News
Elephant in the Room sells out its debut at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern
A sold-out audience of 130 joined Elephant in the Room’s debut at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on 5 October 2026. The comedy variety night returns on 16 November.
Elephant in the Room welcomed a sold-out audience of 130 people to its first comedy variety show at London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Monday 5 October 2026.
The debut brought together musical improv, character comedy and audience-led performances, with a lineup featuring Impromptunes, Gossip Queens, Sam & AJ, Pretty Little Improvisers and Noises From the Attic. Boxing-style introductions, surprise drag appearances and confetti cannons punctuated an evening in which audience suggestions shaped the comedy.
Hosted by James Knight and Paul McClenaghan, the night included a surprise birthday celebration and some particularly literal tea-spilling that left the hosts drenched. Impromptunes closed the show with Lesbian English Teachers: The Musical, created entirely from an audience suggestion, complete with a song about making Shakespeare queer.
The lineup drew on considerable experience across comedy and theatre. Sam & AJ brought more than 30 years of combined professional improv experience, with backgrounds including The Second City and Rapid Fire Theatre. Sam Roulston’s credits include serving as Artistic Director of The Free Association, while AJ Vaage is a Canadian Comedy Award winner.
Created by a team of experienced comedians and improvisers, Elephant in the Room is on a mission to build the best comedy variety night in London. Bringing together standout acts, dynamic hosts and comedy shaped by the audience, each show offers a different lineup and a night that won’t happen quite the same way again.
Next show: The Not Quite Christmas Show
Elephant in the Room returns to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Monday 16 November 2026 with The Not Quite Christmas Show, squeezing all the festive season into one gloriously overambitious evening.
The lineup includes Glamazon Prime turning audience-picked films into improvised musicals, Treacherous presenting an improvised comedy tribute to The Traitors, award-winning stand-up comedian Jessie Nixon and festive improv games from The Low Bar. James Knight hosts, with Gossip Queens returning as special guest co-hosts.
Doors open at 7pm, with the show starting at 7:45pm.