Fishpond actor Sean Hanratty is taking to the stage at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of the cast of Lost the Plot, an entirely improvised musical that blends live music, comedy, and spontaneous storytelling.
After a sold-out residency at the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham, Lost the Plot is bringing their whirlwind of improvised storytelling to Edinburgh. Follow them on Instagram at @lostimprov for updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and more.
Running August 18th to 23rd at 15:05 each day, the show will be performed at The Space @ Surgeons’ Hall, right in the heart of the Fringe. If you’re going to be in town, this is one to add to your must-see list.
Lost the Plot invites audiences to “get lost in a new musical every night.” With just a single suggestion from the audience, the cast creates a brand-new show each time, complete with sparkling harmonies, unexpected drama, and plenty of laughter.
Whether the hero saves the day, falls in love, or runs off to join the circus, no two performances are ever the same.
We spoke with Sean about his love of improv, how it’s benefitted him as an actor, and how the team made their way to the Fringe:
We started Lost The Plot in the Summer of 2023. As a cast we were assembled by improv superstar Lucy Trodd, from whom most of us first learned our improv skills.
Improv has been an absolute game changer for me as an actor. Nothing has taught me about how to ‘be in the moment’ more than performing a full show where you literally don’t know what happens next. It’s exhilarating!
As an actor, you’re encouraged for your performance to be different every night. Well, at Lost The Plot, the plot, the music, the lyrics, and the characters are different every night. And the best part is, it’s all decided by the audience.
We did our first show in The Vanguard Theatre, London in November 2023. From then we started performing in pub theatres across London, and then in January 2025 we were offered a residency at The Omnibus Theatre in London.
It’s been an incredible experience and now, following our sold-out run at The Omnibus, we’re buzzing to be taking the show to the Edinburgh Fringe.
If you’re in Edinburgh, we’d love to see you at our show. And if you’re not, keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram page, as some shows in Ireland may be on the cards too…!
We’re always incredibly proud to celebrate the success of our members, and Sean’s involvement in Lost the Plot is a fantastic example of the kind of bold, creative work we love to share.
If you’re heading to the Fringe, make sure to catch a performance and show Sean some support. We’re always rooting for you.
