Author Archives: aliWit

Ali Little

Ali Little

Ali met improv at a WIT beginner’s class during a mildly dark time of her life fifteen years ago.  That first night there was a lot laughter, the heart-warming change-up your life kind.

Ali, then a power-suited full time corporate weasel, had only signed up to the community night school class to help improve her public speaking skills.  Quite soon she ran off to art school, and then started making masks after attending a Loose Moose summer improv school in Canada. Since then she has performed in, photographed and produced improv shows, built puppets, a gorilla and a small tardis.  She’s also led workshops for emergency management staff, mask-makers, university students, social support groups and NZ Improv Festival participants, as well as regularly teaching new improvisers in the very same space she took that very first class.

She’s currently a Creative Director for WIT (The Wellington Improvisation Troupe), and convener of the meetup group for very casual improvisors, Wimprov.

 

Patti Stiles in town for Queens Birthday Weekend! (2013)

Patti Stiles is an actor, improviser, director, instructor and playwright who has been working professionally in theatre since 1983. She served her theatre apprenticeship at the world renowned Loose Moose Theatre with Keith Johnstone. It is her knowledge, technique and application of her improvisational skills, which makes Patti a unique and dynamic instructor. Her interpretation and extension of Johnstone’s work and philosophy, combined with her wealth of experience on the world improv stage, has made her a “must have” teacher for performers and companies wishing to create spontaneous theatre with fine skill, strong narrative and elegant style.

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Thrills and Swoon

Thrills and swoon romance

NZ International Comedy Festival 2013

The reviewer’s conclusion on Thrills, “. . .a happy blend of celebration and satire.  Recommended “.

Quivering bodices. Dark brooding eyes. Unbridled passion. Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT) brings you Thrills & Swoon: Improvised Romance. Inspired by the romance novels you pretend not to read, stories and scenes will be created on the spot, as fresh as an innocent flower waiting to be plucked. From the creators of improvised soap The Young and the Witless comes more hysterical romance.

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All-Star Gorilla, 2013

NZ International Comedy Festival 2013

It’s the law of the jungle as a crew of seasoned improvisers take turns directing their opponents – creating scenes, stories, sagas or songs before your eyes in a bid to win your approval (and bananas).

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll send the winner home for a week of quality time with a gorilla.

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Barry Miskimmin

Barry Miskimmin has twice been awarded the WIT annual prize for gravitas, and brings a serious flair for improvisation to the stage. Proud of his Celtic roots, he often gets Irish and Scottish accents confused. Barry trained in the WIT Keith Johnstone masterclass and is one of WIT’s senior trainers and MCs.  Performing regularly in WIT shows, Barry was once the oldest living member of WIT, appearing in the Micetro which started it all by winning Best Comedy Award in the 2003 New Zealand International Fringe Festival.   Weekdays, Barry is a sales sales weasel for a large corporation.

Media Release – Thrills & Swoon

Wellington Improvisation Troupe presents THRILLS & SWOON: IMPROVISED ROMANCE.   FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE

“His lips caress mine. It’s only a brush, but the warmth overheats every part of me. Leaning back, my elbow bumps into the power button on the dryer and the old appliance starts moving. Spinning. Spinning like my head. Like my heart.”

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everyone happy

Discover Improv May 2014!

Four times a year WIT runs The Joy of Improvisation, a series of classes  tailored to those who are completely new to improv or have had a break of a few years, and want to have fun learning how to improvise short scenes and stories in a safe and positive group environment.  There is an end-of-course demonstration of group exercises for family and friends.

The next course runs for eight weeks on Thursday nights, beginning at 7.30 on the 16th of May, led by the fabulous Nicky Hill.  This is run in association with the Community Education Centre at Wellington High School; enrol directly through their website.

This WIT Level 1 course is a pre-requisite for further courses and membership of WIT, New Zealand’s largest and friendliest improv community.  If you have extensive improv experience already, or aren’t sure if this course is for you, please contact us.

More about our training.

All-Star Micetro, 2013

Micetro improvised comedy

Fringe Festival fixture (and former Fringe best comedy winner) Micetro is back for another bite of the cheese.

Watch as a crew of eager improvisers go head to head in a battle of wit, spur-of-the-moment storytelling and glorious failure. The audience will decide who gets eliminated and who will survive to be crowned ‘Micetro’.  Continue reading