On a warm May evening in 2011, five intrepid performers stepped onto a very small stage in front of an even smaller audience. They had no rehearsal, no script, and no idea how the show would unfold. Yet, against all odds, Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera was born—and nearly fourteen years later, it remains the UK’s longest-running theatre show outside of London.
The show was the brainchild of then 18-year-old Tom Brennan, who wanted to create a regular performance for the newly opened Wardrobe Theatre. Inspired by the 24 Hour Improv Marathon at the Bristol Old Vic, itself influenced by the Canadian improvised soap opera Die Nasty, Brennan assembled a group of performers for a workshop above the White Bear pub. Upon learning the nature of the show—a completely unscripted, live soap opera—some decided against joining. But a few brave souls stayed, and history was made.
The first show took place in the fictional village of Swanborough, near Swindon, and centered on a guesthouse run by Oscar and Billy Croft. The plot revolved around local villains Big Dick Johnson and Little John Dixon attempting to kidnap musician Maurice Cumberbatch. With new performers joining and an audience beginning to form, the show gained momentum. When Brennan left for drama school, rather than ending, Closer Each Day was taken over by Chris Collier and Joe Wallace. The story moved from Swanborough to a new town—Newtown—and so began a long and evolving journey.
Over its 250 episodes, Closer Each Day has featured over 50 actors, including guest performers from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The show has seen marriages, murders, births, affairs, and at least five pub fires. Characters have traveled as far as France, Tenerife, the Caribbean, and even Slough—but oddly, they’ve yet to return to Swanborough.
With such a long, continuous narrative, Closer Each Day has developed unique storytelling techniques. Some storylines last an entire season, some unfold over years, and yet every episode remains accessible to new audiences. It’s a delicate balance—ensuring long-term fans enjoy running jokes and ongoing arcs while making sure each show is a standalone delight.
The journey hasn’t always been smooth. The COVID pandemic forced the cast to meet online, but rather than attempting a virtual version of the show, they focused on supporting each other. Emerging from lockdown, they faced the challenge of enticing audiences back to live theatre in an era of Netflix and streaming. But with fresh cast members, an ever-growing Patreon community, and an abundance of juicy storylines, Closer Each Day continues to thrive.
The show’s evolution is a constant process. Looking back, there are moments that make the cast laugh (a plastic fish used as a telephone, anyone?), but the pursuit of excellence never stops. Alongside its humor, the show has also delivered genuinely moving moments—scenes that leave audiences with goosebumps.
As Closer Each Day and the Wardrobe Theatre both approach their 14th anniversaries, the excitement is palpable. With so much more to come, the 250th episode took place this past Monday 24th February.
