Tag Archives: improv

Improv for the Stage and Joy of Improv classes start October 17th, so enroll now!

WIT’s next improv classes for adults start October 17th. These will run for eight weeks 7.30-9.30pm on Thursday nights, at the Wellington High School in Taranaki St, Mt Cook.

The Joy of Improvisation is WIT’s foundation class and suitable for any level of experience, including none at all.  It has been run by WIT in association with the Wellington Community Education Centre (WCEC) for over 20 years now, and classes are always led by senior WIT trainers/performers.  This term Kitty Parker is leading, and it’s bound to be a delightful intro to the art of theatre without a script.

Improv for the Stage is our ‘next step’ course, this term led by Anrik Drenth, and is a fun dive into more elaborate ways to tell stories, dipping into different styles and formats of improv, all shaped by what participants want.  It’s the ideal course if you’ve already learnt the basics, either with WIT or another troupe, or you’ve other theatre training which used improv exercises and games, or if you’re returning to improv after a break.  The focus is on becoming stage ready, supporting your fellow players, and generally having an excellently fun time. There’ll be a show opportunity at course’s end.

Warm up your evenings with a whole bunch of laughter and revel in being spontaneous and playful with a group of lovely people.

Group of six people ignoring giant looming hand holding a scalpel

Directors Cut, 15 August 2023

This show has happened already!  

But, stay tuned for other WIT shows 

Classic comedy theatre without a script from the Wellington Improvisation Troupe.

The show will feature Directors competing with other Directors to direct a talented troupe of bold improvisors in a series of unique scenes.

Some directors will ask for audience suggestions, others will use ideas drawn from the very depths of their tortured souls. Either way, You will choose which tale is told to it’s very end.

NB that The Pow Wow Room is a licensed venue. This means that delicious beverages of various kinds will be available, BUT if you look youthful bring legal ID, and if you *are* an actual youth you must bring your legal grownups.

When: 7pm Tuesday August 15th 2023
Where:  The Powwow Room, 74 Courtenay Place, Wellington

Note that because it’s licensed premises if you’re not a grownup you’ll need to bring a parent, and if you are a grownup but look under 25 you’ll need to bring some ID.

Tickets:  cash-only doorsales or Buy Online Now $10 / $5 Concession

WIT Event on the Facebook

Director’s Cut – Thursdays 7th and 28th July 2022

Our July shows have happened and were a bunch of fun!   The old notice can stay here to remember them by …

Group of improvisors in very dim light

Some of the WIT Crew after the show

Directors! Directors competing with other Directors to direct a talented troupe of bold improvisors!! Expect an exciting mix of directed games and open scenes, some drawing on audience suggestions, others drawn from the very depths of the tortured soul of a director.

**New Venue Alert**
This show is at R Bar, and the Cuba St access is via a flight of stairs. BUT, there is ramp access from Pringle Street, and if you need to use it, just contact the bar and they’ll make sure the right doors are open. There’s a mobility-accessible toilet too.

Also, this is a licensed venue, meaning that there are delicious alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages available. However, if you’re under 18 you must bring a parent or guardian, and if you look under 25, bring id.

Tickets will be $10, either door sales or via a ticket link here just as soon as we can organise one.

So prepare to “drop anchor and join your Mateys” at Wellington’s original Pirate Hideaway and Rummery

What: Director’s Cut
Who: The Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT)
Cost: $10
When: Thursdays 7th and 28th July 2022
Where: R Bar, 49 Courtenay Place
Facebook Event:  Thursday 7th and Thursday 28th
Tickets will be going live shortly (we’re just waiting on the ticketing site thingy)

Fancy poster for the show
Three small people staring at a giant hand with a scalpel under the word's Director's Cut

“As a troupe, they boast an effective and playful onstage chemistry” ~ Theatreview

“This group’s bounding energy overtook the stage” ~ Nelson Mail

improvisors training in front of a window

framed photo of improvisors with cleaver and fork to the sides

Director’s Cut – Monday 16th May 2022

Directors! Directors competing with other Directors to direct a talented troupe of bold improvisors!! Expect an exciting mix of directed games and open scenes, some drawing on audience suggestions, others drawn from the very depths of the tortured soul of a director.

This show is at The Pow Wow room, which although a lovely venue is at the top of a flight of stairs with no lift. If you have mobility issues and there’s any way we can help (eg, a phalanx of volunteers to carry you aloft like Cleopatra on a golden litter) contact us in advance.
Also, this is a licensed venue, meaning that there are *delicious* alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages available. However, if you’re under 18 you must bring a parent or guardian, and if you look under 25, bring id.

What: Director’s Cut
Who: The Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT)
Cost: $10 monies going to charity
When: Monday 16th May 7pm
Where: The Pow Wow Room, Level 1, 74 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington (up the stairs to the left of The Dakota Bar)
Facebook Event will be going up shortly (we’re just waiting on the ticketing thingy)

Fancy poster for the show (look for this outside the Pow Wow Room stairs on the night)

poster for Director's Cut improv show

“As a troupe, they boast an effective and playful onstage chemistry” ~ Theatreview

“This group’s bounding energy overtook the stage” ~ Nelson Mail

improvisors training in front of a window

framed photo of improvisors with cleaver and fork to the sides

Director’s Cut – Monday 18th April 2022

Our first public show in seems-like forever, back in our old Pow Wow Room stomping ground HAS ALREADY HAPPENED!! $100 was donated to food charity Everybody Eats.   But you can read the PR below; there’ll be another show happening soon, likely in Mid May

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Directors! Directors competing with other Directors to direct a talented troupe of bold improvisors!! Expect an exciting mix of directed games and open scenes, some drawing on audience suggestions, others drawn from the very depths of the tortured soul of a director.

This show is at The Pow Wow room, which although a lovely venue is at the top of a flight of stairs with no lift. If you have mobility issues and there’s any way we can help (eg, a phalanx of volunteers to carry you aloft like Cleopatra on a golden litter) contact us in advance.
Also, this is a licensed venue, meaning that there are *delicious* alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages available. However, if you’re under 18 you must bring a parent or guardian, and if you look under 25, bring id.

What: Director’s Cut
Who: The Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT)
Cost: Koha (but really it’s you we want) monies going to charity
When: Monday 18th April (Easter Monday!) 7pm
Where: The Pow Wow Room, Level 1, 74 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington (up the stairs to the left of The Dakota Bar)
Facebook Event

“As a troupe, they boast an effective and playful onstage chemistry” ~ Theatreview

“This group’s bounding energy overtook the stage” ~ Nelson Mail

improvisors training in front of a window

happy new improvisors

Next Improv for the Stage and Joy of Improv classes start May 13th, enroll now!

Theses courses can book out so enroll now to make sure you don’t miss out.

WIT’s next improv classes for adults start May 13th. These will run for eight weeks 7.30-9.30pm on Thursday nights, at the Wellington High School in Taranaki St, Mt Cook.

The Joy of Improvisation is WIT’s foundation class and suitable for any level of experience, including none at all.  It has been run by WIT in association with the Wellington Community Education Centre (WCEC) for over 15 years now, and classes are always led by senior WIT trainers/performers.  This term Tristram  Domican is leading, and it’s bound to be a delightful intro to the art of theatre without a script.

Improv for the Stage is our ‘next step’ course, this term led by Ali Little, and is a fun dive into more elaborate ways to tell stories, dipping into different styles and formats of improv, all shaped by what participants want.  It’s the ideal course if you’ve already learnt the basics, either with WIT or another troupe, or you’ve other theatre training which used improv exercises and games, or if you’re returning to improv after a break.  The focus is on becoming stage ready, supporting your fellow players, and generally having an excellently fun time.

Warm up the dark nights of winter with a whole bunch of laughter and revel in being spontaneous and playful.

happy new improvisors

 

Two improvisors in a bowl of jam, with the text "Improv Jam"

Jam with WIT – Sunday 28 MARCH 2021

THIS SHOW HAS HAPPENED!  BUT THERE’LL BE OTHER SHOWS SOON 😀

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Our end-of-February Jam night is postponed to March 28th!!  It’ll be even Jamyier for having to wait.

Expect an exciting mix of directed games and open scenes, all drawing on audience suggestions.

If you’d like to play you’re in! If you feel a bit shy, you’re the audience!!  Doors open at 6.30pm for a group warm up, sitting down for the full jaminess from 7pm. It’s simple and fun, with plenty of friendly people to support you if you haven’t done improv in a while, or even much ever at all.

This show is at The Pow Wow room, and although a lovely venue is at the top of a flight of stairs with no lift. If you have mobility issues and there’s any way we can help (eg, a phalanx of volunteers to carry you aloft like Cleopatra on a golden litter) contact us in advance.
Also, this is a licensed venue, so if you’re under 18 bring a parent or guardian, and if you look under 25, bring your id.

What: An Improv Jam
Who: The Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT)
Cost:  Koha appreciated, but it’s you we want
When: Sunday 28th February, at 7pm
Where: The Pow Wow Room, Level 1, 74 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington (up the stairs to the left of The Dakota Bar)

“As a troupe, they boast an effective and playful onstage chemistry” ~ Theatreview

“This group’s bounding energy overtook the stage” ~ Nelson Mail

 

improvisors training in front of a window

 

a papier mache cow

Christmas 2020 – A Very Witty Panto

THIS SHOW HAS HAPPENED ALREADY!

For 2020 WITs celebrates the season Most Festive with an improvised twist on the traditional Xmas pantomime and will create a unique story each night inspired by suggestions from the audience.

Expect the unexpected, and also probably some cosmetically-challenged Sisters, papier-mache farm animals, a fresh-faced hero or heroine in tights, a Fairy Godparent, Villains and Sidekicks, a Dame or a Dude with a really big moustache. And Christmas treats!

Note that The Fringe Bar is a licensed venue, with a vast range of delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available. So, if you’re youthfully fresh-faced bring your id, and if you’re under 18 bring your parent or guardian.

Tickets are available online and as door sales on the night, BUT if we are at Level 2 the venue capacity is limited to 25 and there will not be door sales.

What: A Very Witty Panto
Who: The Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT)
When: Tuesday 22nd, Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th December, at 7pm
Where: The Fringe Bar, Allen St

“As a troupe, they boast an effective and playful onstage chemistry” ~ Theatreview

“This group’s bounding energy overtook the stage” ~ Nelson Mail

 

improvisors training in front of a window

 

Drawing of a crow holding Poe's head

Poe’d – NZIF 2020 Edition

Theatreview decided Poe’d was “MACABRE MADE MISCHIEVOUS”  
While the Artmurmurs’ reviewer said “I had a lovely time“

A Darkly Gothic Romp

Everyone knows Edgar Allen Poe died mysteriously in Baltimore in 1849. But recently a trunk of mysterious papers was discovered by the same researchers who previously discovered the Lovecrafted archive (revealed during the 2019 Fringe). Did the forty year old Poe fake his death, flee to a remote island nation and live out the rest of a long life writing epically gothically tragically romantic stories shaped by the myths and realities of life among the phlegmatic people of the farthest flung corner of the British Empire??

Find out as each night a different narrator channels the tortured author to bring original improvised tales to Te Auaha’s Tapere Iti stage.

“The show will be a romp through a gothic past” says Ali Little, the show’s creative director. She claims the tortured author, a man who spawned so many many tortured imitators, has communicated to her through ethereal means.  And he is “delighted, just delighted” that these tales which should have been part of his oeuvre, now will be.

What: Poe’d
Who: The Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT) and Invited Guests
When: Friday October 9th, 9pm
Where: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace, Wellington

Visit BATS for tickets and a bunch (a slew, a cascade a cornucopia) of other great NZ Improv Festival shows,  WIT’s Facebook for the latest details, team photos and gossip about this show.

“As a troupe, they boast an effective and playful onstage chemistry” ~ Theatreview

“This group’s bounding energy overtook the stage” ~ Nelson Mail

 

 

 

Micetro winner surrounded by admirers

Micetro BACK IN THE ROOM, Sunday July 19th 2020

Beloved improv elimination competition Micetro is back for another bite of the cheese.  Last time  Mike was crowned the Greatest WIT in Wellington.  This time . . . well, there will be challengers.

A crew of eager improvisers will again battle head to head using wit, spur-of-the-moment storytelling and risking everything for an the love of the audience.  There’ll be songs!  Drama!  Pathos, bathos probably a bit of logos!    A mix of seasoned improvisers and adorable newcomers and everyone in between will play their hearts out to decide who gets eliminated and who survives to be crowned ‘Micetro’.

All profits from the nights ticket sales go to support The City Mission, who run the largest Wellington Food Bank – read about the good things they do at wellingtoncitymission.org.nz

When: 7pm Sunday July 19th

Where:  The Powwow Room, 74 Courtenay Place, Wellington

Note that because it’s licensed premises if you’re not a grownup you’ll need to bring a parent, and if you are a grownup but look under 25 you’ll need to bring some ID.

Tickets:  doorsales or Buy Online Now $10

WIT Events on the Facebook