David began improvising in 2009 at Edinburgh Uni where he was part of long-standing troupe The Improverts. David subsequently taught improv in London at The Free Association and was a member of veteran FA House Team The Cartel.

 

In 2022 he created solo improv show David Elms Describes A Room, which has gone on to sell out runs at London’s Soho Theatre and the Edinburgh fringe.

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In 2024, David founded leapday as a place to share his approach to long-form improv with students. The approach is characterised by playfulness, comfort, and a preference for behaviour over debate.​

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In 2025, leapday partnered with Seven Dials Playhouse and is now based in the heart of London's West End.

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In 2026, leapday partnered with Clown Lab Ldn to begin providing opportunities for clowning, with sessions every single Wednesday.

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Outside of improv, David has acted on TV, radio, and the West End stage. He is also an experienced, CIPD-qualified learning designer and facilitator, and has designed and run workshops for places like EY, Accenture, HSBC, Deloitte, The Bank of England, Johnson & Johnson, Morgan Stanley, Ocado, Clifford Chance, and Lego.​​