NZ Improv Fest gathers improvisors from around NZ (and the world) to present new work, learn new skills and make connections across the industry. Held annually in Wellington, NZ since 2008, we occasionally record shows and discussions and distribute those to the wider improv community. Check out archival recordings, interviews with guests, and interesting conversations, and learn more at improvfest.nz
2.4: Jennifer O'Sullivan, Christine Brooks, and Laura Irish (NZIF 2021)
This season we bring you our Conversation Series - in each episode, a trio of improvisors come together to talk about what lights them up, what challenges them, and what keeps them excited about the future of improv.
Featuring: Jennifer O’Sullivan and Christine Brooks from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), and Laura Irish from Whakatū (Nelson)
Recorded in front of a live audience at BATS Theatre in October 2021.
This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust and Creative NZ.
NZ Improv Festival 2021 ran 4-16 October 2021 at Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington’s BATS Theatre. Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
27 Jan 2022
2.3: Tara McEntee, Susan Williams, and Ryan Knighton (NZIF 2021)
This season we bring you our Conversation Series - in each episode, a trio of improvisors come together to talk about what lights them up, what challenges them, and what keeps them excited about the future of improv.
Featuring: Tara McEntee and Susan Williams from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), and Ryan Knighton from Te Papaioea (Palmerston North)
Recorded in front of a live audience at BATS Theatre in October 2021.
This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust and Creative NZ.
NZ Improv Festival 2021 ran 4-16 October 2021 at Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington’s BATS Theatre. Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
9 Jan 2022
2.2: Matt Powell, Liz Butler and Emma Brittenden (NZIF 2021)
This season we bring you our Conversation Series - in each episode, a trio of improvisors come together to talk about what lights them up, what challenges them, and what keeps them excited about the future of improv.
Featuring: Matt Powell and Liz Butler from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), and Emma Brittenden from Ōtautahi (Christchurch)
Recorded in front of a live audience at BATS Theatre in October 2021.
This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust and Creative NZ.
NZ Improv Festival 2021 ran 4-16 October 2021 at Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington’s BATS Theatre. Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
2 Jan 2022
2.1: Marea Colombo, Ben Zolno, and Daniel Allan (NZIF 2021)
This season we bring you our Conversation Series - in each episode, a trio of improvisors come together to talk about what lights them up, what challenges them, and what keeps them excited about the future of improv.
Featuring: Marea Colombo from Ōtepoti (Dunedin), Ben Zolno from Te Whanganui a Tara (Wellington), and Daniel Allan from Otautahi (Christchurch) and hosted by Christine Brooks (Te Whanganui a Tara)
Recorded in front of a live audience at BATS Theatre in October 2021.
This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust and Creative NZ.
NZ Improv Festival 2021 ran 4-16 October 2021 at Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington’s BATS Theatre. Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
16 Dec 2020
1.7: Talking Heads Online (NZIF 2020)
It’s a new choice on a new stage! The era of COVID-19 has renewed the need for a digital stage, but how can onstage performers adapt for video? How can video creators help onstage performers and how does improv performance differ between the two mediums? Join the call, mute your mic and settle in for the ultimate panel about online improvisational comedy.
The craft of building a character can be challenging, especially if the character is a comedic embodiment of your own identity. In a world that constantly craves authenticity and new content, how can 21st century performers live up to this demand? Join Truth, Authenticity & Characterisation - a round table of experienced theatre, improvisers and stand up comedy performers as they break down the concept of authenticity and discuss how artists can be authentic while crafting comedic and theatrical personas.
9 Dec 2020
1.5: Accepting the Beats (NZIF 2020)
The performative possibilities of improv have been greatly expanded with the assistance of dance and music. Accepting the Beats is a panel discussion between dancers, singers and musicians who have deepened their improv capabilities by broadening their performative skillset. How can music and dance be incorporated into improv? Where do we overlap and how are we inspired by each other? Most importantly, how did we get here and where are we going?
6 Dec 2020
1.4: Maintaining Strong Communities (NZIF 2020)
How can we build a strong performative community in the world of COVID-19? More importantly, how do we maintain that community when people are not able to gather in person and we are resorted to remote yes-anding? In Maintaining Strong Communities, a panel of improvisers discuss the challenges and benefits of this new performative world.
2 Dec 2020
1.3: NZ Improv: Yeah Nah, You Go (NZIF 2020)
Is New Zealand improv too polite? Yeah Nah, You Go is a round table discussion of professional improvisers exploring performative humility and confidence in the New Zealand improv industry. How does politeness affect the way we play? What are the strengths of weaknesses of our cultural norms? What is the difference between collaborative respect and artistic hesitance when we are playing as a team?
29 Nov 2020
1.2: Taking Care of Yourself (NZIF 2020)
In the age of COVID-19, it has never been more important than ever to keep safe and healthy offstage so you can be your best onstage. Taking Care of Yourself is all about improving and maintaining your mental health, so join the panel, and learn how we can help ourselves so we can help each other.
26 Nov 2020
1.1: The Many Faces of Improv (NZIF 2020)
The variations and types of improv games are endless, and it is so hard to keep track of them all! In The Many Faces of Improv, amateur and professional improvisers gather for the ultimate panel to break down the different narrative and technical structures of the best improv games. How do we share knowledge and what is the best way? How do we make improvisers comfortable in new spaces? How do we introduce new work to an audience?
9 Nov 2020
Blast From The Past #1: The Vance Fontaine Big Band Happy Hour (NZIF 2013)
Recorded 20 September 2013 at BATS Theatre (Out of Site)
For one show only Vance and his regular band – The Peculiar Sensations – are joined by a bunch of guests. Some of whom you'd least expect. Other festival improvisers bring their musical instruments or their voices and join friends of Vance and the band onstage.
You may have marvelled at their quick wit earlier in the festival, you may have seen them do a Shakespeare, or perform a continuous scene but now see them sing or play an instrument you never knew they could. It's time to see these performers way out of their comfort zone in a show that takes the unpredictability of Vance Fontaine to its very limits.
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