Contact Info
Alistair Cook
Artistic Director
604-727-3286
alistair@improv.ca
Kaitlin Fontana
Media and Sponsorship Director
778-231-9936
kaitlin.fontana[at]gmail[dot]com
Briana Rayner
Administrative Director
778-317-6725
briana@improv.ca
The History of the Vancouver International Improv Festival 2009
The 10th Annual Festival brings together the best of spontaneous, original theatre from all over the world
It's not easy fighting misconceptions, but the Vancouver International Improv Festival is getting good at it. A decade in, the festival continues to bring the best improvisational performers the world over to Vancouver. The trick, says festival director Alistair Cook, is turning audiences on to improv.
"Many think improv is what's on TV, like Whose Line Is It Anyway." Cook says. "That's a wonderful part of improvised theatre, but it's not the whole picture, any more than a musical is the entire picture of scripted theatre. There's a diverse array of improvised theatre styles."
VIIF has reflected that array. It began as a tournament, pitting local teams against one another. As time went on, however, the landscape shifted. "It became more about learning and growing as performers, coming together and teaching each other different styles," says Cook. "That's when I realized this was a festival and not a tournament." Performers started focusing more on character development and storytelling – essentially, creating spontaneous plays live for the audience.
In the years following, VIIF has attracted dozens of acts from places like Minneapolis, Regina and Slovenia. At the same time, individual ensemble performers have worked under acclaimed directors in workshops, with performances at night. Past directors have included Chicago duo Sutton and Razowsky (Annoyance Theatre), Bob Dassie (improvOlympic) and Armando Diaz (Magnet Theatre).
Another goal of the festival has always been to attract the public. Guest directors teach public workshops, and the low cost of festival passes—just $40 for five nights – makes improvisation accessible to all.
This year, the festival is the hottest yet – featuring Chicago's BASSprov, Germany's Die Gorillas, New York's CRUSH, Toronto's Ghost Jail Theatre and the all–female WDWMKR, plus our unique international ensemble, directed in new works for the festival by improv's best minds: Christian Capozzoli from New York's Magnet Theatre and Mark Sutton and Joe Bill from Chicago's Annoyance Theatre.
All in all, the 10th Annual Vancouver International Improv Festival is shaping up to be a success. Cook hopes that the increased awareness will come along with it. "If everyone could see the reach – how many of our best performers come from improvisation – I think everyone would love it." But mostly, it's about the joy of creation: "When you develop this rich story and characters out of nothing but a connection, the audience feels it. There's nothing else like it."
The Vancouver International Improv Festival runs September 29–October 3, 2009 at the Roundhouse Theatre in Yaletown.
