Author Archives: aliWit

WIT member Phil Anderson

Phil Anderson

Phil’s first exposure to improvisation was during the last millennium, via high-school theatre sports in Christchurch. He returned to the art over a decade later (during a friend and fellow-improvisers birthday dinner at an Indian restaurant) and signed up for the WIT beginner’s class the next morning.

Phil was a regular performer with WIT in Micetro, Improv Lounge and Christmas Cracker shows in 2012/13, and in Return to Sender and Battle of WIT’s during Fringe Festival 2014, he has served on the WIT Committee as a Co-Creative Director, and is an acknowledged master of the stylish velour jacket.

In real life Phil is a professional banking-regulator, amateur cricketer, and unpaid servant to an enormous Labrador-Newfoundland cross.  Currently “offshore” we hope he’ll bring his acknowledged velour-skills back to these shores soon

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2014 – Return to Sender, Fringe

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Set in the Dead Letter Office, where undeliverable letters are stored and filed, never to be read, until now. Postal workers read the letters inspiring fellow improvisers to create scenes, stories and characters reflecting the spirit of these words.

Part of the  Fringe Festival 2014
When: February 18th – 22nd
Where: The Gryphon Theatre, 6.30pm
Prices: Full $16, Concession $14, Fringe Addict $12, Artist Card $5

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2014 – Battle of WITs, Fringe

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Wellington’s best loved community improv troupe is back with another glorious season of Battle of WITs, and this time you can see it for FREE! The Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT) want to share the love with their hometown. All the Sunday evenings of this Fringe Festival come on down to the Fringe Bar and watch teams of intrepid improvisors battle it out to be crowned the champions.

Original theatre will be made up on the spot by tireless teams formed from a frothy mix of
Wellington’s leading improvisers and some courageously adorable newcomers. Choose your favourites, and help them soar to victory on a tide of audience approval.

Director Geoff Simmons promises that each night will be an evening of spur-of-the-moment storytelling and glorious failure. He explains that improv is “sometimes serious and frequently hilarious, either way I promise each night be a show that no one has ever seen before – or ever will again”. So, grab a drink and enjoy an unrepeatable blend of improvised games, tales, songs and shenanigans.

This Fringe Festival there are no tickets on sale for Battle of WITs. There may be a hat handed round, but just ignore it if you don’t have money, or don’t have fun.

“One of the safest bets for a good time at the Fringe ” – Theatreview
“I laughed so hard I couldn’t see” – Salient
Part of the  Fringe Festival 2014
When: Sundays 7pm, Feb 9th, 16th 23rd, and Mar 2nd.
Where: the Fringe Bar, 7pm

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2014 improv classes open for registration!

WIT runs eight-week evening classes for people new to improv, in association with the Wellington Community Education Centre at Wellington High School.  The next class starts Thursday the 20th of February, 7.30pm.  Register for these directly on the WCEC website now, or read a bit more about the classes.

If you’ve already completed one of our beginners’ courses or had equivalent training with another improv troupe, you’re ready for our Level 2 Class, Improvisation for the Stage.  This will be happening at Toi Poneke in Abel Smith St, from 7-9pm on Monday nights, February 3rd to March 24th.  It will end with (of course!) a stage show, likely to be on the evening of Wednesday 26th, but we’ll confirm that as a group.

Read more about our training in general, or if you have any questions, please do contact us.

2013 – A Christmas Cracker, 10 Year Reunion

Yuletide laughs December 10th to 13th 2013!

Wellington Improv Troupe (WIT) was proud to present another season of its successful ‘Christmas Cracker’ mix of improvised comedy shows. This year saw seven shows selected from WITs ten years of performing improvised comedy in Wellington.

“They are a lively group . . . see for yourself ” Theatreview

battle of witsBattle of WITS – Tuesday 10th December 7pm
Hot team on team all-in all-out over the top improv action! Teams of intrepid improvisors will battle it out to be crowned the champions. Choose your favourites and help them vanquish all rivals. The show that started it all!

thrills and swoon iconThrills & Swoon – Tuesday 10th December 8:30pm
Quivering bodices. Dark brooding eyes. Unbridled passion. 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. First seen at NZ International Comedy Festival 2013.

iconsgorillaminiGorilla Theatre – Wednesday 11th December 7pm
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. And one unusually personable Gorilla. A licensed format from the International Theatresports Institute and one of WIT’s mainstays.

iconsduetsminiDuets – Wednesday 11th December 8:30pm
Two improvisors. One stage. No limits. Three pairs will take to the stage with only each other to rely on, and no limits to where the improv takes them. First seen Christmas Cracker 2012.

 

iconsdivasminiDivas ReUnited – Thursday 12th December 7pm
The Improv Divas performed their first WIT show back in 2004, and since then some amazing performers have been part of the group. Enjoy some of the best of the best on stage in a special reunion show!

iconsloveminiLove Possibly – Thursday 12th 8.30pm
Will there be love? Well, uh, possibly. There’ll likely be love, laughter, betrayal, awkwardness and any number of other human conditions, pinned to the stage like sparkly butterflies for dissection with a sharp improv knife. An original Improv Divas format.

iconsmicetominiMicetro – Friday 12th Dec 7pm
A raucous evening of spontaneity mixing beloved improv games, charismatic humility, and audience suggestions to create an utterly unique night of entertainment that will never be seen again!

 

Show photos
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NZ Improv Festival

NZ Improv Festival, 2013

September 17-21 2013 at Bats Theatre. WIT had a fine fine time playing with all our improv friends at the 2013 New Zealand Improv Festival. The #Divas were wonderful, and the special festival penultimate episode of Young and the Witless saw characters’ lives reshaped in some surprising ways. We had fun on stage and off; including mixing it up with other players in the ensemble shows and taking workshops with amazing visiting teachers. The comment from one reviewer, that “being in a theatre full of improvisers high on five days of fun can make one think that anything is possible” is about right. Thanks and cheers to all the people who made it happen … the producer, the musicians, the lighting guy, the players,  the setters-up-of-things, the leaflet hander-outerers, the lovely reviewers, the lovely sponsors, the lovely audiences. And super dooper especially to Festival Producer Jennifer O’Sullivan and Artistic Director Christine Brooks! Much much more at The New Zealand Improv Festival website.

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Improv Divas hashtag

# Divas

For one night only, on the opening night of the 2013 New Zealand Improv Festival, WIT’s Improv Divas present . . . Hashtag Divas.   

What’s really going on behind those cheery smugdates we all see on our Facebook timelines? In scenes inspired by real-life Facebook updates, the Divas explore this pervasive social medium where everyone’s lives are on display – but the truth is a lot harder to pin down.

The Improv Divas, New Zealand’s only all-female all-improvised comedy act, in an entertaining evening of on-the-spot storytelling.

Nicola Pauling
Kate Wilson
Mary Little

Date/Time

Date(s) – 17/09/2013
9:30 pm – 10:30 pm
BATS Theatre

show photographs: A Little Art

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Profile picture of Maggie C

Maggie Cargill

Maggie-from-Kansas has been improvising since 2006, and joined WIT in 2013.  She went back to America to finish her studies, but Wellington still wants her back as soon as may be.

She has performed with, directed and produced for several improv troupes around the Kansas City area, including working on the Kansas City Improv Festival.  Maggie has performed in several WIT shows in 2013, including Micetro, Improv Lounge and The Young and the WITless 7.

She authored Mega Maggie’s Improv Party, a blog chronicling her experiences as an improviser. Maggie loves karaoke and is an undefeated rap battle champion.

Isn’t it time you learnt to improvise?!

WIT’s next The Joy of Improvisation course starts at the Community Education Centre at Wellington High School, for eight weeks on Thursday nights at 7.30pm, from October 17th – complete improv beginners very welcome.  No need for any drama or comedy experience either, although if you have had some you’re welcome too.

Discover your creative potential and learn how to work in a team using the skills of improvisation to spontaneously create short scenes and stories in a safe and positive group environment.

Read more about our training in general, or go straight to CEC’s website and signup now!   Contact us if you have any specific questions.

Young and the Witless 7, 2013

littlesupriseWellington’s Riskiest Show Gets Rural

Opening night photos

Wednesdays in August/September  at The Fringe in Allen St, except for a special performance at BATS on September 18th.

In its tenth year of bringing spontaneous theatre to Wellington’s stages, WIT is ecstatic to present the seventh annual season of the capital’s longest running improvised theatre experience – The Young and the WITless 7. Featuring eight weeks of improvised theatre with no scripts, no limits, and no holds barred, The Young and the WITless 7 returns to the stage at the Fringe in its new home on Allen St, bringing to life the sagas and stories of the people of fictional Te Awaiti.

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