'It's not just a hobby, it's a hunt'
Gricers is a new, spontaneous theatre show created to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern passenger railway. Inspired by Francis Bourgeois’s book The Trainspotters Notebook and Tom Quinn’s Railways' Strangest Journeys, this show is a bittersweet and profound reflection on male friendship and quiet obsession.
Meet Mike and Mark. Their quest isn’t for fame or fortune. It’s for the 4:32 from Manchester Piccadilly, the 11:05 to Carlisle, the one last engine number that will make their collection complete. They are ‘Gricers’, standing trackside in rain and shine, a passionate, uniquely British tribe.
The real journey isn’t on the rails. It’s in the waiting. In the shared flasks of tea, the silences, the decades of friendship. This is the story of what happens in between the arrivals and departures, a tale of two men driven by a passion to complete a collection and the hope that they can finally finish.
Performed by Mike Burton (Stupid, Atom Improv), Mark Smith (HOOF!, The Fly, A Wake and Taxi Tales) and Fergus Wynne this spontaneous theatre event is like no other. The show features compelling storytelling, a cavalcade of characters and live DJ'ing.
Meet Mike and Mark. Their quest isn’t for fame or fortune. It’s for the 4:32 from Manchester Piccadilly, the 11:05 to Carlisle, the one last engine number that will make their collection complete. They are ‘Gricers’, standing trackside in rain and shine, a passionate, uniquely British tribe.
The real journey isn’t on the rails. It’s in the waiting. In the shared flasks of tea, the silences, the decades of friendship. This is the story of what happens in between the arrivals and departures, a tale of two men driven by a passion to complete a collection and the hope that they can finally finish.
Performed by Mike Burton (Stupid, Atom Improv), Mark Smith (HOOF!, The Fly, A Wake and Taxi Tales) and Fergus Wynne this spontaneous theatre event is like no other. The show features compelling storytelling, a cavalcade of characters and live DJ'ing.
Concept and structure created by: Mark Smith
Co-Development by: Mike Burton and Mark Smith
Performed by: Mike Burton, Mark Smith and Fergus Wynne
Co-Development by: Mike Burton and Mark Smith
Performed by: Mike Burton, Mark Smith and Fergus Wynne
Upcoming shows:
Gricers will be performing at the Liverpool Improv Festival 2026
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Mike Burton discovered his passion for improv in 2008 while training with Adam Meggido, founder of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and The School of Night.
Inspired by that experience, he went on to co-create one of the UK's most delightfully bizarre double acts, performing in comedy clubs across the country and enjoying a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Today, Mike performs regularly with The Atom, blending the techniques he learned in 2008 with the sharp, fast-paced style of UCB to create a distinctly bold and theatrical performance style. |
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Mark Smith is a multi-award-winning actor, director and producer with over 30 years of experience.
Mark's performance credits include the short-form show "Monkey Lab" (Rawhide Comedy), which ran weekly at the Casa from 2001 to 2003. He then transitioned to long-form improv, working on "Hoof!" a show developed with Todd Stashwick and John Thies of the legendary New York company Burn Manhattan. "Hoof!" toured nationally and internationally from 2004 to 2014. Mark regularly guests with teams when he is not teaching or directing improv. |
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Fergus Wynne is an improviser and a DJ regularly mixing up a storm for parties across the UK.
Since graduating in 2025, he has performed at a variety of festivals along with his own work in the successful improvised performance he created, depicting the 90s free party scene. He also loves to skateboard. |
Previous Shows:
Oxford Improv Festival - 2026
Oxford Improv Festival - 2026