The NZ Improv Fest is a non-profit, volunteer-run initiative of WIT (Wellington Impro Troupe). The people who participate are unpaid and do it for the love of improvised theatre.
Beginning in 2008, WIT established the NZIF project with four primary aims:
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Increase public participation in, and awareness of improvised theatre in New Zealand by showcasing multiple forms the medium can take.
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Growth within the arts community by fostering contact between organizations who are not usually afforded the opportunity to network on such a large scale.
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Increase New Zealand’s profile on an international scale, and grow Wellington’s image as the country’s “Cultural Capital”
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Improving performers’ arts practice through increasing their scope and network. This will help them become more innovative, and; to strive for excellence in their field.
After overwhelmingly achieving these goals, we embarked on floating the festival for year two, with one extra goal in mind:
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For the festival to build towards the longer term goal of Wellington hosting a ‘World Improv Tournament’ in 2011
So, we've got a lot of work ahead of us... but we're still stumbling towards awesome!
Merrilee McCoy
NZIF Producer
A word from the 2009 Artistic Director, Derek Flores
For 20 years improv has been my life. I started as a teenager and now I have a son.
Improv has been my career; my bane and my boon.
When I first moved to Wellington 3 years ago, I thought, "how can I share my passion with my adopted home?" And thus the seeds of the NZIF took root.
Now, in its second year, the NZIF is growing bigger, and I hope in the years to come that my son gets to see just how big an idea can become.
Improv is about taking risks, saying 'yes', working together, and it's about telling stories - stories that inspire; stories that entertain; stories that frighten and excite; stories that we identify with. Stories.
Now, in its second year, the NZIF is growing bigger, and I hope in the years to come that my son gets to see just how big an idea can become.
Improv is about taking risks, saying 'yes', working together, and it's about telling stories - stories that inspire; stories that entertain; stories that frighten and excite; stories that we identify with. Stories.
And the story of this festival could not have been told with out the tireless work of Merilee McCoy and her festival team.
So to them, and to my son, this festival is dedicated.
Derek Flores
NZIF AD