This season we bring you our Conversation Series - in each episode, a trio of improvisors come together to talk about what lights them up, what challenges them, and what keeps them excited about the future of improv.

Featuring: Jennifer O’Sullivan and Christine Brooks from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), and Laura Irish from Whakatū (Nelson)

Recorded in front of a live audience at BATS Theatre in October 2021.

This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust and Creative NZ.

NZ Improv Festival 2021 ran 4-16 October 2021 at Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington’s BATS Theatre.
Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This season we bring you our Conversation Series - in each episode, a trio of improvisors come together to talk about what lights them up, what challenges them, and what keeps them excited about the future of improv.

Featuring: Tara McEntee and Susan Williams from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), and Ryan Knighton from Te Papaioea (Palmerston North)

Recorded in front of a live audience at BATS Theatre in October 2021.

This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust and Creative NZ.

NZ Improv Festival 2021 ran 4-16 October 2021 at Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington’s BATS Theatre.
Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This season we bring you our Conversation Series - in each episode, a trio of improvisors come together to talk about what lights them up, what challenges them, and what keeps them excited about the future of improv.

Featuring: Matt Powell and Liz Butler from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), and Emma Brittenden from Ōtautahi (Christchurch)

Recorded in front of a live audience at BATS Theatre in October 2021.

This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust and Creative NZ.

NZ Improv Festival 2021 ran 4-16 October 2021 at Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington’s BATS Theatre.
Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This season we bring you our Conversation Series - in each episode, a trio of improvisors come together to talk about what lights them up, what challenges them, and what keeps them excited about the future of improv.

Featuring: Marea Colombo from Ōtepoti (Dunedin), Ben Zolno from Te Whanganui a Tara (Wellington), and Daniel Allan from Otautahi (Christchurch) and hosted by Christine Brooks (Te Whanganui a Tara)

Recorded in front of a live audience at BATS Theatre in October 2021.

This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust and Creative NZ.

NZ Improv Festival 2021 ran 4-16 October 2021 at Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington’s BATS Theatre.
Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

It’s a new choice on a new stage! The era of COVID-19 has renewed the need for a digital stage, but how can onstage performers adapt for video? How can video creators help onstage performers and how does improv performance differ between the two mediums? Join the call, mute your mic and settle in for the ultimate panel about online improvisational comedy. 

Featuring: Laura Irish, Jimmy Eaton, Steven Lyons & Jason Geis. 

Recorded Friday 9th October 2020 at BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace

The craft of building a character can be challenging, especially if the character is a comedic embodiment of your own identity. In a world that constantly craves authenticity and new content, how can 21st century performers live up to this demand? Join Truth, Authenticity & Characterisation - a round table of experienced theatre, improvisers and stand up comedy performers as they break down the concept of authenticity and discuss how artists can be authentic while crafting comedic and theatrical personas. 

Featuring: Jean Sergent, Brendan West, Liz Butler, Kris Beattie & Aaron Douglas. 

Recorded Thursday 8th October 2020 at BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace

This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust, Creative NZ, and Victoria University’s internship programme.

NZ Improv Festival: Close To Home ran 3-10 October 2020 at BATS Theatre.
Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The performative possibilities of improv have been greatly expanded with the assistance of dance and music. Accepting the Beats is a panel discussion between dancers, singers and musicians who have deepened their improv capabilities by broadening their performative skillset. How can music and dance be incorporated into improv? Where do we overlap and how are we inspired by each other? Most importantly, how did we get here and where are we going? 

Featuring: Matt Powell, Pippa Drakeford, Liam Kelly & Eliza Sanders. 

Recorded Thursday 8th October 2020 at BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace

This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust, Creative NZ, and Victoria University’s internship programme.

NZ Improv Festival: Close To Home ran 3-10 October 2020 at BATS Theatre.
Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

How can we build a strong performative community in the world of COVID-19? More importantly, how do we maintain that community when people are not able to gather in person and we are resorted to remote yes-anding? In Maintaining Strong Communities, a panel of improvisers discuss the challenges and benefits of this new performative world.

Featuring: Lyndon Hood, Christine Brooks, Ali Little & Emma Maguire. 

Recorded Wednesday 7th October 2020 at BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace

This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust, Creative NZ, and Victoria University’s internship programme.

NZ Improv Festival: Close To Home ran 3-10 October 2020 at BATS Theatre.
Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Is New Zealand improv too polite? Yeah Nah, You Go is a round table discussion of professional improvisers exploring performative humility and confidence in the New Zealand improv industry. How does politeness affect the way we play? What are the strengths of weaknesses of our cultural norms? What is the difference between collaborative respect and artistic hesitance when we are playing as a team?

Featuring: Christine Brooks, Wiremu Tuhiwai, Brendon Bennetts, Bethany Miller & Ben Zolno. 

Recorded Wednesday 7th October 2020 at BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace

This episode was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust, Creative NZ, and Victoria University’s internship programme.

NZ Improv Festival: Close To Home ran 3-10 October 2020 at BATS Theatre.
Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

In the age of COVID-19, it has never been more important than ever to keep safe and healthy offstage so you can be your best onstage. Taking Care of Yourself is all about improving and maintaining your mental health, so join the panel, and learn how we can help ourselves so we can help each other. 

Featuring: Nicola Pauling, Sarah Tuck & Amelia Cartwright. 

Recorded Tuesday 6 October 2020 at BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace

The New Zealand Improv Festival podcast was produced and edited by Aaron Douglas and made possible thanks to the New Zealand Improvisation Trust, Creative NZ, and Victoria University’s internship programme.

NZ Improv Festival: Close To Home ran 3-10 October 2020 at BATS Theatre. Learn more about it at improvfest.nz or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.