Category Archives: Other formats

WIT show posters

Impro Panto – WIT’s Christmas Cracker, 2012

2012_panto 11-14 December 2012, Gryphon Theatre

Witness the English Christmastime family tradition as you’ve never seen it before, and never will again! All your favourite pantomime characters – the hero, the Dame, the villain, the talking horse, all in an enchanting setting, but with a twist – it’s all made up on the spot. Warning: contains songs, crossdressing, and a cow.

From an improvised pantomime to misbehaving puppets; from heartwarming fundraising to the end of civilisation itself! This December, WIT presents ‘A Christmas Cracker’ – two weeks of improvised theatre that promises comedy, charitable Christmas cheer, pantomime horses and more surprises than a leaked Ministry document.

From the people that brought you The Last Saloon, The Wishing Tree and The Young and the WITless VI, and featuring performances from both new members and old hats, this is a season not to be missed.

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WIT show posters

A Christmas Cracker, 2012

eventfinder

MEDIA RELEASE: For immediate release
A Christmas Cracker
4 – 7 and 11 – 14 December at the Gryphon Theatre

Wellington Improv Troupe has a whole lot of silliness planned for this upcoming silly season. From an improvised pantomime to misbehaving puppets; from heartwarming fundraising to the end of civilisation itself! This December, Wellington Improvisation Troupe presents A Christmas Cracker – two weeks of improvised theatre that promises comedy, charitable Christmas cheer, pantomime horses and more surprises than a leaked Ministry document.

Running at Gryphon Theatre on 4-7 and 11-14 December, WIT presents its first bumper season of shows to celebrate the holidays. From the people that brought you The Last Saloon, The Wishing Tree and The Young and the WITless VI, and performances from both new members and old hats, this is a season not to be missed.

“This season has something for everyone” says creative lead Geoff Simmons, “We go right from the silly family fun of Pantomime to the black comedy spoof of the end of the world in Apocalimpro. If the Mayans are right at least we will all go out laughing”.

Week one features a mix of old and new; first up at 7pm, Micetro, WIT’s competitive format that pits improvisor against improvisor, enthusiasm against experience and wit against wit, with a cast of WIT regulars and our latest batch of graduates from our beginner training classes (CEC Wellington). At 8:30pm Duets makes its debut. A show of partnerships, where for 20 minutes each duo has only each other and the stage for inspiration. Each show will feature a different trio of duos. And finally, at 10pm Thursday and Friday, Puppets vs People takes to the stage, with an array of mischievous and downright naughty puppets playing off against WITsters in this late night show. Scenes are created live on stage using ideas straight from the audience. Join us for WIT’s first foray into puppetry – a show that humorously explores what it means to be human. Not suitable for children, unless your children are already cynical reprobates, inured to bad language and worse behaviour.

Week two is another mix of magic. Introducing Panto, with all your favourite characters – the hero, the Dame, the villain, the talking horse, all in an enchanting setting, but with a twist – it’s all made up on the spot. And to celebrate the long awaited End of the World on 21 December, the second slot brings you Apocalimpro, which will show how the End will begin in a sleepy Kiwi town. This dark show promises a completely different end of the world every night. Puppets vs People pops up again on the Friday, and the whole Thursday is devoted to Impro Unwrapped, an international goodwill project that invites audience members to bring along a gift to put under the on-stage Christmas Tree. Gifts are then selected at random, unwrapped and become the inspiration for a Christmas story. At the end of the night, all gifts are rewrapped and donated to the St Vincent de Paul Society, along with all the ticket proceeds of the show.

Tickets are available now through Eventfinder.co.nz – catch just one show, or settle in for a night of frivolity with our 2 and 3 show passes!
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Presented by Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT), Wellington’s not-for-profit, community-based improvisational theatre group. WIT performs and teaches the skills of improvisational theatre at community venues around the Wellington region.
WELLINGTON
Week 1
Micetro 4-7 Dec @ 7pm
Duets 4-7 Dec @ 8:30pm
Puppets vs People 6-7 Dec @ 10pm
Week 2
Panto 11-12, 14 Dec @ 7pm
Apocalimpro 11-12, 14 Dec @ 8:30pm
Impro Unwrapped 13 Dec @ 8pm
Puppets vs People 14 Dec @ 10pm

Venue: Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street

The Wishing Tree, 2012

flyer_wishingtree_mini

20th to 24th November, 2012

Returning to BATS Theatre, The Wishing Tree is New Zealand’s magical season of improvised theatre.

According to an ancient Japanese myth, there is one enchanting night where wishes come true. In honour of this myth, some of New Zealand’s finest improv artists conjure up stories inspired by the wishes of the audience.

Together we explore the unchartered territory of our dreams. Be careful what you wish for…

Created by Rama Nicolas, The Wishing Tree has been performed across Europe, the US and Australia and is presented in New Zealand by WIT. Book now – the last season at BATS sold out!

“The intimacy and ambience was enchanting…” – Theatreview
“…considerable theatrical bravery.” – The Dominion Post
“Elegant and touching…you must go and experience the show for yourself.” – Salient

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Photographer Ali Little

WIT show posters

Last Saloon, 2012

An improvised western

Welcome to the unwritten frontier, where everyone is wild at heart, and every stranger brings a story. WIT’s latest show seeks to evoke the Wild West, exploring character without limits and comedy where no laws apply. Playing with the darker, rougher side to the International Comedy Festival it opens at the venerable BATS Theatre on 15 May 2012 at 6:30pm.

The actors find the comedy in the rich characters and foreboding atmosphere of tension that the Western genre provides. This show will truly be a journey into uncharted, unscripted territory, and the audience is invited along for the ride.

Continue reading →

WIT show posters

Divas and the Beast, 2012

flyer_divas2012

Divas and the Beast ran as part of the 2012 Fringe

Festival, February 23 – 26 at BATS Theatre, and featured WIT’s Improv Divas.

Theatreview.org described the show as “a good concept well executed”.

Troublesome neighbours? Difficult spouses? Offensive bosses? Never fear! The Improv Divas (NZ’s only all woman improv act) are here with a brand new show that takes on the hassles of modern life and offers purely improvised solutions.

Taking inspiration from the magazine columns & TV style ‘Agony Aunt’ programmes of old, Divas and the Beast serve up performances to both educate and delight the audience.

Let the Improv Divas take on your beast. No problem too big, too small or too taboo.

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WIT show posters

Improv Lounge, 2012

sidepileThe Improv Lounge: Storyland for Grownups

From the players who brought you Love Possibly, Micetro, CSI Wainui, and the Improv Lab comes 2012’s best and only weekly improv show. Come on down every Wednesday at 8pm to see Wellington’s best loved community improv troupe in a casual cabaret-style set up at the Fringe Bar.

Sharing a love of storytelling and teamwork to inspire the audience, WIT shows have left an indelible mark on Wellington audiences with this ephemeral art form:

“Something of value will always materialise before our very eyes” – John Smythe, Theatreview
“Magic from generosity” – Lynn Pringle, Theatreview

With weekly bar-tab prizes and an ever changing line up of improvisors and shows, the Improv Lounge presents spontaneous storytelling that is sometimes serious, often hilarious and always totally unpredictable.

Improv Lounge, June 2012
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Micetro March 2012
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WIT show posters

The Long Weekend – NZIF 2011

show posterThe Long Weekend is an improvised story which will reveal the truth of the relationships between five old friends as they reunite for a long weekend away from home.

Each night the characters, relationships, and the New Zealand location will be different.
Each night we will find out more about the people onstage than they knew themselves.

Reuniting: Christine Brooks, Brandon Brooks, Nicola Hill, Merrilee McCoy, Paul Sullivan

Date/Time
Date(s) – 13/10/2011
9:30 pm – 10:30 pm

NZIF 2011 at BATS Theatre

There was also a Flint Podcast episode about the show.

WIT show posters

NZ Improv Festival, 2011

logo_NZIFposterOctober 11-15 2011 at Bats Theatre.

Familiar faces included The Court Jesters, The Improvisors and WIT, as well as new groups Up Against Improv, Chicken Legs Theatre, and representatives from Brisbane, Dunedin and Canberra. As well, two of Australia’s best improvisers Rebecca De Unamuno and Jason Geary visited with new and unique shows.

Thanks and cheers to all the people who made it happen … the producer, the musicians, the lighting guy, the players, the ticket takers, the setters-up-of-things, the leaflet hander-outerers, the lovely reviewers, the lovely sponsors, the lovely audiences. And Producer/Artistic director Merrilee!

The New Zealand Improv Festival now has its very own website

WIT show posters

Improvaganza, 2011

improvaganza_squarelogo Two WIT members were part of a team that completed Oxfam’s 100km Trailwalk – and a group of WIT volunteers put on charity show at The Waikanae Club.
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An evening of fun and entertainment in support of Oxfam.

The Wellington Improvisation Troupe, fresh from the Wellington Comedy festival, will be presenting a charity show in Waikanae… Scenes will be created right before your eyes! Songs! Laughter! Excitement! A show that has never been seen before and will never be seen again.

There will also be raffles and lucky door prizes. Get a group together for a great night out.

This show is on behalf of the Kapiti-based Oxfam Trailwalkers, Team Wine Not. All proceeds from the show will be donated to Oxfam to support development work in the South Pacific and beyond.

WIT show posters

WIT Dreamz, 2011

logo Dreams showHop into bed with us!

It’s time to delve beneath the duvet into the subconscious mind of dreams and nightmares.  In WIT Dreamz, Wellington’s finest improvisers will weave the audience’s night-time visions into a web of surreal, hilarious and occasionally spooky stories. Continue reading →