’ll regale you tales of a past life where he was an award winning actor in some gritty theatre production, or playing a one-man show in Manhattan, or producing the type of theatre 'the arts council likes'…but those days are in the rear view mirror - The FA is Jonny’s life now, and he wouldn’t do anything else.

Ryan Dench is the Corporate Director at The Free Association, and has helped the company grow from the ground up since the beginning alongside OT, Graham, and Jonny. Always focused on the strategic long-term growth of the business, Ryan today predominantly looks after The FA’s business training arm. (What? You teach companies to be funny? Well no, not exactly, people with ‘real jobs’ will never be funny).

Basically, Ryan has the tough job of convincing people who don’t want to do improv to do improv. Why does he do this? Because it helps people learn to listen, and become more empathetic, positive, playful, and all-around better human beings.

Although very rarely performing, or even considering himself an improviser, Ryan has trained across all levels at The FA. He’s also been up on stage in Chicago at The Annoyance, in ‘Skinprov’. Unfortunately, for the audience, none of his clothing came off – even at the request of the front row and cast members.

Ryan is a mindfulness practitioner and like many, sees improv as a form of group mindfulness. He’s also fascinated by how it can help in overcoming social anxieties.

Naomi is a critically acclaimed actor and improviser, and Head of Programming at The Free Association. Naomi’s role involves creating and programming the most cutting edge, exciting and hilarious improv comedy at the FA and beyond. Naomi has been improvising for almost a decade and regularly teaches and performs at the FA. She is a founding member of improv supergroup SORRY and you can catch her at the FA in El Clasico, St Doctors Hospital, Jacuzii, The Staffroom, Starry Starry Eyes and more. Naomi is basically obsessed with improv and can’t quite believe her luck that she does it for a living.

Alex is an award winning comic, writer and improviser, and headteacher at the Free Association. He is responsible for the development of FA teaching, creating new courses and syllabuses, training teachers, and generally overseeing and maintaining the high-quality of classes the theatre offers. Alex originally trained at Monkey Toast before joining the FA’s inaugural course and becoming a part of the first FA house team. He is passionate about helping students develop as improvisers and will happily corner people at parties to tell them all about his thoughts on the game of the scene.

Gareth is an actor, musician and improviser originally from Dublin, and the Operations Manager at The FA. Gareth’s day to day involves working on some element of almost all aspects of the theatre and school. His main focus is producing Digital Media such as podcasts, videos and graphic design content. He works alongside the Company Directors, Head of Programming and the Head Teacher to produce a high level of professional content that both entertains and represents The FA’s ethos. Improv is a huge part of Gareth’s life. He performs, teaches and coaches regularly and is part of numerous teams including The FA’s house Harold Team, NANA and house show Starry Starry Eyes.

Megan is an actor, improviser and Social Media Manager at The FA. She is responsible for The Free Association's online presence, spreading the word about shows and showcasing our talented community. Megan is on the house Harold Team, NANA. She has a BFA from Boston University and a certificate in classical acting from LAMDA.

Aram is responsible for the front of house and tech team and presentation of the theatre spaces. He has worked across many industries and roles in his life, including in film VFX, as founder and director of a design agency, as a documentary photographer, and as a feature writer for various publications. He now invests most of his time in the improv world, as a member of FA house Harold Team, NANA, a producer of FA shows like The Greenhouse and Cagematch, creator of hit Fringe shows like Shiny Things and Film Club, and as a coach for new teams. His love of (and patience for) improv seems to have no bounds!