Impro Melbourne is an

improvisational theatre Improvisational theatre, often called improvisation or improv or impro in British English, is the form of theatre, often comedy, in which most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted, created spontaneously by the performers. In its ...

company in the Australian city of

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

. Formed by

Russell Fletcher Russell may refer to: People * Russell (given name) * Russell (surname) * Lady Russell (disambiguation) * Lord Russell (disambiguation) ** Bertrand Russell *Justice Russell (disambiguation) Places *Russell Island (disambiguation) *Mount Russel ...

and Christine Keogh in 1996 it is now run by Artistic Director Katherine Weaver, General Manager Rik Brown and Committee. Impro Melbourne is an Incorporated Association. Impro Melbourne is also one of many improvised theatre and comedy groups operating in the Melbourne area. Since 1996, Impro Melbourne has expanded its activities to produce varied forms of

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

, all using improvisation as a base, alongside a programme of shows and workshops for

school A school is the educational institution (and, in the case of in-person learning, the Educational architecture, building) designed to provide learning environments for the teaching of students, usually under the direction of teachers. Most co ...

s. Impro Melbourne currently produces the popular Theatresports™, along with

Keith Johnstone Donald Keith Johnstone (21 February 1933 – 11 March 2023) was a British-Canadian educator and theatre director. A pioneer of improvisational theatre, he was best known for inventing the ''Impro System'', part of which are the Theatresports. ...

's two other competition formats Micetro and Gorilla Theatre. Impro Melbourne regularly performs formats from improvisation companies in North America and Canada, and has also developed and produced its own improvised formats, including long-form plays, often in a particular genre. A 2006 interview with company member, Lliam Amor, noted that, "after a few years in the doldrums, improv is on the up and up again. Shows such as Thank God You're Here, Jim Henson's Puppets Uncensored and Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and local groups such as Spontaneous Broadway and Impro Sundae, have re-piqued the interest of audiences who evaporated after the glory years of the '80s, when Theatresports was celebrity studded, on TV, and selling out Hamer Hall. ". Impro Melbourne has performed in theatres across the city of Melbourne, including Theatreworks, La Mama Theatre, Carlton Courthouse and

Melbourne Town Hall Melbourne Town Hall, often referred to as simply Town Hall, is the administrative seat of the local municipality of the City of Melbourne and the primary offices of the Lord Mayor and city councillors of Melbourne. Located on the northeast co ...

, and has been a regular feature at the

Melbourne International Comedy Festival The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is the largest stand-alone comedy festival and the largest international comedy festival in the world. First held in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks, typically starti ...

. As well as theatre performances Impro Melbourne has a programme of demonstration shows and workshops for secondary schools - including Theatresports™ workshops and performances, Impro Zone, and The Fairytale Cookbook - which tours the state through Regional Arts Victoria. Impro Melbourne also offers corporate training and entertainment. The beginning of Impro Melbourne's 2011 artistic season saw the company move all productions to The Space, 3-5 Carlton Street, Prahran. The company then performed every Sunday night, with each show comprising two formats, the exception being the company's Theatresports™ season, which ran the entire evening. Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper has referred to Impro Melbourne's Celebrity Theatresports as, "an evening filled with improvised hilarity and incredible creativity." Other performances have been referred to as, "completely unplanned, unscripted and undeniably funny journey of games, scenes and songs," "displaying extraordinary mental and physical dexterity" and "a great show to bring your kids to." Artistic Directors:

Patti Stiles Patti Stiles is an actress, director, author, playwright, teacher and improvisation artist living in Australia. Biography She received her training at Calgary, Alberta's Loose Moose Theatre under Keith Johnstone. It was there she worked wit ...

& Katherine Weaver - 2014 to present
Jason Geary - 2012 to June 2013
Karl McConnell - 2010 to 2011

- 2004 to 2009
Geoff Wallis - 1996 to 2003

External links

Impro MelbourneImpro Melbourne Facebook Fan pageImpro Melbourne Twitter

References

{{Reflist Improvisational troupes Theatre in Melbourne