Author Archives: aliWit

WIT show posters

WellingSIN City, 2009

mini_wellingsincityFringe Bar, from 10 to 24 May 2009, also in the Improvathon 2010

A totally improvised noir where YOU call the shots!

Murder, Revenge, Justice, Improv… following in the tradition of Bogart, Rooney, and Bacall, explore the mean streets and dark underbelly of WellingSIN CITY; an improvised noir where YOU call the shots. Six of Wellington’s best improvisors explore and develop the classic tradition of noir in 70 minutes of action, intrigue, and double dealing.

Artistic Director Steven Youngblood thinks the time is right to bring improvised noir to the public: “Noir is definitely in the public consciousness. Movies like Sin City, Max Payne, Brick and The Good German are making noir popular again. We’re very excited about seeing Wellington through the hazy veneer of post-war prejudice and mistrust. Throw in the current climate of recession, and I think we have a show that Wellington can really get into.”

Audiences can expect more WellingSIN City than just some light giggles “while there will be some very big laughs, the humour will come from events and motivations within the story, rather than some of the glossy schtick you may find on televised improv.”

We all have our demons, but how we exorcise them is up to you. From the people that brought you “To Be Continued”, “Love Possibly”, and “The Young and the Witless”.

WIT show posters

Micetro in the ‘Burbs, Fringe 2009

logo_micetro_skinny

Micetro: Bringing Improv to the ‘Burbs

Good-natured failure, we’ve got it and we are bringing it to the burbs! Crash and burn elimination improve in the style of “whose line is it anyway” is heading your way.

The Wellington Improvisation Troupe, Wellington’s not-for-profit community improvisational theatre group, present an exciting new season of MICETRO improv for the 2009 NZ Fringe Festival.

This year’s Micetro season for the Fringe will see three nights of never-seen-before and never-to-be seen-again spontaneity in Newtown and Lower Hutt. An excited flock of Wellington’s best improvisers, eight to twelve improvisers vie for the title; only one can win.

“Micetro is a show like no other,” says the show’s producer, Lesley McRae “Each night, two directors will bring the performers on stage to sing, dance and over-act their way through strange and familiar improv games”.

Each scene is judged by the audience, until eventually all the players are eliminated except for one; that one will be crowned the Micetro King/Queen.

“Formidable and funny” .. Theatreview.co.nz.

Please note two separate venues:
19 & 20 February: 7pm – Newtown venue
27 February: 7pm – Lower Hutt venue

WIT show posters

New Zealand Improv Festival, 2008

flyer_2008improvfestivalThe first New Zealand Improv Festival 2008 ran 27-29 November at BATS Theatre, and featured performances from Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch troupes.

Producer: Merrilee McCoy
Artistic Director: Derek Flores

PRESS RELEASE 19 November 2008

New Zealand’s most playful minds spring forth from Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland – together at last to present an action packed, hilarious symphony of improvised theatre – for three nights only!

For the first time the country’s top improvisation companies come together to expose Wellington to a plethora of improvised comedy at its funniest and most daring.Each night two different companies take to the stage to entertain. In the grand finale on Saturday – the teams join forces, mix and fight it out in a ‘Festival All-Stars’ extravaganza – showcasing the best players from around the country.

JESTERS: “Terrific… One of the BEST troupes I’ve come across”
– Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart Simpson)

IMPROVISORS: “This team is nothing short of phenomenal….” – Theatreview

WIT: “…formidable and funny” – Theatreview

Join us at BATS Theatre for a blooming great festival of moment-to-moment hilarity, a festival of spontaneous thought, high wire danger – The New Zealand Improv Festival!

Schedule:
27 Nov: WIT (Wgtn) perform LOVE POSSIBLY and The Improvisors (Wgtn) perform IMPROV THE SECONDARY SCHOOL MUSICAL
28 Nov: Court Jesters (Chch) perform ONCE (AND ONLY) UPON A TIME and The ConArtists (Akld) perform AUSTIN FOUND
29 Nov: All Stars Improv Spectacular!

What is Improvisation? Improv brings ordinary people into the theatre to enjoy stories spontaneously created from audience suggestions. For the players, improvisation provides a platform to explore performance and the narrative form. Most of all, it’s fun for everyone involved. Popularised by television shows like ‘Who’s Line Is It Anyway?’, improvisational theatre continues to evolve and entertain.

The New Zealand Improv Festival now has its very own website

WIT show posters

Gorilla, 2008

Gorilla Improv

Gorilla Theatre – Join the Revolution!

Tired of Spielberg, Lucas, Tarantino, and their capitalist works? Continuing with their hugely successful ‘Wednesdays with WIT’ at the Blue Note bar, the Wellington Improv Troupe now brings the people GORILLA THEATRE.

With GORILLA, each night five card-carrying, aspiring directors challenge each other in creating & directing improvised scenes, stories, sagas and perhaps a song.

In the great socialist tradition, YOU the people get to decide which director gets adorned as state champion.  Unpredictable, quality improvised comedy, each night. Vodka optional.

Gorilla Theatre features the following WIT Comrades: Mark, Ali, Lyndon, Merrilee, Paul, Barry, Simon, Steve, Christine, Kate, Anton and Woody.

Wednesdays in September 2008 at the Blue Note Bar

Le Abattoire – Derek Flores, Christine Books and Danni Taylor play “numbers of words (audience sourced footage)

 

WIT show posters

Improv Angels, 2008

flyer_improangels_aug08“A slow burn that really delivers”   Theatreview

April at Bats, and August at The Blue Note Bar.

Cast: Clare Kerrison, Christine Brooks, and Jen Mason, Anna Burns and Merrilee McCoy.

The reviewer from Salient complained, “I laughed so hard I couldn’t see” and described the Angels as “a veritable squadron of wonderful”.

 

The Young and the Witless 2, 2008

Young and the Witless 2Wednesday 11 June – Wednesday 30 July 2008
Blue Note Bar

Wellington’s finest improvised soap opera is back!

This season explores the loves, lives and drama of New Zealand’s third best inter-island ferry, the S.S. Blake.

After selling out at the NZ Fringe, WIT are back with more love triangles, deception, and insidious murder plots…

Make Wednesday your regular soap night for 8 weeks this winter as the hilarious WIT ensemble “…prove they are formidable and funny”* with a brand new, completely improvised continuous soap opera that keeps everyone guessing! Including us! Continue reading

WIT show posters

Catch 23, 2008

improv poster

Catch 23 bought various Wellington improv groups together in “Wellington’s friendliest team on team on team improv cage death match”.

Direct from the dirty underground streets of North America comes the newest team on team… on team improv comedy cage match.

 

Watch as teams from around Wellington fight in this bloody battle royale of improv mayhem to claim the title and defend their crown week after week.

Saturdays 19 April to 31st May
Wellington Performing Arts Centre

Featuring Wellington Improvisation Troupe, The Improvisors, Vic Uni Theatresports, Funk Rabbit..

catch 23.

 

WIT show posters

The Young and the Witless 1, 2008

improvised soap operaAn improvised soap opera!
From those witty bastards who brought you such improvised comedy classics such as ‘Love Possibly’ and ‘To Be Continued,’ comes ‘The Young and The Witless: an improvised soap opera.”

Does anyone know what’s going on? We don’t! It’s all improvised!

With more twists, secrets and dirty dealings than parliament! A continuing improvised story that keeps everyone guessing. Including us!

Eight nights of shows. Six Characters in search of a storyline. One spontaneous saga of polished stupidity.

Starring WIT regulars Anna Burns, Anton van Helden, Christine Brooks, Clare Kerrison, Julian Faid, and Simon Smith. Directed by Derek Flores.

Wednesday to Saturday Feb 20-23 and Feb 27-Mar 1
Blue Note Cafe
Part of the Fringe Festival, and with help from Creative New Zealand

WIT show posters

Improv to the ‘Burbs, Fringe 2008

2009micebowdown

BRINGING IMPROV TO THE ‘BURBS
Wellington Improvisation Troupe

Need a good laugh at the end of a hard day, but don’t want to drive back into the city?
W.I.T has the answer. Crash and burn elimination improvisation where the audience decides the winner. Comedy for those that need it most!

February 8th Linden, 9th Ngauranga, 12th and 13th Newtown, 15th and 16th Lower Hutt