Improv theatre

Internet headquarter of improvisational theater. Looking up games, exercises and warm-ups. Furthermore, with calendar and group list

improv groups

Directory of improv groups

A directory of all improv groups in the world. Currently we have 1363 groups in the directory.
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Events, events, events

Workshops, Gigs and Festivals

All events about improv: workshops, shows und festivals. You can add your own events. Get an account and start right away.

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2024-03-19 | 08:00 PM Hamburg

Einjährige Playback Theater Grundausbildung (20.09.2024 - 28.09.2025)

2024-03-19 | 08:00 PM Basel

Die Impronauten im Tabourettli Basel

2024-03-20 | 07:00 PM Berlin

Offene Probe: Improtheater- Gruppe (17-28 Jahre), jeden Mittwoch 19-21 Uhr

2024-03-20 | 08:00 PM München

March Musical Madness

2024-03-20 | 08:30 PM Berlin

Die Gorillas - Gurke und Banane

2024-03-21 | 08:30 PM Berlin

Impro Embassy - Click Tim Orr + Inbal Lori

2024-03-22 | 08:00 PM Mannheim

Mittelstraße - Die improvisierte Seifenoper aus dem Herzen Mannheims

2024-03-22 | 08:00 PM Berlin

Fernweh

2024-03-22 | 08:30 PM Berlin

Die Gorillas - Ein Anfang und zwei Enden

2024-03-23 | 12:00 PM Bern

2. Berner Impromarathon

2024-03-23 | 04:30 PM Berlin

Die Gorillas - Gurke und Banane

2024-03-23 | 08:00 PM Mannheim

Impro against humanity

2024-03-23 | 08:00 PM München

Irgendwas mit Frühling

2024-03-23 | 08:30 PM Berlin

Die Gorillas - Das große 7

2024-03-24 | 07:00 PM Málaga

Nur noch 3 Plätze frei! ✪ Impro-Urlaub in Andalusien 2o24

Improvisational theatre, improv and Theatresports

Improvisational Theatre or Improv Theatre

Improvisation theatre, improv theatre, or simply improv, is a form of theatre that is improvised: none of the presented scenes are previously rehearsed. This is the main difference from classical theatre.

Often the actors receive a suggestion from the audience, or even repeatedly receive input during a scene. These suggestions serve as a leitmotif or impulse generator for the spontaneously emerging scenes. Improv theatre is frequently accompanied by music. The music is also improvised and intimately interwoven with the stage performance.

The stories arise from the actors’ mutual inspiration. Preplanned acting gives way to the pure, spontaneous interplay of action and reaction between the actors.

There is a distinction between short and long forms in improvisational theatre. The short forms consist of scenes that only take a few minutes, stand on their own, or that are connected by an overarching thematic motif, but not connected to each other.

There are many concepts for these short forms. In "theatre sports" teams of actors encounter each other and vie for the favour of the audience. There is also the Maestro improv format, which determines the best actor of the evening. There are theatre sports teams all over the world, and theatre makers have developed similar theatrical concepts, and there are crossovers. The term “theatersport” is a non-registered trademark.

The short forms dominate the "games" most of the time, which often leads to a comical interpretation of improv theatre. While this is often the case, is does not have to be. With the improvised long forms, however, the serious scenes tend to dominate, but comic elements may also be used.

A format called "Harold" takes up a topic suggestion from the audience and the actors create a kind of closely interwoven scenic collage out of various aspects of this topic, with partially-developed characters and psychological depth.

Another long form is the Improv murder mystery, using various formats, which differ in particular due to audience participation.

There is also biography theatre. An invited guest talks about his life. This story is improvised at the same time. With Improv theatre this tends more to be entertaining, and in playback theatre to be more psychologizing.

Good and interesting Improv stories emerge if the actors bear in mind certain principles. These include the often touted "joy in failure", playing in the here and now, and acting using one’s own state.

Since this kind of acting also enables a special type of open communication, many actors see their passion for improv theatre as more than just a kind of recreation, but much more as the acting out of an inner attitude to life. This close association with one’s own philosophy of life differs perhaps from classical theatre.